Hitchcocks Forum

Having an intermittent problem. When the engine is not running the ignition switch switches the power to the coil on / off as it should do, however when running sometimes the switch will not switch the power off - so the engine will stay running, also the kill switch has no effect. When not running switching the kill switch off does nothing (the ammeter will show a discharge all the time whether the switch is on or off). Guessing that the ign switch & kill switch are efefctively in series with the coil and either should just break the circuit - I dont know because I have not been able to find a wiring diagram. Guess it is down to a faulty connection or possibly switch. Any suggestions ?

Assuming you have the standard ignition system, when not running the ammeter should only show a discharge when the points are closed. If the lights are off there should be no discharge at all with the points open and the ignition switched on. Sounds like a wiring fault.

BTW it's best to stop the engine with the decompressor rather than the switches to save the sprag.

I've come to the conclusion that RE switches tend to be a bit sticky. My 2004 350 Bullet Electra (no starter motor, kickstart only and no distributor fitted) has electronic ignition on the left hand end of the crank).

Sometimes the pilot lights stay on with the switch turned off. The ammeter only ever shows a discharge if a brake light switch is triggered or the indicators are put on with the engine stopped.

Mione has "points assist" ignition - i.e. points as usual but an electronic box for better spark. Had a look this afternoon, the kill switch works as a switch but does nto cut the power to the points so cannot be in in circuit, if I could find a diagram I could fathom it out. Currently there is a red wire going to the points which the ignition switch seems to switch, but as I say with the bike running the ignition switch does not always switch the engiine off, with the bike not running it works without fail. Guess it could simply be a faulty ign switch, but clearly the kill switch is doing nothing.

The ignition switch has a Double throw. It cuts the power to the coil AND at the same time shorts out the points.


The switches are problematic and often know to fail.


Replace the ignition switch, (they can be taken apart to repair, but the contacts are usually fornicated from moisture corrosion). With the ign Switch OFF, check that there is no continuity between the ammeter Red/Yellow wire, and the coil (Pos +) Red/White wire. SOME bikes wiring loom (drawing 144973a) also had a direct feed from the Rectifier/Regulator unit to the coil, which meant that IF you had the engine racing, (jammed throttle?) operating the Ignition switch could have little to no effect. Ditto the kill switch too.


IF there is continuity between Coil and RR with the switch OFF, your loom has a link between alternator and coil and is capable of running at Higher rpm with out the key being ON!!!


A similar but different situation existed with the early Electra CDI unit: To hot-wire those bikes at one time, all one needed to do was disconnect the ignition switch from the circuit!!


If you would like a wiring diagram for your 2003, you can contact me off list: royalenfield AT brauhaus DOT co DOT nz

Tim. Many thanks for this - really useful information. I'll get the multimeter out today and have a poke around. My bike had a red wire goiing to the coil and I am pretty sure that comes directly from the ignition switch, which looks to be faulty as explained in my original posting. Looking around the net and at the Snidal manual it looks like there should be a red / black wire going to the coil which comes via the kill switch. I might take you up on the offer of a diagram. Thanks again.

If there is a crossed up wire there somewhere they can run on the alternator once it is running with the ignition switch off. Fitting a toggle switch in the coil wire will kill it and is also a way to prevent it being stolen but that is not something that happens to Enfields too often

Hi, hope this is of use....my Electra x 2007 had a similar problem in that turn off ignition, even remove the key and sometimes neutral light etc remains on. In the end I traced it to the female 2 pin connector to the switch ( main wiring loom) seems somehow the pins could make contact in their housing even though nothing visible. Just to be sure, I removed the obsolete black and blue white wires from the switch and simp,y connected 2 to 2 to provide an on off key switch. Not sure what the other 2 wires are for, I guess its a common item rather than designing one from sctratch for only a one in one out arrangement. Anyway, this might just shed a different light on the problem! Steve

Hi, hope this is of use....my Electra x 2007 had a similar problem in that turn off ignition, even remove the key and sometimes neutral light etc remains on. In the end I traced it to the female 2 pin connector to the switch ( main wiring loom) seems somehow the pins could make contact in their housing even though nothing visible. Just to be sure, I removed the obsolete black and blue white wires from the switch and simp,y connected 2 to 2 to provide an on off key switch. Not sure what the other 2 wires are for, I guess its a common item rather than designing one from sctratch for only a one in one out arrangement. Anyway, this might just shed a different light on the problem! Steve