Engine died in third lane of motorway

[Bungy]

On Friday I was riding over to Worthing when my engine died in the fast lane of the M27. The warning triangle lit up and I had no power. I managed to pick my way across to the hard shoulder and pulled up. I tried to start it but it was dead. I switched the ignition off and tried again, nothing. Held the starter button down whilst moving the kill switch and nothing. Held the starter down and moved the side stand and it fired up.
It would seem the side stand switch is the guilty culprit and I will buy another and keep the old one to modify as a standby/bypass.
Is this as common as the fuel pump controller issue was previously?

 

[Lord Snooty]

Scary! Don't know about how common it is I'm afraid. I had a similar situation when I ran out of fuel as my fuel strip had gone tits up and was telling me I had a quarter tank when it was empty, not a good feeling at all on a busy motorway.

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Scary!

 

[AberdeenAngus]

It's not a uncommon fault. I wouldn't bother replacing it, just short it out.
Managed fine for long enough without it.

 

[Bungy]

If I get time over the next few evenings I'm going to take it off and have a look. I'll short it out to be sure but order another.

 

[Bungy]

I must be lucky. I had a fuel pump controller fail on my GS and this side stand switch on my GSA.

 

[duckspeed]

Can the switch be bypassed I was thinking it's a proximity sensor rather than on off switch?

 

[Bungy]

Can the switch be bypassed I was thinking it's a proximity sensor rather than on off switch?

I've been out in the workshop and removed the switch. What a ballbag? Switch removed and I marked the positions for stand up/down and connected a meter. Open/closed circuit depending on when it is near the marks but also an intermittent one near the stand up position. I'm thinking that is the problem.

 

[Bungy]

Can the switch be bypassed I was thinking it's a proximity sensor rather than on off switch?

It is a switch rather than a proximity. There are 3 wires, brown, white and red. You can access the plug into the harness behind the small black cover under the fuel tank on the left side. Loads of information including some very complicated descriptions around the net.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Connect the brown and white to short the switch

 

[Bungy]

Connect the brown and white to short the switch

And cap the red to stop it shorting to earth.

 

[Bendy toy]

I thought it was a potentiometer or is that only used on the gearbox?

 

[Bungy]

I spent some time in the workshop last night and sorted my bypass for the sidestand until the new switch arrives. I removed the small black panel and cut the 3 cables a couple of inches on the switch side of the connector. When the new switch comes i'll be able to put this connector/cable in my tool bag as a come in handy bypass although a shorting strap of wire 2" long would do the same in an emergency. Worth noting that my wires had to be connected white and red combined with brown capped. This is different to other information i had read.

 

[Mr Bean]

I had a similar issue. I removed the switch, cleaned up the corrosion, sprayed it with WD40 and replaced it all - been ok for the last two years or so without cutting out.

 

[Bungy]

I had a similar issue. I removed the switch, cleaned up the corrosion, sprayed it with WD40 and replaced it all - been ok for the last two years or so without cutting out.

Loss of power in the fast lane of the motorway in traffic knocked my confidence. I'd rather replace/bypass and not experience that again.