| Author | Message | ||
     Mfell2112 |
So when the Neutral light is not lit the bike won't start. Also, it seems the bike won't start unless it is in Neutral. Any ideas? I am going to look over my wiring. I had a little problem with the sidestand switch as well. Don't know if this is related. Thanks Mike | ||
| 34nineteen |
Have you checked the clutch switch? | ||
| Upthemaiden |
The sidestand switches on these bikes always cause problems. The sidestand switch, clutch lever switch, and neutral switch are all wired together for safety reasons. After I got stranded the first time I ended up unhooking the sidestand switch and jumping the plug. The giveaway that it's the sidestand switch is that it'll let the bike start in neutral, but as soon as you put the bike in gear it'll die. After a couple years I started to have a similar problem with the clutch switch. I would try to start the bike and when I'd hit the button, nothing would happen. I eventually realized it was the clutch switch, so I pulled and jumped that one as well. You've obviously got to have faith in yourself because if I wanted, my bike could now start with the sidestand down, in gear, and without the clutch lever pulled in. I typically always put up the sidestand as soon as I get on the bike, and always start bikes with the clutch lever in even if it's in neutral, so my risk is pretty limited. If you're worried about the sidestand, these bikes do also have that little rubber sidestand flipper there as a backup, even though I rarely see tubers with them anymore. I did one time leave a gas pump with the sidestand down, but it was nice enough to put itself up for me as soon as I started to turn to the left haha. | ||
| 34nineteen |
I agree with you on this. I always disable the sidestand switch, but I try to maintain the clutch switch. I had a bike that I was working on and had bypassed both to do troubleshooting. I had forgotten about it, and walked up to it and started it up. Since it was in gear, it jumped off the kickstand and almost fell over. I got lucky and saved it... but I dont plan on having that luck again. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Even when a bike isn't set up so you have to pull in the clutch lever to start it, it's still a habit of mine to always pull it in just because I've had bikes in the past that made you, and once you start doing it, it's hard to stop. Either way, I wouldn't mind putting the clutch switch back on. They're cheap and I think pretty universal, but when mine started to die I disconnected it and didn't put much thought into it afterward. However.... apparently I'm an idiot. I've been pulling it in forever with no problems. Finally this post pops up yesterday, I write about not really needing any of the safety switches, and guess what I did when I was leaving work. I got on the bike, key, fuel, ignition, skipped the choke because it was 97 degrees and I figured I wouldn't need that, pulled in the clutch lever... at the last second I thought "nah, I'll just pull the choke to make sure", and in my rush to get in the wind before I roasted to death, I reached down to pull the choke out and then immediately hit the starter. I luckily also always start it with my hand on the brake since I park it in 1st gear as the parking lot isn't flat. The bike kept trying to lunge forward, and my hand on the brake was the only thing that kept it from shooting out from under me. | ||
| Captainkirk |
I've had my clutch switch give me grief, mostly because the bushing in the clutch lever is worn out so I am presently using a jumper across that one. Buell of St Paul carries replacement switches for clutch and sidestand and they are cheap. I have several extras on hand. I do carry a few jumpers under the seat in case I need them. | ||
| Mfell2112 |
Thanks for the help guys! I will pick up a clutch switch and see what happens! |
