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[Brazilla]

Hi all, first time post.

I have a 97 bullet 350. I just recently replaced speedo and ammeter with the smiths ammeter and the old style one from hitchcocks. Installed ok but now have the following problems:

When I put on sidelights the ammeter deflects fully left and remains there, the side lights are dim, headlight is fine.

With the engine running it cuts out when I engage headlights and indicators simultaneously.


There were left over bulbs from the old speedo to imdicate full beam and turning as well as the illumination , I have just left these in the circuit so am wondering if it is now an earthing problem resulting from them?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[Frank]

You may have more than one problem. A full reflection of the ammeter would suggest a short somewhere, engine cutting with lights on perhaps an earth fault. Perhaps they are related. Have a good check of the connections you have made along with anything near that you could have disturbed.

[Scalyback]

Something is wrong with the wiring. Ammeter going fully to the left, and engine cutting when switches operated sounds more like a wire went back in the wrong connector?






Here is a 'Scalycoloured' UK Bullet 350 and 500 diagram from 1995, should help when checking wires.










I not quite finished cleaning it up yet, but when needs must...

[Gwilly]

A common problem is the clearance of the speedo drive to the headlight bulb holder when you fit the rim back on and screw it up..

it is important that the rubber spacer under the speedo head has the thickest portion closest to the rider, if fitted the other way round the speedo drive is angled too far forward and will short the lights.. check the back of the bulb holder/connections for arcing evidence..

[Norm]

When I first got my Hellectra at about 800ks on the clock in the rain and the dark one morning it just stopped. Turn the lights off and start it turn them on and it would stop. Turned out to be a wire to the pilot light had been cut on the cheap and nasty pilot light fitting. Ended up having to ride about 6 ks in the dark without lights. Another big thank you to Mr Enfield

[Scalyback]

OH, I'm going to get into trouble with this, but here goes anyway. (made me laugh!)



Mr Enfield sold a bike,

Might not be quite what you like,

Specially if you get a fright,

when bits fall off and hang.



Pilot wire's much too short,

join some on as we were taught,

hope it won't rub on the forks,

OH, the lights gone bang!



Cost too much to use them screws,

little chewing gum will do,

hope the oil not come through,

Why's the floor gone black?



Paint it twice and send to Blighty,

make sure price hike is quite mighty,

and pray they ride those bikes so lightly,

10,000 till it quacks!



Johhny's missing out on sex,

if fact he's been sued by his ex,

she pillioned Electra X,

the brakes went wrong that day!



It sounds nice from the sales pitch,

but just might end up as a bitch,

Solution? Make sure it’s Redditch,

they built them better, YAY!



Sorry, didn’t mean to worry,

if you’re relaxed not in a hurry,

then get a bike that likes a curry,

yes, really; I have two!



You need to know, they don’t go fast,

Design from way back in the past,

But riding them is just a blast,

I’m hooked, what about you?

[Brazilla]

Thanks for the replies chaps and the song! I took it all apart today and after some trouble shooting I found that I had used the bulb meant to illuminate the ammeter in the speedo, I guess this caused the short circuit. I tried removing the section of wire with all the little bulbs on but this caused the indicators to stop blinking and just stay on constantly when I pressed the switch. It is currently working but I have all the little bulbs sealed away behind the headlamp. Neither instrument has illumination and there is no facility for showing when full beam or indicators are on other than observing the reflections in the chrome. As far as I can work out this isn't a problem for mot!

[joppalad]

Re the Scalycoloured diagram with Brazilla's problem. Can somebody tell me what is the two connections/wiring which is situated between the + and - terminals on the ammeter.
I am rewiring with a new ammeter,but my ammeter does not have these terminals.
Am I missing something.
Thanks
joppalad

[Brazilla]

Don't know I'm afraid, my ammeter only had two wires to it, I just took note of which way round they went and did the same on the new ammeter!

[Thack]

It's just the instrument bulb for lighting it up at night. The loop of wire is the symbol for a bulb.