Hitchcocks Forum

Help please folks, Recently my CI Bullet (05,500cc) spluttered to a halt, exactly as if running out of fuel. As I'd had a leaking petrol pipe earlier that day I assumed it was related to this, so checked the fuel line and float bowl at the roadside. This took ten minutes or so, and all seemed to be in order and indeed the bike started easily after this. Discretion being the better part of valor, I headed for home, a distance of about six miles and arrived without incident. The bike was unused for a month or so until this afternoon when it was quite difficult to start,taking about ten kicks, but once running all was well, until I wound it up to 60mph when it again misfired and spluttered as if short of fuel. After easing back on the throttle all was well again. I stopped for coffee about fifteen miles later and the bike started first kick and ran perfectly for another ten miles when it again spluttered to a halt. My thoughts turned once again to the carb/fuel system, but all appeared to be in order and once again the bike was successfully restarted, after a few attempts. I got a mile or so along the road this time before it once again cut out. It was getting a bit late now and I was in a remote location, so called the AA, who splendidly took me and bike home. I'm thinking the coil may be the culprit. Fuel is fresh, Bike has done 19,000 kms, mostly by me and is in good shape. It has basic electronic ignition which I fitted a couple of years back. Any help greatly appreciated.

When I say basic ignition I mean the Eureka system. (Senior moment.)

Hi REG---Fuel cap vent hole blocked ??

Reg, I've had a similar problem and I hope this helps. In my case it was the condenser (capacitor). It would start and idle perfectly but splutter and die on opening the throttle. It even came good for a while and then the fault returned. I presume you have checked the points but often we forget the condenser. Mine was, at first intermittently breaking down, then it broke down completely giving me the above symptoms. If you have a spare try it. If not unplug the wire to the points and with the points open connect an ohmmeter between that wire (distributor end) and earth. Should read open circuit. Using an analogue meter on a high range you should get a movement of the needle and then back to zero. If the meter does not return to zero, there's your trouble. Good luck.

Does the basic, ie Eureka, electronic ignition system have points & capacitor?
A likely cause of Reg's woes is the HT coil breaking down.

My thoughts too. I had exactly the same issue with my '99 500 Bullet with Boyer ignition. After about 10 minutes' riding it would start to splutter as though running out of fuel, then popping and it would stop. After a wait of 5 minutes it would be fine, for the next ten minutes, etc. A new coil (Hitchcocks' German one) cured it completely.

"It has basic electronic ignition which I fitted a couple of years back. Any help greatly appreciated."

Sorry, did not read this properly. I am not familiar with this. I guess there is no condenser then. Still sounds like electrical and coils could also cause intermittent faults.

Does sound like a coil problem, think the Eurika does away with points and cap but does retain the old mechanical advance / retard with needs to be inspected and lubed from time to time..

Thank you gentlemen, I shall try testing the coil with a multimeter, but don't know how reliable the results might be as the problem is only there when the coil is warm. (Will this make a difference?) I reckon it is the coil though. Mark B, is there any advantage in going for the German coil?

It's smaller than the Lucas one and our hosts said it's better quality. (And more expensive...) Hope your problem is sorted soon Reg.