Hitchcocks Forum

I have notice that my Electra x won't turn over on the starter when the headlight is on. Switch it off and it fire's first touch of the button, it's the same hot or cold. Are they all like that, Im just wondering

Davie, I believe they are like that

Turn the light off; it`s a huge drain on the battery to operate the starter motor with the lights on.

You should be able to work both at the same time. Poor battery is one possibility but I've had similar caused by poor earths in the lighting circuit. It is usually accompanied by other strange things when the lights are on, horn not working, engine cutting out and bulbs lighting which shouldn't be. I would say that is more likely.

Hi my electra is the same new gel 14 ah battery and it still is reluctant to start on button,but will fire up with kickstart, starter taking too much power??

I'm pretty sure when I had a working starter on my Electra from new with the headlight on there was nothing from the starter not even a click with the headlight on, I think it must have had an isolator somehow in the wiring loom but never found it

From the wiring diagram I can't see that the starter circuit is anything other than independent of the lighting circuit. +ve to the starter relay via ignition switch , kill switch and starter switch, -ve via the clutch or neutral switch. Works on mine lights on or off but for the sake of the battery best to turn lights off.

I would use the headlight switch after starting, have you a multimeter to check the battery voltage ? It should read 12.8v for a sealed battery (should be yours) or 12.5v for a top up battery like mine without a starter system. You could also check the voltage reading when starting/cranking , it`s all about amperage really but voltage checks will do.

If another bulb lights when operating another, example I have seen on cars, when brakes are put on the rear light goes out or indicator lights up, it usually means there is no or bad earth on the one selected and the current earths through another bulb with a common earth connection. If this goes "the opposite way" the second bulb goes out due to opposing current polarity.

I think!

So I would check for bad earths, especially engine to frame, battery to frame. And check out battery voltage after charging as recommended here>

Ray.

please read this post http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/vi ... orumorder= , the one about running a bullet batteryless. you will see that I have added a posting at the bottom regarding a h/lamp delay unit. those are adjustable between 1 and 60 seconds and hold your light off until your engine is fired up.

contact me @ [email protected] Mr hichcock does not sell a similar product