Hitchcocks Forum

Hi, my Electra 500X decided it didn't want to run today. Started on the button easily, rode out the garage, left it idling nicely on about half choke while I shut the garage and after maybe half a minute running at most it stopped. After that it refused to start cos there's no spark. It's not the side stand switch because that has been taken out of circuit. Cranking speed is normal. Can anyone give me a clue as to where to look first, I'm new to this electronic stuff, if it was a Lucas mag I wouldn't be asking for help. Thanks, Adam

Spark plug may be carbon whiskered. connect any good plug and lay it on the fins and hit the starter,see if it sparks then..

Hi - mine had a similar problem a couple of years ago. Long story short (I tried everything else first!) - it was the coil. New one fitted and everything was fine. Have a look in the manual - it gives impedance values to diagnose the problem. If you don't have the manual, reply and I'll dig mine out to give you the readings. Good luck, Stephen

Thanks Gwilly,

I had given the plug a couple of quick licks with the wire brush before I looked for the spark this morning. Just tried the same plug again and in the half light saw sparkles between the cylinder head and the external face of the hexagon of the plug, so you were right, it must have had a carbon track down the insulation of the central anode and I must not have been vigorous enough with the brush cos after a thorough brushing the spark was back. Saved me having to push it up the incline into the garage. Thanks Gwilly.

Thanks for your comments Stephen but Gwilly gets the cigar this time,

Adam

Just remember that Electras have a special only found on Enfields coil, you could possibly use an earlier type coil but you would have to find somewhere to mount it and run new wires to it, not an easy by the side of the road fix

I had exactly the same problem. Mine turned out to be an iridium plug failed, stuck the original back and normal service resumed.

A quick spray of damp start always goes down well this time of year.

Thanks for the tips guys.
Adam

Adam, My Electra would not run for long with an iridium plug - it failed in the manor like yours after less than a hundred miles (from memory). Putting back a conventional plug it ran great until I sold it years later. There were no mods to the carb/exhaust etc. Don't know why but that's what happened.

Oops should just clarify - there was no mods between change of plugs - my carb/exhaust were not std.