Engine shutdown mod for diesel Enfields.

[old clunker]

One other modification I came up with last Autumn, which might interest some other Diesel Royal Enfield owners, who have the electric solenoid fuel shut off fitted. Mine was a standard fit, fitted by Henry Price.
I found that the fundamental flaw was that if the battery went flat, or there was an electrics or switch failure; with the solenoid no longer powered, the diesel engine wouldn't be able to either start or run any more - just a minor problem!! I know that fitting an engine shutdown handlebar mounted switch gives the feel and convenience of a more modern bike, but I like my bike to be as 'failure proof' as possible, and I have a certain mistrust of bike electrics, gained over the years!

So I decided the easiest way was to replace the solenoid operation with a mechanical one, using an in line fuel tap adjacent to the solenoid, which is mounted on the fuel pump.

An 8mm diameter in line fuel tap was used, which allows the same fuel flow as the solenoid internally. A 10mm diameter fuel tap could also be employed.
The solenoid was unscrewed and the internal valve and spring were removed, and the housing assembly could then be resealed and screwed back in place on the fuel pump, making sure that it's fluid tight. The electrical cable could be disconnected from the top of the solenoid connection stud, the connector then taped up and stowed away.

Since the fuel line has been broken down, the usual air bleeding routine has to be carried out, until diesel can be seen to be pumping out from the high pressure injector supply pipe connector end. When the fuel flow was ok, then it could all be connected back together.
With the fuel tap lever placed 'in line', the engine can be started and run. When it is in this off position as shown in the picture, the engine stops running in about 5 seconds.

Just have to remember to place the fuel tap lever back in the 'in line' position, or the engine won't start again!

Now the engine is just about electrics failure proof, and I can even have the engine running with the key operated electrics/ignition switch placed in the off position!
An added bonus is that it makes the bike more secure and impossible to start, if someone is unaware of the extra in line fuel tap!