Bike doesn’t know it’s in neutral..

[Dnljmrs]

Hi all
I just wanted to run a couple of things by you before I buy the part I think it might need. There are two issues, the first, minor, is that I can’t start the bike in gear clutch in with side stand up. I’m not really bothered by this but apparently I should be able to. I need to check the cable by the clutch. But I don’t know if this would also affect the main issue below.

For a few months I’ve noticed it’s slightly more tricky to get it into neutral. Not get it in mechanically because it goes from first to no gear, but for the bike to know it’s there. Normally with a bit of a wiggle of the gear shifter it recognises it and all is fine.
However, it’s been stood (stored outdoors, and it’s rained recently) for about ten days. Went to start it today, key in and the dash lit up as usual (horn worked headlight and main beam works, part of my checks) but it wasn’t showing it was in neutral. I had no problem getting it into neutral when I last rode it and it showed on the dash. So I spent a few hours reading and fiddling, I removed the gear potentiometer and cleaned it with electrical contact cleaner (but tbh I don’t know what I’m cleaning, I just wiped away anything and sprayed it on, then put wd40 on it and put it back together. I also disconnected the electrical connector (further anlong the same wire) and sprayed that with electrical contact cleaner before putting back together (no wd40 here). Still the same issue. It goes into first gear fine. This morning I could get it briefly to show neutral but when I started it, it didn’t maintain this, and I could cycle the gears all the way to sixth, but this evening it does first or blank and now doesn’t sound like it’s engaging the higher gears. (It’s on the centre stand now though, wasn’t this morning, not sure if that makes a difference re:load etc).

ChatGPT said I should check the voltage at the electrical connector which I will, but is this the right area to be looking in? If I’ve cleaned it and it still doesn’t work, is there anything else I can do before buying a replacement?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Santa-2512]

Start with some basics

What model , what year, mileage?

Service history?, warranty ?

is the engine running while your trying to go through the gearbox? i seem to recall 1st to 3rd was the best i could do on my LC with the engine off

Have you cleaned / lubricated the linkage from the gear lever to the gearbox? this can cause poor gear changing, gear selection

Welcome aboard BTW

 

[theoneandonly]

run a meter , from the electrical connector on the n-switch to earth , in buzzer mode , ign off , when in neutral i would expect buzzer to sound , in 1 or 2 i expect it to be silent.
or take it out and check it .
does it have crush washers under it ?
or is it a rotary switch ?

 

[Dnljmrs]

Start with some basics

What model , what year, mileage?

Service history?, warranty ?

is the engine running while your trying to go through the gearbox? i seem to recall 1st to 3rd was the best i could do on my LC with the engine off

Have you cleaned / lubricated the linkage from the gear lever to the gearbox? this can cause poor gear changing, gear selection

Welcome aboard BTW

My bad! It’s a 2014, r1200 gs te. 40k miles.
No warranty, service history is mostly complete but not all garage services. I’ve done the oil and filter for the last change. Had the driveshaft changed under recall, and the valve recently.

I can’t get the engine to start so I don’t know the answer to that one. It won’t start because it doesn’t know it’s in neutral which is my problem. But I did clean and wd40 the gear linkage to the gearbox. I haven’t taken it off to clean but it’s moving freely and no grinding or other concerning mechanical sounds.

run a meter , from the electrical connector on the n-switch to earth , in buzzer mode , ign off , when in neutral i would expect buzzer to sound , in 1 or 2 i expect it to be silent.
or take it out and check it .
does it have crush washers under it ?
or is it a rotary switch ?

I will check this. I don’t know if my multimeter has a buzz option though, the rest of this I’m afraid I don’t understand.

 

[theoneandonly]

oh dear !

 

[KMD]

I had a similar issue on an 1100RT that I used to service for a mate some years ago. After much searching I found a wire that came from the area around the back of the gearbox, and went up somewhere to tell the electronics that the bike was in neutral, had corroded through and only a couple of strands were left. So instead of sending a healthy 12v signal it was only sending a couple of volts which wasn’t being recognised. Repaired that and all was well again.