Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all,

I am having trouble with the wiring in my 1999 (post june) 350 Bullet, it is the AC / DC model.

Essentially the AC Circuit seems to work, the bike runs the lights run off the A/C and the battery gets charged however the DC circuit doesn't seem to work.

When you turn the ignition on before starting the bike, the pilot lights should work, brakes lights should work and the indicators however no lights work at all, nothing.

When the bike is started and the indicators are turned on this causes the revs to drop with each blink and the rear light and pilot lights (when set to pilots and rear only on the switch) to flash on and off, same if brake light applied.

Also when the main headlight is on the pilot lights turn off, rear light and brake lights flash on and of and revs affected by each flash of the indicator. Essentially it seems that none of the DC lighting works and that the indicator circuit is affecting the circuit to the ignition coil and all of the other lights.

I have a powerbox fitted which works well, ammeter shows correct charge (and dips each time the indicators blink) and the battery is fully charged and in good condition. I checked the main earth behind the battery and the earth at the rear mudguard, I cleaned both.

Any ideas?

Your statement is contradictory: if the battery is getting a full charge then the DC circuit is functional. So any issue would have to be from battery to switch, or switch to???


What voltage are you getting at the battery? What is the voltage at the Brake-light switch and at the Flasher relay?


Anything less than 12.4 v is FLAT. A charging rate less than 13v is not acceptable...

Whatever you do, don`t let the smoke get out of the wires.

I don't get it either, the Battery is at 13v, charging is just over 13v. yet nothing works off the battery alone (brake light, pilot light, rear light when set it pilot only etc


So the DC charging is working, but the DC lighting isn't.

More readings as in 12.5v. What is the battery reading the morning after without any charge or engine running? Also with ignition on only ? Also with the flashers on? Brake light??????????????????

I will check the battery when I get home from work.


I thought the brake lights worked when the ignition was on but the bike wasn't running?

Simply start by following the power from battery: to main switch, to light switch, to horn, etc...


You will hind the break/resistance point soon enough.


Make your self a simple Test-light and a 21w stop/tail bulb: Power -> Bulb -> Earth, and work your way along and through the wiring

A break in the wiring harness can give these symptoms, If the feed to the rear light is shorted to the indicator feed then lights will pulse and draw power from the ignition circuit as well.
Hense engine note changes.. Electrical power always takes the easiest route with least resistance...

A favorite place to break is under the rear mudguard where it gets chaffed by the rear tyre, especially if carrying pillion or extra luggage..

Pretty much a Gwilly says.


Also, possibly a shorted indicator bulb.





Just check they are lighting front and back, but this would only affect the bike when flashing either left or right, not both directions.

a short in the indicator switch module between indicator feed and either dc power or ac lighting could possibly produce such results. Everytime the indicator flashed 'on', it could short with one of the AC windings, so reducing voltage...



I would need a copy of the wiring diagram to check more fully.