Hitchcocks Forum

Hi folks, I've had bullets in the past but, I just bought a 08 electra x, perhaps this is a common thing (almost definitely) but the electric start doesn't work, never had an electric start on a bullet.... still haven't but i'd like to rectify that, basically I press the button and nothing happens.... I see a switch on the clutch and one on the side stand, perhaps these have something to do with it, I have no idea, I've pulled in the clutch and folded up the stand to no avail.. can someone give me a test procedure to find out what's wrong, thanks very much in advance

Does it still have an electric starter fitted. (not a joke.)
The micro switches on both the clutch lever and side stand do have a tendency to stick. (The clutch one on my 2006 Electra X (ish) did just that two days ago, with the result absolutely nothing happened when I pressed the starter button.)

Ha, yes its still there, the plunger on the clutch switch seems to operate, they guy says the starter did work occasionally .... he seemed a good guy but I take things like that with a pinch of salt,,

That still leaves the side stands switch, and just because the plunger on the switch move in an out does not necessarily mean it is working. (You could also have a duff battery.) Or even a duff ignition switch , or despite the neutral light being on the gearbox may not be in neutral.
(That is just a few of the problems I have come across, I suspect others here will add to the list.)
Just to add check all the wiring connector blocks in the vicinity of the ignition igniter box.

The side stand switch shouldn't have any effect on the starter operation, it cuts the ignition circuit only, although on papasmurf's machine it does seem to be wired into the starter circuit for some reason. The clutch switch prevents the starter working if in gear and the clutch out. Either the earth for the solenoid comes from the gearbox neutral switch if in neutral and clutch out( does the neutral light work?) or from another source if the clutch is pulled in. It's unlikely the switch is preventing both sources but possible I guess. Is there a click from the solenoid when the starter button Is pressed? If so that would prove the fault to be towards the motor or the solenoid itself. You could try shorting the terminals on the solenoid from the battery and to the motor with a screwdriver, pair of pliers or heavy gauge wire to check the motor operation. Just be careful not to touch the frame or earth. The battery though needs to be in tip top condition for the solenoid to work, let alone the motor, so measure the battery voltage. It should be 12.6v, anything a little less would be suspect. Make sure all terminals on the solenoid, motor and battery are tight and clean including the earth terminal on the frame.

Could also be a faulty ignition switch/loose connection at the ignition switch.

I had problems with my electra x started not working and after checking and bypassing everything it turned out that the solenoid was duff. A cheap £1.99 from that well known auction site cured it and is still going strong 2 yrs later

Well..... thanks folks but, for reason best know to itself it has just started to work perfectly, I have no idea why or how, it will start on the side stand and without pulling the clutch in, on one hand this is excellent news, on the other its bound to pack up again and the process will begin again, Yes Frank the neutral light works, when the button was pressed nothing what so ever happened on click nothing, i'll see how it goes

Just a thought. Have you had the lights on when you were trying to use the electric foot? Mine wont turn over from cold with the headlight on and only once when its hot. I have a motobatt battery and always starts first touch of the button, even after standing for 2-3 months

It does seem you have an electrics problem rather than a mechanical. Which is good in a way because electrics are easy to fix.

Run continuity tests (ohms) on starter and battery to ground and battery to starter via the relay, and relay to starter switch. In standard form we have interlock switching to check on - neutral, the clutch lever and the side stand (often disabled). The interlocking is = (side stand up) and ((clutch in) or (in neutral))



Quite often it is simply the battery so it is also worth checking the battery is up to its job. When new they should supply 12.6V, as they age their volts drop, as they get old they cannot provide enough amps neither. They do like topping up from time to time, often forgotten but important. Battery terminals need to be tight. And so on

My oem/factory FIAMM-India battery will start the bike with the headlamp on, not the preferred method but as it should if it is in good order.