Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all.. some advice needed please..
I'm totally in LURVE with my new 2006 500 Classic, but still havin a few robs starting it, especially when cold.

I've stripped the card and cleaned everything, but the choke seems not to help in a morning.

I checked the points gap, it was .2mm, set it to .35 ish... it then kicked back a lot more than it did before. My dilemma is not that I have 'string legs' and my BSA owning friend says, but that I have a damaged ankle that I fooked falling through a drain cover almost a year ago.. it WAS getting a fair bit better (awaiting MRI results) but the kick back is HURTING me. so..i adjusted points back to 0.2mm for now.

My dilemma is.. do I get the credit card out and just buy a Mk4 electronic ignition from our Hosts, or try and set the points properly? I don't mind the cash investment.. I got the bike for £1650..

anyone fitted one? are they easy to fit? how do they effect cold starting ec?

all advice needed, with thanks

if there is anyone that really knows how to set up the points / timing properly, that is within say 25 miles of me at J27, M1, I'd happily ride over one weekend (soon) and bring a few beer tokens in exchange for education!!

regards
Phil

OR.. sell it on and invest in an electric start model?

You need instructions on how to start an Enfield single, and avoid at all costs buying an E/S model, Cast Iron or Electra, easily end up back where you are now. E/S on the UCE's seem to be better

Phil, I'd fix the problem you have rather than replace the points with the potential for more aggro! It sounds as if your points are set too far advanced. Have a look in Technical Notes, there is a nice simple guide to getting your points to work properly, see if that is something you could do yourself, then come back?

REgards, Mark

thanks guys.. Norm.. whats really wrong with an electric start model?

Mark..i'm not overly confident re the timing.. I'm god on spanners, but would sooner seek advice / help from a experienced 'local' with the timing

Phil, keep the points, nothing wrong with points. Couple of things can cause nasty kickback, opening the throttle as you kick it. Put the bike on the center stand, wind motor over till you feel compression, open decomp take piston over TDC,close decomp, then continue the kicker to the bottom of the stroke. allow kicker to return to the top and a swift kick and it should start. Try using your left leg if your right is injured. As for the E/S pre unit construction models, the world is littered with busted sprag clutches so I would not tempt fate if you need to rely on the E/S

Contrary to MarkM, but with all due respect to the gentleman, I fitted an electronic ignition. Aggro? No. It just works. If I can fit it, anybody can.

Get the timing right.
Get the mixture right>
It will then start and run properly.
Electronic ignition is not a cure for anything, it's just a different way of doing it.

Sorry Exile, "aggro" was supposed to be shorthand for, buying the unit, fitting it and (any) potential bother that might ensue. I didn't mean it doesn't work or has problems, I just meant Phil would be better fixing the problem he has rather than address something else!

REgards, Mark

I totally agree with PeteF: there's no reason why electronic ignition should make a Bullet easier to start, because they already start very easily with the points ignition.



If yours is kicking back, it means the ignition is too advanced (that's why closing the points gap helped - it retards the ignition).



As PeteF says, if the timing is right and the mixture is right, then it will start easily, and electronic ignition will not make it any easier.