Author Topic: What did you do to your Royal Enfield today?  (Read 1811163 times)

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mattsz

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Reply #3810 on: January 01, 2014, 09:23:35 pm
I'm planning on doing exactly the same.  Check out McMaster Carr.  They sell welding cable by the foot at reasonable prices.  Ends and boots too I think.

Well, I'm too lazy right now to go and look, but it may even have been you who made the suggestion to me after my second battery terminal fail...


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #3811 on: January 02, 2014, 05:58:32 pm
Hmmm....  The Ford starter relay is working, but only when the headlight is off.  I suspect it needs a bit more juice than the stocker to trigger and with the tiny wires and headlight burning, there's just not enough reserve.  Looking at some other options, including the one I had.  While I thought it had just failed I now suspect my wiring the positive and negative leads of the starter together may have hastened its demise.  Plus they're cheap, I can always get two and keep one in the toolbox as a spare.

Scott


High On Octane

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Reply #3812 on: January 02, 2014, 06:19:36 pm
Scotty - If you touch the ground and positive wires together on the starter you may have melted a wire somewhere.

Scottie
2001 Harley Davidson Road King


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #3813 on: January 02, 2014, 06:29:51 pm
Well that curious burning smell was my first clue that something was amiss :)  And the big battery lines were warm but not hot.  I only tried to start it a few times, so not too bad.  I'm replacing those anyway just because I want something heavier gauge and more flexible.  I'm also planning to rewire the regulator/rectifier lines for the same reason.  I've had the parts for a year, just haven't gotten to it, so that's this winter's project.

Still, the miswire should have only affected the leads going to the starter, not the solenoid actuator lines or anything else for that matter.  There are two lines for the actuator, positive and negative, but I only hooked up the positive since the Ford solenoid has a chassis ground.  I'm going to connect the ground line to the solenoid mounting bolt just for good measure, that may make a difference.

Once I get it sorted and working properly I'll move into the winter rewiring projects.  Also planning to do headlight solenoids.  My bike won't charge with a 55/60W headlight so I'm currently running a 30/30W.  If the rewire and solenoids don't sort that out then I'll replace the reg/rect with an aftermarket unit.

Scott


Royalista

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Reply #3814 on: January 02, 2014, 10:54:28 pm
Changed the bulb from the left tiger eye. It was the original bulb, it lasted 25600 kms and was reluctant to come out.
The one on the right died after 6800 kms.
Now I have 3W on both sides (2W is not available here as these types of bulbs are no longer stocked; I need to hoard).

Got caught by a torrential rain today. It brought darkness an hour earlier. As I wasn't quite sure where I was and visibility got poor I had to ride home on compass. At a given moment I found the road had become really potholed. Figure I'd just found one of the few non paved roads in the area.
Man, do I love the bullet. It never failed a bit, brought me home safe and well. Thanks to the rain all mud wiped off pretty easy.
Never a dull day.
Happy with the new year so far.  ;D
moriunt omnes pauci vivunt


JVS

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Reply #3815 on: January 03, 2014, 07:42:31 am
Got US 81.45 MPG or 34.63 km/L on my Bullet 500 today! Wow! Highest since I've got it. Very happy.
Sons continuing wars, our fathers were enemies



Royalista

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Reply #3816 on: January 03, 2014, 11:12:22 pm
Got US 81.45 MPG or 34.63 km/L on my Bullet 500 today! Wow! Highest since I've got it. Very happy.
Congratulations. You're a smooth rider.  ;)
moriunt omnes pauci vivunt


crush02342002

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Reply #3817 on: January 04, 2014, 04:07:15 am
wow that is good...that's damn good. great job on the throttle


heloego

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Reply #3818 on: January 04, 2014, 01:28:21 pm
Great mileage, JVS!  ;D

Weather in the 50s today. Got her out after a 3 week rest, put about 30 miles on her.
Hope the weather hold for awhile.  ???
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barenekd

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Reply #3819 on: January 04, 2014, 06:35:29 pm
Some of the guys a couple of years ago were getting starter relays from lawnmower shops that replaced the RE ones nicely and were cheap. I don't recall the details as I never had a problem, but it might be worth looking into.
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Ducati Scotty

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Reply #3820 on: January 04, 2014, 07:39:41 pm
Exactly what I picked up yesterday ;)  Universal unit for lawn tractors, $12 at Home Depot.

Scott


crush02342002

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Reply #3821 on: January 05, 2014, 12:12:50 am
since it was warm out I pulled the bullet from the garage and got to work pulling off all the bolts that loosened up on me on my trip to Dallas and smeared some locktight on em. Replaced all the bulbs in the speedo but left the low fuel/engine light alone (wasn't sure how those bulbs come out). Pulled the header pipe off to see what happened to the gasket....ummmmm....no gasket....isn't there supposed to be one?


gashousegorilla

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Reply #3822 on: January 05, 2014, 12:24:25 am
   Yes.... at the connection to the head. You sure it's not there, or is it just so blackened with carbon it looks the rest of the port ? 
An thaibhsí atá rattling ag an doras agus tá sé an diabhal sa chathaoir.


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #3823 on: January 05, 2014, 01:08:10 am
ummmmm....no gasket....isn't there supposed to be one?

I have some.  I've got stock and the copper crush style from Aircraft Spruce.  PM me your address and which kind you'd like if you need one.  Oh, and I went with copper, I figure it's less likely to blow out ;)

For myself, I removed the Ford starter relay and installed one from a lawn mower.  The Ford wouldn't kick if the headlight was on.  This one works fine and bolted right up with no mods required.  It's only $13 at Home Depot, part # 490-250-0013:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/12-Volt-Universal-Lawn-Tractor-Solenoid-490-250-0013/203642367#.UsixBPvAHQg

Yup, I've officially got lawn mower parts on my bike now  ::)

Also, if you get the full sized MotoBatt AGM battery, just skip the little bolt on posts and bolt the cables right to the battery.  It's way easier to get the battery in that way and seems to be just fine.

Scott
« Last Edit: January 05, 2014, 01:12:50 am by Ducati Scotty »


High On Octane

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Reply #3824 on: January 05, 2014, 02:46:25 am
2001 Harley Davidson Road King