Hitchcocks Forum

Well it started as a simple job, to change the flash unit. Only to find out that the old one wasn't really defective and the new relay didn't solve the problem of double speed and erratic indicators.

Reassembled the thing and the bike is dead. No lights, horn or indicators. I've checked and changed the main fuse. Nothing. Battery shows 12V on the meter.


Any suggestions as to where I go now? I am not an electrician. 2003 Bullet 500, kick start....

Hi Exile, I think the first thing to check is if the main frame is still earthed to the battery..

Place the red lead ( meter set to 20VDC) on the plus terminal of the battery and use the black neg lead to probe various metal parts on the bike i.e. engine casing/ fixing bolts/ handlebars..

You should get a similar reading as when you probe pos and neg across battery..

If not then check the main earth lead connection from battery to frame, clean and secure..

Positive to frame gives 12V... So I presume it's earthing OK. Checked several locations on the frame.. all good.

It's a question of tracing back from the battery if you have 12v there. The main fuse holder is worth checking, see f you have 12v both sides of that, then do you have 12v at ignition switch, and so on. BTW I just fixed erratic flashers with an electronic relay. It doesn't care about wattage and the flash rate is now steady.

Try running a wire directly from the battery to the ammeter and see if it all comes back to life.



While a dodgy fuse holder might indeed cause this, your Bullet might well have done what my Electra did a few years ago and have the main wire from the battery to the ammeter snap where the wiring loom continually flexes around the headstock. The insulation had become brittle after a few years and copper cores also then parted company. The broken wire wasn't obvious by looking, but running my finger along the wiring loom I could soon feel the broken wire poking out.



Hope this helps.



A.

Hi Guys------I once attended a non-starter (no electrics) Bullet in Shrewsbury..This turned out to be loose wires on the Ammmeter...BE CAREFUL INSIDE THE CASQUETTE...disconnect the earth wire first..

Mine had another fuse hidden under the seat.... any chance it's that? -Chris

12v = Flat battery. Fully charged battery = 13.4v No good with electrics? Be very careful, because if any/all the Smoke escapes from the wiring the bike wont go until the Smoke is replaced, and it is supper tricky to get it back in...

Sooo... it looks like I'll be chasing wires and opening the birds nest in the casquette... I'm not looking forward to it but I suppose i may learn from the experience. It will have to wait until net week though.. busy weekend on the way.
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll let you all know how it goes.