Gear selector won't show neutral so bikes dead!

BigTom

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Here's a strange one. My ’05 1200 is sitting at work refusing to start as I can't get neutral or any of the gears to show on the instrument panel!

I started the bike this morning after 6 weeks without too much trouble, apart from a flat battery! On my way to work I noticed that when I stopped at lights and changed down to 1st, the instrument panel didn't show that 1st gear was engaged. Likewise, when putting it into neutral, the indicator was blank.

Got to the office without incident and selected neutral, put the side stand down and it cut out. Thinking I must have been in 1st with the auto cut-out kicking in, checked but found I was in neutral but wouldn’t show on the panel. My bike needs to be in neutral before you can start it, so as it won’t recognise any gear, it’s going nowhere.

What’s going on? :nenau Any bright ideas guys?
 
Threre is a little conector thingy just behind the shaft drive near the gear box which is sort of round with wires going in.

This is a bit of majic and needs some wd40 i kid you not, clean apply wd40 and it will be sorted

PS pull the clutch in and it will start

Jim:thumb
 
dead bike

Would that thingy be near to where the gear selector goes in? Can't remember anything circular with wires going in near the gearbox, but will take in some wd40 tomorrow and try to find the bugger. Cheers Jim.
 
BigTom said:
Here's a strange one. My ’05 1200 is sitting at work refusing to start as I can't get neutral or any of the gears to show on the instrument panel!
Click to expand...

I had similar probs with my 2005 GS. It would show higher gesrs but went blank for lower gears. Removing gear indicator switch and dousing with wd40 fixed it and it's still fine 2 or 3 years on. In the meantime you'll prob be able to start it if you have side stand up and clutch pulled in (I think it doesn't care what gear it is in). Be sure to ignore the display if you get it started - ie dont drop the clutch if the display shown neutral without being sure it really is in neutral.

Good luck!
Darren
 
BigTom said:
Here's a strange one. My ’05 1200 is sitting at work refusing to start as I can't get neutral or any of the gears to show on the instrument panel!

I started the bike this morning after 6 weeks without too much trouble, apart from a flat battery! On my way to work I noticed that when I stopped at lights and changed down to 1st, the instrument panel didn't show that 1st gear was engaged. Likewise, when putting it into neutral, the indicator was blank.

Got to the office without incident and selected neutral, put the side stand down and it cut out. Thinking I must have been in 1st with the auto cut-out kicking in, checked but found I was in neutral but wouldn’t show on the panel. My bike needs to be in neutral before you can start it, so as it won’t recognise any gear, it’s going nowhere.

What’s going on? :nenau Any bright ideas guys?
Click to expand...

Why does it have to be in neutral to start it, is this something with the early models?
 
Yep found it

561603067_sDpqr-M.jpg


and a bit of reading

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204082&highlight=gear+selector&page=2

Yes it happend to my old gs

Jim:thumb
 
snerkler said:
Why does it have to be in neutral to start it, is this something with the early models?
Click to expand...

It's the same with all years, yours will be the same.....elf & safty init.

It will start with clutch pulled in (unless the clutch interlock switch is knackered) and sidestand up.
 
Beemerman59 said:
It's the same with all years, yours will be the same.....elf & safty init.

It will start with clutch pulled in (unless the clutch interlock switch is knackered) and sidestand up.
Click to expand...

I thought I'd missed something, as yes mine starts in any gear with the clutch in. Obviously starting a bike in gear without the clutch in wouldn't be a good idea. With the OP saying it HAD to be in neutral I assumed it didn't matter if the clutch was in or not on the OP's bike

TBH I didn't realise you could start the GS without the clutch in. I've had Triumphs in the past and they don't start unless the clutch is in so is a habit for me.
 
Ahh, now I see. Thanks Jim. Not the only one to have this problem them. Seems to be regular fault in wetter climes.

Since mine won't start in gear with the clutch in, guess as previously said, my 'clutch interlock switch is knackered' then! Need to get that fixed as well then.
 
BigTom said:
Ahh, now I see. Thanks Jim. Not the only one to have this problem them. Seems to be regular fault in wetter climes.

Since mine won't start in gear with the clutch in, guess as previously said, my 'clutch interlock switch is knackered' then! Need to get that fixed as well then.
Click to expand...

The switch is fairly easy to change and not too expensive - I got one from Motorworks. I think it's the same as the front brake light switch so if you want you can swap them over to check functionality. There's a small grub screw which holds it in position which can be a bit fiddly - you can just make it out looking from underneath. You will need a small allen key for this.
 
Had one of these go myself. Easy to change,just a bit fiddly. It might not work first time, mine needed plugging in at SSB to reset the fault code.
 
Not wishing to piss on anyones parade but this switch can be the sign of something worse happening. Had the same thing happen, had the switch changed and thought all was well, 4 months later it started again and it was in fact the ECU giving upthe ghost.
 
WindyChuffer said:
No it doesn't. Pull clutch in and make sure side stand is up. Will start in any gear.
Click to expand...

As has already been said in this thread - his clutch switch is goosed.

Or more likely just needs adjusting.

Small screw underneth holds the switch in place, loosen it off and turn switch so it now operates as it should and then tighten.
 
well i must confess,if my bike has the side stand up and is in any gear with the clucth in ,it wont start,mine must be in neutral to start.
its an o5.
 
fizzer said:
well i must confess,if my bike has the side stand up and is in any gear with the clucth in ,it wont start,mine must be in neutral to start.
its an o5.
Click to expand...

Yep, sounds just like a knackered clutch switch. It happens.....but easy to sort out. Try adjusting it, testing with a meter or swap it out.
 
Motorworks it is

After finding the offending switch, coating it with wd40, it still wouldn't start. Tried to get at the cable to clean and re-sit it but way too awkward to do without any tools. By a miracle, after an hour buggering about, it eventually started with the clutch in, but nothing was showing on the panel. Decided to accept this gift of a working bike and head off home there and then. On the way home, it displayed all the gears but never the right one! Got home, put it in nuturel, side stand down and it cut out!

Just ordered the clutch switch and as a precaution, side-stand switch from Motorworks. We'll see how easy or otherwise they are both to replace :(

Thanks again guys
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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