Hitchcocks Forum

Hi, i’m Quite new to Enfield and have recently purchased a 2015 bullet 500 efi.
With12000 miles on the clock. I have put another 600 on it no problems.
But now it just will not start.
It turns over on the button and It’s getting fuel and it’s got a spark, that’s as far as my tech knowledge goes
All help appreciated.

Dead easy to try: Presumably you've tested the plug, having removed it? But if it's just a little bit duff, it might not work inside the engine.

So try a Brand New spark plug. And if that doesn't work, try another, as there are stories of new ones failing, too. Sigh...

Despite the possibility of a dud NGK spark plug the BPR6ES suits these bikes better than the Indian Bosch copy originally fitted. If yours still has the original I’d replace it anyway with an NGK. Are you using the “choke” lever? If it’s as cold where you are asthe distraught looking brass monkeys confirm it is here then you’ll need it. Is the sidestand switch still connected? These are known to cause issues when they get dirt on the contacts, as they inevitably do if the bike is used in the rain. Do you pull the clutch lever in when cranking the engine? You should because not doing so increases the load on the starter motor as it has to turn the gearbox input shaft as well as the crankshaft. My guess is either the plug or a dodgy connector.

Cheers for all that fella’s. Just ordered a service kit off Hitchcocks, comes with a new plug so fingers crossed that is the problem.

Hello Wol-----Here's a little anecdote while you wait for that kit to arrive}------- A few Summers ago I'm out with the "Lads" on my previous Bullet '65 ( note the model type ) and we rode to the Bike Show at Stafford ie}-- about a 30 min ride away.......had a good, sunny day there and bought a host of "Useful" items, you know the type of stuff I mean ??..........Time for home so we go back to the Bike parking area ( in the days when you could park actually inside the showground ),..get kitted up and start our machines.....Well they did but mine just cranked over with no apparent compression !!....W.T.F??......By now a crowd of Enfield "Admirers" had gathered and as you might expect were offering a rook of "Helpful" ideas....most oddly enough were to do with the local Council's Scrap recovery service (Which apparently is free !! ).......

So let's turn the tables and I'll ask YOU to diagnose that fault and what repairs --- if any ---- were needed to get me on my way ..Any ideas ??

Wol: When you say fuel is getting through do you mean that the spark plug is wet? If not you can t st the fuel supply by removing the injector and cranking the engineg. Fuel should squirt out of the injector in pulses. Also, I assume the MIL
goes out after a few seconds. If it doesn’t there’s a fault that can be accessed by reading the short and long flashes in the ECU test procedure.
Alan R: Loose or stolen spark plug, head gasket blown, valve lifter stuck open, valve adjuster tightened up (unlikely)?

One for you and anyone else interested: Years ago when I was a young tearaway (an old one now😀) I called in at John Martin’s, the independent small dealer and repair place we all used to frequent in Stone (Staffs). Talking to him (wasting his time?) he mentioned that neither he nor his mechanic (Harry, but known as H) could solve a problem with one of his lady customer’s Honda moped. Apparently although there was plenty of petrol in the tank and fuel was reaching the carb, the spark plug remained bone dry? What was up with it?

Hi Mr. Rattle----Everything was intact and in place....the bike was exactly as I had ridden it to the show....I have given you a clue in the writing, can you tell us which particular model of Honda Moped it was ??......I have a feeling that the lady riders type of clothing has something to do with it ??

Being a bit dim the only possible reference I can see in your text is that it was a Bullet 65. Not knowing much about the differences between the pre UCE models I’m afraid I can offer no more possible explanations. I don’t know what model of Honda moped it was, except that it wasn’t the PC50 ie the one with the motor in the rear wheel - maybe a Camino? Nothing to do with the rider ....

Rattlebattle I think this may be a declared draw as Allan r hasnt responded and can't give an answer on your Honda moped tease.