| Author | Message | ||
     Erics1 |
My '01 S3T battery expired, and I just installed a new one. It started once, but on subsequent attempts I'd just get the metallic chatter (solenoid?). Left it on a Battery Tender overnight (had used it previously also), and went back out to check again. Now when I turn on the key, I get no neutral light but I do get the red light and high beam light, but no priming noise from FI. Nothing happens when I push the starter button. From experimenting, I found that when I pull in the clutch, the FI primes and the bike will start (no more solenoid chattering). If the engine is running in neutral I can let the clutch out no problem, but it dies if I then put the kickstand down. Before today I did not need to pull the clutch in to start the bike, and I'm pretty sure my neutral indicator light worked. Could it be a Neutral sensor that just went bad today, telling the other electronics that it's always in gear? | ||
| Akbuell |
My check would be to unplug the wire at the neutral switch. With the bike in neutral and the ign on, check for 12V at the wire. If so, the neutral switch is probably bad. While in there, with the bike in neutral, set the multimeter on ohms and check from the connector to ground. If you have an open, then the switch is bad. And yeah, the neutral circuit, IIRC, provides the ground path for the ignition circuit when the bike is in neutral. Hope this helps, Dave | ||
| Two_seasons |
Check your sidestand (kickstand) switch. It probably bit the dust. You can just take the two wires from it and twist them together. If that works, leave it that way with a wire nut and electrical tape. Put a ty-wrap on it to hold in place.  | ||
| Erics1 |
Is it the same deal with both the sidestand switch and the clutch switch? If I connect the 2 wires in both cases, the idiot switches are disabled? | ||
| Two_seasons |
Sidestand switch and the clutch switch perform the same function. If the sidestand is down (switch closed) or the bike is in gear and the clutch switch is closed, either of these conditions will not allow the start circuit to operate. Isolate both switches. You can use a jumper wire too to tie both end of the switches (clutch and sidestand) together. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
The sidestand switch, clutch lever switch, and neutral switch all work together and cause this exact problem if one of them goes. I don't think it's as common on XBs, but all of the tubers seem to deal with it at some point. My sidestand switch stranded me on my 2nd day riding my S1, and I wasn't familiar enough with the issue yet to have known what it was so I had to have my wife come pick me up in the truck at 7am... I just removed the sidestand switch all together and then jumped the plug. I cut the wires/plug from the old switch, soldered them together and covered them up nice, then plugged it back in. That way if I ever decide to get another sidestand switch, it's as easy as unplugging my jump and plugging in the new switch. Eventually my clutch lever started giving me trouble too. The bike just wouldn't start when I hit the starter. I'd have to let go and pull in the clutch a few times and it'd eventually start. I ended up just jumping that one too, and everything has been fine. I think my neutral switch has started to go as well, as the light on my dash never seems to come on anymore, but since the other 2 switches have been taken care of, it doesn't cause me any trouble beyond the light not coming on. Neither of the turn signal lights come on anymore either though. The high-beam and oil lights seem to be the only ones hanging in there. In your case, it definitely sounds like the sidestand switch is your issue. You could either jump it(and possible have your dash light stay on permanently, or disable the sidestand/clutch switches and then have your neutral light off permanently. Otherwise you'll just have to replace the neutral switch if you want it to work like it should. | ||
| Erics1 |
Thanks much, gentlemen! I'm considering just jumpering both idiot switches and not worrying about no neutral light. | ||
| Two_seasons |
In doing that Erics1, make sure you always start with the clutch pulled in and sitting on the bike. It will only take one lurch of your bike and you'll never forget again! | ||
| 34nineteen |
If you survive the heart attack. |
