Forum

[dave p]

I had these symptoms on my 2009 Bullet recently.It turned out to be the cheap and nasty terminal on the HT lead that plugs into the coil.It was quite rotten.I replaced it, and the HT lead, cleaned up the female receptacle in the top of the coil tower and all was well.

[Adrian]

Someone on the US forum was having awful problems starting his 500 - he switched to a Champion spark plug (had been using NGK) and all was suddenly well. N4C ought to be about right.



A.

[Alan R]

Hi Guys------ yes, it might well have been a "scam" or copy plug.....NGK seem particularly prone to copies it seems...This might be of use }------ http://www.ngk-sparkplugs.jp/english/te ... index.html

[Martin C]

At the risk of suggesting the obvious (because no-one else has): do make sure your battery is fully charged, at the very least 12.6 volts under no load. I had very similar repeated starting problems with my 2002 Bullet, which turned out to be entirely due to a consistently low battery voltage, resulting from inadequate charging whilst riding (subsequently sorted out). The installed ammeter is not a very accurate instrument for checking the overall charging status, especially if your bike has been converted to battery headlamp instead of direct AC headlamp.

[Clement]

Hi Guys - this is a bit late but I thought I tell you what my experience has been with this.
Symptoms as described: endless kicking, some farting through the carburetor and occasionally starting but cutting out when throttling back.
I remembered the post about this so inspected the carb rubber first: was tight, no split; then changed plug; then checked ignition timing - okay; then replaced points just to be sure; then replaced condenser; then checked carb; all okay - still impossible to start; battery okay at 12.5 volts so alternator etc probably okay. It turned out to be the lead from the sparkplug into the ignition coil: quite loose at the ignition coil end - inserting this properly and tight cured the problem.

Clement

[Leon Novello]

The condenser is there to stop the points burning out, signs of this is pitting on the contact breaker`s faces. If you have had to file down any pitting, then I recommend you fit a new one, and possibly new points.

[Presto]

There's a good lesson to learn from this string. With this type of problem the only reliable method of diagnosis is a systematic progressive check of components - beginning at the spark plug and taking into account EVERY link in the ignition sequence.

[John L]

All very well for you guys to offer advice re what to spend his hard-earned on next/what the cause of his bike's reluctance to start he's been afflicted with (however unlikely), or simply to take the p**s.......but the o.p.'s last contribution was months ago (FEB. 7th.) Anyone have any further news?.....Was the problem resolved?..... Was the cause found?

[Jamesy]

Feedback and updates are very much appreciated.

[Wheaters]

I'm surprised no-one mentioned carrying out a compression check. So I will.

Same symptoms as my 350 Bullet Electra when the exhaust valve clearance kept tightening up, due to valve seat recession.