Neutral light switch faulty

[Comfy Old Boots]

Morning folks,

I had a good root around using the search function but it didn't reveal what I'm looking for.

Could anyone explain why my neutral light on the dash sometimes stays on when I engage first gear? It's not a consistent fault. I suspect it's caused by riding in the wet but I can't say for sure.

I expect its down to the sensor attached to the gearbox but has anyone come across this and is there an easy fix?



It's not critical but I would like to get it fixed. Thanks for any tips in advance.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

It's a 1999 r850 by the way.

 

[Steptoe]

On your model the neutral and gear indicator switches are seperate items.

Which means one can work perfectly and the other can have a life of it's own.

 

[DrFarkoff]

It's fiddly but you can squash the two steel prongs together and slip the switch assembly back and blow it out with an airline and fill it full of rubber grease or vaseline and refit it

Tie centre stand to the front wheel so you can;t knock it over

Remove the rear wheel and its on the rear lower right side of the gearbox If you have a link pipe it'll be easier to get out If you have standard pipe take the wheel out S'easy enough to do

just watch when you refit it that the cable can't lie on the exhaust or get trapped in the gear mechanism!

 

[Steptoe]

It's fiddly but you can squash the two steel prongs together and slip the switch assembly back and blow it out with an airline and fill it full of rubber grease or vaseline and refit it

!

That's advice for the the hydraulic clutch 1150 and the post 2001 850 models.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Blimey, expensive to replace - nearly £50!

I think I might just live with it! Connector to loom is grand and I don't fancy taking the bike appart to check it.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312146

 

[Steptoe]

Blimey, expensive to replace - nearly £50!

I think I might just live with it! .

Thats the least of your problems..... The fun starts when you try to undo the two tiny little bolts that hold it all place on the rear of the gearbox..... WHEN you finally manage to get a socket on them the heads will most likely snap off.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I think I'll focus my energies elsewhere and treat it as a feature rather than a problem!

 

[DrFarkoff]

I think I'll focus my energies elsewhere and treat it as a feature rather than a problem!

Why not get down and flood it with something like ACF50 and paint the outside with waxoyl to seal it ??

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I do need to sort it out though don't I? Ah listen, that's a rhetorical question. I don't want water in my gearbox.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Jeepers. I went down and had a look. i don't want to take off the swing arm (never have before) but I remember trying to change the clutch actuating arm. (It snapped on me in the worst part of town - recovery van...) I didn't have the tools and ended up getting someone to do that for me as it was SO cramped and inaccessible. That switch looks TINY in comparison!

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Mind you, this could an opportunity to break my bike again but in a new way!

No rain today and it was acting up.

Seriously lads, if just I ignore this and leave it for a year (everyday rider- rain snow whatever) do I run the risk of water ingress ruining my gearbox or is it just cosmetic! The 1200 owners will be horrified by such a question, as I'm sure will most of the anally retentive members on here but what about the rest of you? I'll pay to get it sorted if it's a potential problem but if its just a case that the only benefit is an accurate neutral light, well I will spend the money on flowers for the Missis smelly boots, beer and petrol. What do you think?

 

[DrFarkoff]

Owen Seriously blow it out gently with an airline (plug and socket) then cover the plug in vaseline then paint over the top with some old gloopy BLACK waxoyl

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I will do that. Just can't be arsed with wrenching at the moment. Sounds like I could manage this though. I will sort it out.



Saw this earlier on done deal

Cheap as chips for the same bike as mine but unmolested! Did you not know I had a randy replica?!