Hitchcocks Forum

OK,out today and stopped for fuel. Bike wouldn't start so kicked it and started. Then misfired, milk light flashed and it died, that was it. Suspected battery, so walked to a dealer, which was lucky I was near one. Put new battery on, rode 25 miles home all good. But, why did the battery just fail like that, it's an acid style one and now have a gel battery. Dealer said to check my charging circuit. Bikes only 21 months old with only 3600 miles. Ta.

A battery can die suddenly, just like we can.

Hi Leon, wouldn't it be nice if we knew exactly when we were going to die. A great uncle of mine knew, the Judge told him! Adam

Maybe your old one ran out of milk......Seriously, the original wet lead acid batteries are an anagram of carp. I replaced mine asap with a Motobatt gel type that has more cranking amps and won't spew acid all over my nice rust. I've had wet lead acid batteries just conk out when the ignition is turned off. It's usually because one of the cells has gone bad. The lights etc will work but the starter relay just clicks as there isn't sufficient juice (milk?) in it to turn the starter motor. Not uncommon.

As the dealer said - check the charging circuit. If that is faulty the new battery will run out of juice fairly soon and you are back where you started. You will need a multimeter, about £25 from Maplins and probably the most useful tool in an Enfield owners toolkit. There are lots of You Tube tutorials on how to do it. There isn't anything different about Enfields, it is a standard 3 phase alternator.

Thanks for the advice, I shall check the charging circuit. May install a voltmeter if I can find one that's not a nasty five pounds Chinese jobbie! Thinking of buying our hosts powerbox to replace the regulator as heard these are iffy. The joys of an Enfield eh.

Sparx and lucas make a reg/rectifier used both with good results. Re voltmeter your only measuring max 15v dc so should be ok voltage across batt terminals should rise to over 14v on reving bike. Got a expensive one and a cheap $9 one both read same.

My 2016 B5 OE battery has lasted even less than yours Barry - just 8 months and 1600 miles. On top of which I also had a faulty TPS connector block and the MIL fault message is 'Fuel system error'! OK what part of the fuel system is faulty? I found the bad connection by running my fingers over the all the wiring for the EFI system until I found it - the connector is now held together with. a rubber band (normal Royal Enfield factory style high quality fix this!). Owning a Royal Enfield is 'character building'!

Oh dear, it's all basic stuff that you'd think in the 21st century wouldn't happen. I mean, cars go on for thousands of miles with no issues! I guess it's the price we pay for wanting a characterful bike.

Looks like the regulator /rectifier is faulty.. Volts from battery with engine off were 12.3. Started it, and revved engine and it took a few seconds to slowly climb to 14.2 volts. However, letting the engine back to idle it stayed at 14.3 and even switched off and on it stayed at 14.3. Turned lights on and dropped to 12.1 then when revved up went to 14.2 but dropped back on idle.

However, one corner of the battery has melted slightly and signs of acid spitting out. So, new rectifier needed and guess it'll be our hosts UK made one.