Forum

[papasmurf]

Mr Grumpy, a 500cc cylinder take some grunt to start with an electric starter. (I am surprised only an 11 amp hour battery is fitted to an Electra X.)

[Norm]

Papa you want to fit a bigger battery to bust the sprags faster lol

[Michael]

When I (last) repaired the electrics on my bike I considered moving the fuses and using a waterproof fuse board. I never did it, but probably should have. I calculated the maximum current draw using the wiring diagram (same as scaly posted only less colourful) and although I dont have my scribbles here, I am sure it was about 14A max. Headlamp on full beam (60W so 5A), indicators on (were 23W so 2A each, total 4A - but are now back to 10W), all the wee speedo lights (fuel, mil, speedo, indicator, fb and neutral tell tales = 12W total, so 1A), tail and stop lamp (I think 50W total? So 4A). Total on the lighting circuit is 14A give or take a bit, and that is if they are all in parallel on the same fused circuit. So a 15A fuse should just work out, 20 A allows wiggle room. However, that doesnt count for all the shorts-to-frame that exist!!!!! EG tail light wiring loom, main beam connector via speedo cable, shorting tail light due to water ingress, ditto indicators and the ridiculously close battery positive terminal, solenoid feed off and frame.

[jaffa90]

Hi Michael and members, you seem to know what your talking about, in-line fuses spring to mind and remember heat can build up in a loom of wires all huddled together.

[papasmurf]

Norm, I am always very careful to make sure the piston is past TDC before pressing the starter button. It is one of the reasons I fitted an electronic tacho. It flics from 0000 to 0015 to 0000 as the piston goes past TDC, using the decompressor with the ignition on,and pressing gently on the kickstart.)
The using the electric start. Starts first press on the button even after being stood for a couple of weeks.

[Scalyback]

Wasn't that the Beatles?

"The Magical mystery wire is waiting to all melt away,

Waiting to all melt away, melting today!

[Michael]

Ha! Cheers Scaly, that gives me something to sing to myself when next I am immobile

[Mr Grumpy]

Thanks for the excellent info Michael 15 does seem a bit close with not much in the way of surge protection but I wonder better the fuse than the wiring. I can only find the one fuse and it resides in th LH tool box so is easy to get at (are there any more hidden away on a 65?)

[Scalyback]

I am not sure about a 65, but the bullet diagram from 1995 shows just one fuse. I put link and pic below!



Scaly's junk

[Norm]

Only one fuse on the Cast Irons and even that was the cause of much grief to many owners because of the near useless fuse holder it was in, complete junk, and then they upped the fuses to 2 on the Electra and just used the same junk type fuse holder with 2 fuses in it. Another one of those typical Indian head in the sand tricks of just ignoring a problem for 40 years