Hitchcocks Forum

Hi need some help
I've just restored a bullet 500 but now can't get it to start ,it kicks over and if I'm not careful kicks back
It has tried to fire a couple of times compression good changed jets in carb cause wasn't sure if they were correct ignition seems to be set correct new fuel and now my leg is getting tired have I missed anything out ,any suggestions greatly accepted
Howard

start with rechecking the 3 basics.





fuel



spark



timming

Just beginning to wonder is it possible I have put the timing gears back the wrong way or how do i set up the carb is there a standard position for the throttle screw etc
Thanks for the reply

Help us to help you: what model, what year, what carb, what settings, ignition points or electronic? In the meantime it doesn't sound as if you have the cams in the wrong way, you'd be likely to get firing through the exhaust if this was the case. I'd work on it as it stands before dismantling again. Assuming you have a slide carburettor fitted, one thing that often catches folk out is failing to adjust the throttle stop correctly, resulting in the slide either too low or too high when at rest. Check there is free play in the cable and also the position of the throttle stop screw, a basic setting for this is to unscrew it completely, put your finger on the slide through the intake and screw the stop up until the slide can be felt to just lift a fraction. Good luck,

REgards, Mark

If it is kicking back then at least you know that it has a spark and is getting fuel. As an asside, I find that one way of guaranteeing to get an Enfield to kick back is to open the throttle too much...........I would be tempted to retard the timing a little and see if you can improve things, if you mark the points before you start you can easily revert to your current settings.

Thanks for the replies
It's a 2002 500cc with a slide carb
Just getting a bit disheartened then you start thinking all kind of things are wrong
I will give those suggestions a go
Thanks
My leg hurts !!!!!!

This isn't one of those daft situations, where you think the timing cam rotates one way, but actually rotates the other? It's happened before...

Hi Barrie could you explain what you mean ive been setting the timing with the bike in gear turning the wheel to get to tdc

For a lack of a better expression. The timing cam spins in the opposite direction to the crank. So, instead of firing before TDC. It's firing after TDC. Either that or it's sparking on the exhaust stroke.

This does sound the timing's not set correctly. Did you account for backlash when you set it up?