Hitchcocks Forum

Hello folks,

I recently purchased a second hand standard Bullet 500. It's my first bike, and I've just had my first major problem with it. I rode 80 miles over two days, then came back to it after a 2 hour nap and found it wouldn't start, and the needle on the ammeter wouldn't move when kickstarting it.

I think I noticed before that the needle wasn't moving as much to the left as I've read it should when kicking it over (3/4 to the left? Mine was going closer to 1/3 I think). Other than that it was completely unexpected.

What I'm looking for is two things:
- Advice on starting the bike with no power
- Advice on finding the source of the problem

In particular, I mean:
- I've tried push starting it but have had no luck so far. Can anyone confirm that it's actually possible on a 2000 standard Bullet 500?
- Can I safely jump start it from a car battery?
- How else can I charge the battery?

And:
- Can anyone give me detailed advice/point me towards a thorough guide on finding the source of electrical problems on a Bullet?
- What tools will I need to fix general electric problems? I'm guessing a portable ammeter and a soldering iron, as a start?

Thanks in advance!

Geraint

Thanks a lot! I already have found tour of britain odds here

Hmm, main fuse gone? Broken wire between battery and ammeter, or ammeter terminal came adrift? Battery failure? Broken or corroded earth terminal or wire somewhere?



You can hook up to any working 12V vehicle battery if yours has died just to check. If there's no charge coming off the alternator via the regulator/rectifier bump starting won't work either. It is possible to run a 2000 standard Bullet without a battery if all the other electrics are healthy, you can wire a suitable capacitor in the battery's place.



A.

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I did a wallchart some time ago for Tornado, my 1994 bullet. It may still be useful for a 2000 model. link below.







1994 era Bullet electrical wallchart




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REOC 15084

Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium[/center]

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EDIT>>> sodded the link up, try again!





1994 era Bullet electrical wallchart