Hitchcocks Forum

My '05 Electra lost power and coasted to a halt. She wouldn't start on either elec or kick. Also the neutral light wouldn't light. All lights, horn etc worked fine. Checked fuses - all good. After 20 mins, tried again but nothing. Then I pulled in clutch and she started so I set off but she stopped after 2 miles.
AA called and stumped.
Is it a coil overheating? How is that connected to the neutral light now not coming on and allowing me to start bike?
Any advice appreciated please, Mike

Mike,
I'm thinking maybe 2 problems, one check that the wire is still connected to the rear of the gearbox this is the earth for the light and also I'm thinking the clutch switch could be dodgy. Easy enough to test

I should have kept thinking I can't see why the neutral light failing would cut the ignition, neutral light and clutch switch only control starting, once running they shouldn't have any other purpose. Sidestand switch will kill igntion, but has no connection to the clutch switch.Once you have checked these things pull the tank and check that you have power in the brown wire at the coil with the ignition on

I guess there is also the possibility you have bumped the kill switch, doesn't take much

... or the kill switch melted, mine did!

If the bike cut out whilst riding and you coasted to a halt is it possible you didn't get it into proper neutral but a false neutral instead?. If it wasn't in proper neutral then that explains the neutral light and it wouldn't start on the electric unless the clutch was pulled as the earth for the starter relay would have to come via the clutch switch. Taking that out of the equation would then open up the reason for failure to perhaps a heat related breakdown, coil or simply the plug maybe.

Thanks for replies guys.
Same symptoms today. No neutral light despite knowing that she was in neutral. She started on electric start with clutch pulled in. Ran for 5 mins and died. No electrics to engine.
I'm new to RE world but do coils on these die and come back to life?
Gonna buy a multimeter this weekend. Any clues on what wires to test on coil and kill switch and what results I should see?
I took out neutral switch, pressed it against frame and it worked. So maybe it's not pushing right up against whatever inside gearbox? Baffled.

Mike,The wire to the light is only an earth for the bulb, won't stop it from running. Coil is up under the tank and the wire that should have power is the brown. The coils on these are pretty good but I guess you could have one that is failing, not a common problem though.Whatever the problem it is a heating up problem so pull all the connectors apart and check them and replug, Enfield connectors are not the greatest and often give trouble. Rock the kill switch back and forth it might not be making a good contact

It is also the supply of earth to the starter relay, if it is missing then neither the bulb will light or the starter will operate, unless the clutch is pulled in when the earth is taken from elswhere via the clutch switch. As Norm says though, it won't affect the ignition circuit but earth faults do very odd things.

Another thought, albeit probably laughable, are all the engine mounting bolts tight, in other words is the engine getting a good non resistive earth from the frame? I would imagine it wouldn't take much electrical resistance between the two to create problems and the only thing I can think of that ties the neutral switch to the ignition. Might also explain it failing with heat and vibration. Worth a check perhaps.