Hitchcocks Forum

Went to start the Electra X (ish) yesterday, pressed the starter button all it did was go click. (It did work eventually.)
This morning I have found this video for the electrically thick. (Me)
It details testing the starter solenoid.

I suggested to "her indoors" that I park the bike in the living room close to my computer so I could have the video close by whilst I carried out the checks.

And that`s when the fight started.

Last Sunday was our 40th wedding anniversary if I had committed a mass murder I would have been let out by now.

I do this on Japanese bikes but I assume enfields (and indeed, anything with an electric start) are the same setup.



If I suspect the starter solenoid is duff (so clicking but not starting), I get an old screwdriver and short between the two poles of the solenoid. If there's a brief shower of sparks and the engine spins over enthusiastically, I replace the solenoid. If it doesn't, I test the charging stystem.

stinkwheel, I posted the video, because it goes through all the checking steps necessary.

Whilst I have used your screwdriver method to cold start trucks and tractors in the winter, due to it being possible for the screwdriver to get welded to the terminals, (don't ask) I am not about to try that on something I own.

If you think about it, all the solenoid actually does is bridge the terminals with a lump of metal, just from the inside rather than the outside.

New solenoid just arrived. (Within 24 hours of ordering from our hosts.) With the instruction "some rewiring may be needed." (That appears to be somewhat of an understatement.) But given the amount of wires and connectors in the fitting kit I should be OK (Three spare 30 amp fuses in the kit as well.)

I will use the principle one wire off of the old solenoid one wire onto the new solenoid.

I have seem people get into serious wucking fuddles by taking multi wired/piped components off and NOT following that principle.

--------on the other hand you'll get to meet a whole new lot of people when utilising the more traditional "Bump" starter !!..............Our 'Guzzi California threw a flat battery on Douglas promenade on the I.o.M during TT Week....A group of young Italian lads rushed over to give Joyce a hand to bump start and thus rescue the pride of Italy.. God bless them.!!

I hope they pushed the bikes rear end and not Joyce's.