Green neutral indicator light is not illuminated, no gear showing and she wont start

[tyclyd]

Hi, wonder if anyone has any suggestions or advice. Bike is a 02 1150 GSA, 82,000 miles with a great gearbox rebuilt over the winter by Steve Scrimmager with no issues and all has been well for the past 3 or 4 months.

When riding the bike all is well and the gearbox is smooth and positive and the neutral gear indicator light and starting circuit works well and as intended. Put the bike away in the garage after a run and then the next day when she is cold, I go to start her and although she is still in neutral the green neutral indicator light is not illuminated and she wont start, pull in the clutch and she will start, run her for a mile or so and the neutral indicator light / gear indicator all works fine and shows neutral – so its just a recent from cold starting problem.

I have in the past suffered from water in the gear indicator switch (the really difficult to get to switch in front of the rear wheel) is this the same switch that controls the starting circuit (i.e. thinking the bike is in gear) or should I be looking somewhere else?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Yep you got it!

The neutral gear indicator switch provides the earth path for the neutral light when in neutral.

The earth path for the relevent gear for the gear indicator.

The earth path for the main start circuit on the start relay.

The earth path for the motronic when the side stand is down.

The alternate path on the start relay is via the clutch switch

 

[tyclyd]

Cheers Ian, so essentially it's the same awkward to get at switch that is at fault again...

 

[Timolgra]

Yep you got it!

The neutral gear indicator switch provides the earth path for the neutral light when in neutral.

The earth path for the relevent gear for the gear indicator.

The earth path for the main start circuit on the start relay.

The earth path for the motronic when the side stand is down.

The alternate path on the start relay is via the clutch switch

Great explanation

 

[Ian J Hartley]

If you trace the switch to the harness connector, and disconnect. Shorting pins 1 brown and 5 brown/violet. Should bring on the neutral light and allow the bike to start and run normally.

This will confirm your switch. Of course if you left the jumper in place you would have a permanent neutral light and you would be able to start the bike in gear with the side stand up or down. So not a good idea.

Continuity check on the switch from the same harness connector should give a short between the same two pins when neutral selected. Assuming the switch is good. No short then the switch is probably faulty.

 

[tyclyd]

Thanks Ian, I think the switch is damp, the problem only arose recently after a extended torrential slow speed soaking, and it gets better when the bike is warm... I have got some major long runs coming up shortly so that and bit of sunshine might help. Cheers and thanks for the feedback

 

[Black Rooster]

Thanks Ian, I think the switch is damp, the problem only arose recently after a extended torrential slow speed soaking, and it gets better when the bike is warm... I have got some major long runs coming up shortly so that and bit of sunshine might help. Cheers and thanks for the feedback

when dry try to coat it with dielectric grease