Forum

[Ruth]

Hi,
I just wondered if anyone else has tried to run their bike without a battery using a boyer power box?
I am having some issues starting reliably, which is a problem as it tends to stall also. Spent over an hour at some traffic lights the other day trying to kick her over.

Thanks

[Norm]

The idea of a magneto springs to mind

[Leon Novello]

Keep in mind that in some countries it is mandatory that the tail light remains on if the engine stops.
You are creating problems for yourself where there were none before. Just fit a battery and enjoy trouble-free riding. These bikes will let you know when they really need fixing.

[PeteF]

If you particularly want to go battery free you could put a big capacitor in place of the battery. I think you need quite a big one though.

[Gwilly]

Pete i believe there is already a capacitor in the power box, hense battery free.. Not sure what another one in the circuit would do electronics wise..

Ruth the starting is never going to be brilliant and may need a hefty kick on occasion..

However once started it shouldn't easily stall so i'm thinking there is a series of minor gremlins which together are causing problems..

Go through and clean/ test all the wiring connections relating to the ignition circuit, i.e. main earth, ignition switch, kill switch, coil connections.. look for corrosion/damage..

Nice new HT lead and plug cap, even an iridium plug.. One of those high output german coils might be nice if finance allows... Clean the carb/jets and keep nicely tuned for stable tickover and takeoff without spits and pops... Basically pay attention to the little details and the gremlins will be evicted leaving another enfield thats a joy to ride...

[Ruth]

Thanks Gwilly.
Theres a lot of good ideas there.
I think some of the problem maybe that my kick isn't strong enough and I just end up flooding

[Gwilly]

If you think you've flooded open the throttle wide and hold, then use the decompressor to kick through a few times..

Pulls some fresh air through the cylinder.. Not all riders are 16 stone so here's a tip on kicking over..

Down with the kicker until you hit compression, now use the decomp to take it passed gently for another third of a swing, (Approx..)
Now release the decomp and let the kicker return back to the top.. Ignition on, balance and swing right down to the bottom...

Motor will usually fire at the bottom of the swing.. Its not really a kick more a fast swing to spin the motor passed the next compression stroke...

Ive seen spindly little urchins fire up a gold star without problem so it must be technique more than brute force...

Give it a try, you will find the right spot with practice.. mean time a little maintenance will make things easier.... gwilly

[John M]

I have a Bullet with the Indian Eureka electronic ignition, a regulator/rectifier, no battery and a 2MC capacitor. You can get a Lucas 2MC type capacitor part number LU/54170009 from our hosts, just plumb it in with two wires, one to negative and one to positive. My bike starts without a problem despite having no battery. Technique may help, I feel it over top dead centre, use a small throttle opening and give it a really big kick.
If it is being started from cold I give it a couple of gentle kicks with the decompressor pulled in to energise the capacitor before the big kick to start it.

[Count Johnny]

Hi Ruth. I have gone through the mill with this, as well, but have finally cracked it by doing everything that Gwilly suggests while also fitting an LED rear light/stop bulb; a 35W H4 headlamp bulb (to reduce the current draw as much as possible); one of our host's uprated alternator stators and a SPARX alternator rotor. Finally (and most importantly, I believe) you don't say whether you are running points and condenser or an electronic ignition system. In our case (with a raised compression engine) we don't think that we were reliably getting enough volts, on kickover, to work the Boyer Microdigital ignition system (which I believe needs to see a minimum of 10 volts) so have gone back to points and condenser with magical results. I'm just in the process of doing some other work on the bike, but when we've finished, I'm aiming to measure the output from the Boyer Power Box at different revs, to see what is happening, and will post the results on here. PS. You didn't say whether you had your lights on when you stalled and couldn't restart. The lights draw an awful lot of current and will, if you let them, kill the ignition and bike will not start unless you turn the lights off first.

[Ruth]

I have points and condenser.
I always make sure all lights etc are off when starting.
You've given me a lot to think about there.
Thanks so much