so, I've looked around the site but having trouble finding someone with this specific problem:

bike started fine this morning, but after I stopped off at the store on my way to work, it wouldn't start. lights turned on, neutral light on, but starter would not fire. no clicking, no nothing.

also, while messing with it trying to get it to go, with clutch in, i couldn't get it out of neutral. it just wouldn't switch gears up or down. after messing with it a bit, it did change into first, and then bike started.

just tried it again, had same exact problem, and bike did start once I got it to first.

(not sure if this is relevant, but the front left signal light was off the first few minuts of my ride the other day, and magically came back on by itself)

wire problem?

thanks!

Theres a wire on the decomp timer that you can put 12 volts on that WILL spin that starter if the starter is good & the battery is alive AND the decomp timer is okay. YOu can even have the key in your pocket,,
Make sure its in neutral or have the clutch in,,

Now you wanna know Which wire, dont you? Im so sorry, Ive forgotten, maybe one of these guys can remember.

skipkb wrote on 01/19/12 at 07:12:41:


short story: it is the thing that first goes *click* when you want to start your bike

long story: it opens one of the valves on the engine when the starter is engaged so that the engine is easier for the starter to turn over. the timer part is all about when it kicks in and for how long.

location story: under  the tank (you'll have to have the tank off) on the right side you'll see a short fat black cylinder, maybe 2" in diameter and an inch wide. that is the solenoid. it actuates a lever that pulls up on the cable do-hickey on the opposite side of the bike mounted on the head of the engine.


Though, right now, I'm leaning towards a safety switch issue on the kickstand/clutch, a brain fart (we all have those days...), or a loose connection somewhere. If you're going to take off the seat and tank, might as well make sure all the terminals have a decent connection and they aren't starting to work themselves apart.

I don't know how much of a newbie you are, but sometimes it helps rolling the bike forward/backward a foot or so while lightly touching the shift lever to get the bike in neutral. for first, on our bikes, sometimes you have to let the clutch out and pull it back in again too.

The big red switch. Them suckers have bit my butt so many times it ain't funny (you think I'd learn).

UPDATE:

So I took the handle apart around "the big red button" and took the seat off. poked around a bit, didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Put everything back together, push started it, and brought it to the shop only for him to look at it for 10 seconds and say "clutch switch"

i was lookin everywhere but the right spot... duh.

if you held the starter button down and slowly squeezed in the clutch, you could find just the right spot to get the starter to fire, and bike started right up.

he unplugged the wires going into the clutch switch to check them out, and since he has plugged them back in it has started up everytime without a hitch. so, i guess i just needed to blow on some wires?

Anyways, the part is only $10 on bikebandit, so I'll get a new one anyways for safe measure.

Now if only I had the time and money to fix the dozen other small issues the mechanic was kind enough to point out to me  

No problem.  Just replaced mine and I found one thing you may want to pay attention to. This link shows a new microswitch.  The circled tab slides into a slot in the clutch handle/hinge housing.  It slides in to the right and out to the left.  On mine, it was necessary to remove the hinge pin/bolt and allow the lever to move slightly (as seen here) in order to slide the microswitch out.  This is, of course, after removing the single retainer screw.  I used blue threadlocker on mine when reattaching.  Be sure not to overtighten the screw or you will break your new switch.  It's really a 5-minute job if you already know how to get the tab out.  It took me 10 minutes because I fiddled with it a few minutes before removing the hinge pin/bolt.