Neutral Light fault after sitting for a few hours.

[RonnieG]

Hi,

I have an increasingly regular issue of some difficulty starting my 2007 GSA without changing into 1st & 2nd gear before I start it in order to get the neutral light to come on so that the electric start button will kick in the starter motor.

Once I am up and running the neutral light works as normal all the time I am on the road and always comes on when I put the bike in neutral for parking up.

It's just that particularly after overnight stops when I come out in the morning and I turn the ignition key the ignition system goes through all it's regular checks and now more commonly than not ends with all the dash details in the LCD screen illuminated as normal but if I hit the starter button then nothing happens cos the neutral light is not on. At this point up till now if I then put the bike in first or second gear a couple of times then the netral light will come on and I can start the bike as normal.

Anyone else come across these symptoms before ?

Feels most likely the neutral light switch could be dodgy or could it be a connector or dodgy wire in the loom somewhere?

What do you reckon are the best first steps to try & fix??

Thanks guys!

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Try leaving it in first overnight. If that sorts it, its pretty certain to be a sticky switch (pretty sure it's that anyway but worth a check). Piece of piss to change.

 

[Roymondo]

Is it a switch on 2007 bikes? I know on mine (2011 bike) it's a potentiometer - a dodgy one *can* be resurrected (albeit temporarily in most cases) by spraying with your favourite lubricant/cleaner.

Regardless of that though, the bike should be startable without the green light if you pull the clutch lever.

 

[Steptoe]

.

Regardless of that though, the bike should be startable without the green light if you pull the clutch lever.

As quoted above - you should still be able to start the bike in gear with the clutch pulled in. if you can't the clutch switch needs adjusting.
The very tiny torq screw needs undoing slightly and the clutch switch pivoted so it works.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Is it a switch on 2007 bikes? I know on mine (2011 bike) it's a potentiometer - a dodgy one *can* be resurrected (albeit temporarily in most cases) by spraying with your favourite lubricant/cleaner.

Regardless of that though, the bike should be startable without the green light if you pull the clutch lever.

So potentially then the OP's bike could have two issues?

1: Faulty Gearbox Potentiometer

2: Incorrectly adjusted clutch switch

 

[RonnieG]

Thanks for pointers guys........

Forgot about just pulling in the clutch before to be honest as with a few flicks into 1st and 2nd and back into neutral I could always get the neutral light to come on - I did try starting the bike in 1st yesterday with the clutch in and it started fine.

I took the gearbox potentiometer off yesterday. I was hoping maybe the wiring at the connection plug would just be a bit corroded but it looked a good seal with the plug and connector and the connections looked perfect so I suspect the potentiometer may be on it's way oot.

I tried rotating the potentiometer spindle manually and it does not feel the smoothest so this does seem to be the most likely cause. The potentiometer does look as though it's built in 2 halves assembled together that you can prise apart a bit so I do wonder if water can get in pretty easy especially as it's right in front of the swinging arm open to all the crap of the day.

I did not have the right female torx socket handy so I just used an old 1/4" socket which I ground flats on the side of with a grinding wheel to use a 10mm spanner on to get the bolts in and out. As a solution it worked pretty well but it does feel a bit 'cowboyish' - Does anyone know what size these small female torx sockets are cos I'd like to buy the right socket?

I live a fair distance from any Motorrad dealer so I usually get parts mail order so assuming it is my gearbox potentiometer that's stuffed then whereabouts is the best place to get a new one and roughly how much are these potentiometers?

Cheers again!

 

[bikemad]

Put two normal 10mm head m6 thread bolts back in no need to use the pain in arse Torx bolts,best place is motorworks for new & used parts at reasonable prices think a used potentiometer is about £40