Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all. I am new to this site and am in distress. I am moving this Saturday(Sept 5th) and need to ride my bike to my new home. I went out to start it up yesterday and it is just dead in the water.
I have a 1972 bullet 350. 12v electrical system which has been totally replaced 5 years ago. In fact, all electrical parts were replaced 5 years ago.
When I try to start it, the ammeter doesn't move a mm and there is no chance to get the bike started. It has sat for about 6 weeks since the last ride and it is in great running condition...once it is running. On the last few runs though, whenever I had to stop and park, it was a pain to restart. The last time took about 30 minutes to start again. Very frustrating(I guess that's why we masochists like these bikes, no?) and hardly a pleasure to ride as I have no confidence in it.
The battery is new and fully charged, the spark plug has about 200 miles on it. I have checked the wiring to the points and the points look good too. Condenser maybe?
I am thinking this is just wiring as the bike runs like a dream when it goes. But, which wires?
Any and all help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Mitchell

Where are you and where are you moving to?

West Palm Beach, Florida. Quite a bit far from Kent!

Yes a bit far - don't think I'd get there in time. I'm not great with electrics but I do have a trailer. Hope you sort something. G

Mitchell, I presume you have done the obvious and checked the fuses?

Its not the good old broken battery terminal or earth lead behind battery holder that still looks ok ?

Does the battery have any charge in it (do the lights work?) . Six weeks lay up is long enough to drain a betters, especially if there is a drain on it. There is some other problem lurking which is evident by the starting problems. Check battery, and all connections, also check for spark, the ammeter is a good guide, but it is not the only tool available in fault finding.

*battery* not betters?? Blooming predictive text....

As stated all is fine otherwise on the bike. Battery is a year old and fully charged. Horn and lights all work. Fuse is fine. I only view the ammeter as a guide to know if it will start or not. I know if it moves when I kick it to find tdc to start it, it will actually start...and usually on the first kick. The leads from the battery disappear into the harness. I can only assume(I know) that they are fine. I just don't have the time to properly attack the situation as I must go to work for 12 hours and then pack some more when I get home tonight. So, I only could follow the wires as best as I could and they look fine. Could it be the coil? It's only 5 years old.
Oddly enough, sometimes just by rolling the bike something would change and let the ammeter begin to move again. But all the connections I can see are tight and sound.
I will have about an hour tomorrow morning to mess with it before moving.
I have had this bike for 12 years and know it well. I bought it in India on a trip and shipped it back. So there is a lot of experience with it's ins and outs!
Thanks,
Mitchell

A few years ago my bike that had 71 miles on it but had been stored would not start, I was pretty certain I knew what it was but the dealer, who was 2100 opdd miles away sent me new rubber carb manifolds, fuel tap and various other parts, except for what I asked for...................a CONDENSER!
Once he sent that the bike started 2nd kick and I never had any other problems.
'It cant be the condenser' he said, the bike has no miles on it, its new!
I know from experience condensers can break down with age in storage let alone in use!
For a small cost its worth changing it, could well be your problem solved.
Terry