Hitchcocks Forum

Before I go tearing into the wrong area, perhaps the forums combined knowledge can help. On starting my 05 bullet after the winter lay-up I noticed the ammeter didn't move from central position when I used the kick-start. I thought the battery was flat but after three or four kicks the engine started OK and off I went for a ride, during which the bike ran perfectly. However, after being idle for half an hour, I had a huge problem trying to restart it. Again the ammeter was only showing discharge after several revs of crankshaft on the kick-start. The bike is fitted work Eureka electronic ignition. Finally it started after twenty or more attempts. Ammeter shows a little charge when normal riding, as you would expect. Any thoughts lads?

no idea re ignition etc, but sometimes a short run after a winter lay off can drag some bits of dirt into the jets that had happily settled in the bottom of the float bowl. also, try dumping the fuel and putting in fresh. I had a bantam 175 2 years ago that WOULD NOT start after a 3 month rest.. new fuel/oil mix and t started first time

Some electronic ignition systems don't draw current continuously (Boyer for example), so you might not always get an indication on the ammeter. As for the Hot starting, well it might not be ignition system related, but to check you would have to remove the plug to see if HT was still being generated (plug sparking) If it is just technique, then I always find kick-starting with a closed throttle is the best method to start the engine when it's hot, as long as the mixture at tick-over is well adjusted the engines just need to be turned over again to resume their normal running.....Les

Thanks lads, I pulled the plug this morning and have a nice fat blue spark despite ammeter only deflecting now and again in a random sort of way, confirming what Les says re electronic ignition. Petrol had been in the tank since last used in October and on reserve so put a fresh gallon of Texaco Excellium in. Domestic duties curtailed further progress, but I suspect all will be well with the new fuel. The ammeter not moving sounded alarm bells at first, but seems to make sense now. Thanks chaps.

In all three bikes I always put a dose of 'fuel preserver' at the end of the regular riding season. it would probably not helped the bantam though.

What's fuel preserver? I'm tempted to drain the tank at the end of riding season, and put it in the car, then start next season with fresh juice.