My 91 SE started several times today with no problem. Pulled lever for reverse to check backup light on sidecar after that neutral light won`t come on and bike will not crank over. Have right side panel off and checked reverse switch. Can hear relay click by fuse block, still won`t start and no neutral light.
This happened once before but I bump started it,after I parked it the neutral came on on. Now where do I start looking for problem

By Bob C on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 03:29 pm:

I would guess the safety switch on reverse lever is sticking.

By Robert Barcus on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 04:02 pm:

yes.....you can start it by rolling down hill and popping the clutch. Then with the vibration that riding causes, it will unstick.

Best to lubricate the reverse switch per article in recent Wing World.


Robert

By John D. Schmidt on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 04:03 pm:

Foster, do you have the forbidden habit of using the reverse for a parking brake? If so, then Bob C. is on the right track. The symptoms you describe are classic to that switch breaking down. There was an article in Wing World some time ago re. this, causes the switch to breakdown internally due to the constant pressure over the long term. I've seen it happen 2-3 times here locally & only to the people that use reverse as a pkg. brake. Worth checking out, then change habits.

By Foster Rathbone on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 05:37 pm:

John and Bob thanks but I do not use reverse for parking and reverse switch is not sticking have checked it with multi meter Any more suggestions please.

By Rich Davison on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 05:41 pm:

I agree and disaggree with the switch theory. Agree that is probably the culprit and that it is a piece of JUNK!. Disaggree only in that you don't have to be a big user of it to have it go bad. I hardly ever use it (novelty, mostly) and mine went with few miles on it. By the way, most of us call that the Left cover, clutch side.

Rich

By Foster Rathbone on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 06:15 pm:

Rich your right It is the left cover I have off but then again I`m left handed

By Robert Barcus on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 06:37 pm:

I believe that even casual use or no use can cause the switch to stick.

Just everyday dust and grit can stop it from disengaging.

Robert

By Bob MacBird on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 07:34 pm:

Are your reverse cables still in place? As they stretch over time, they become loose and can fall out of location. Check the cables for being in their clips.

Also check your starter fuse and possibly relay.

By Bob C on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 09:24 am:

John, it may be a "forbidden habit" but I used reverse as a parking brake for 112,000 miles and my son continues this practice at 120K. Never had a problem with the switch or reverse.

Bob C

By richard gray on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 09:39 am:

Foster if you are still having a problem may i suggest you look at the spring in front of the switch.I have a 90 se and have had this problem before.Either expand the metal spring as a tempory measuure or replace

By Frank D. Murry on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 09:39 pm:

I would check the relay, sometimes the contacts in the relay can stick and cause it not to work right.

Frank

By Foster Rathbone on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 12:23 pm:

Thanks for all the suggestions that could cause problem, after checking all and still no neutral light gave up for the day. Next day went to start checking again, turned on ignition switch and my neutral light came on and bike started. OK which one of you guys fixed my bike when I wasn`t looking.
Foster