Harley Davidson Forums

Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

neutral light switch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 24, 2022 | 09:17 AM
Share
  #1  
Joe12RK's Avatar
Joe12RK
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,562
From: CT/FL
Default neutral light switch
Working thru the little things on my 82 FXR, I am puzzled by my neutral light switch. The light doesn't go on in neutral, but does when the wire is grounded to the transmission. I checked the switch for continuity and found it has about 780 ohms internal resistance. I sprayed contact cleaner inside and twisted the plunger but no change. Is this normal or do I need a new switch? If normal, why doesn't the light go on?
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2022 | 12:29 PM
Share
  #2  
80Glide's Avatar
80Glide
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 141
Likes: 61
From: Guthrie, Mn
Default
My first thought was I wonder if someone applied sealant on the threads. Otherwise I would think there should be very little resistance
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2022 | 02:07 PM
Share
  #3  
chopper_man's Avatar
chopper_man
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,316
Likes: 2,111
From: Masshole
Default
need a new switch, should be 0 ohms
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 24, 2022 | 05:35 PM
Share
  #4  
Joe12RK's Avatar
Joe12RK
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,562
From: CT/FL
Default
Originally Posted by 80Glide
My first thought was I wonder if someone applied sealant on the threads. Otherwise I would think there should be very little resistance
I thought so too, but it was the same with the switch in my hand, measuring from the plunger inside to the terminal outside the switch

Originally Posted by chopper_man
need a new switch, should be 0 ohms
It'll be here Friday, the day before the show!
 
Last edited by Joe12RK; Jul 24, 2022 at 05:36 PM.
Reply
1
Old Jul 29, 2022 | 08:26 AM
Share
  #5  
Joe12RK's Avatar
Joe12RK
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,562
From: CT/FL
Default
I went to start the bike yesterday and the battery wouldn't hold it's charge. I swapped it with the lithium battery from my chopper and the neutral light worked!
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 29, 2022 | 04:51 PM
Share
  #6  
john lee's Avatar
john lee
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 435
From: australia
Default
Originally Posted by Joe12RK
I went to start the bike yesterday and the battery wouldn't hold it's charge. I swapped it with the lithium battery from my chopper and the neutral light worked!
the new switch ?
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 29, 2022 | 10:55 PM
Share
  #7  
Joe12RK's Avatar
Joe12RK
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,562
From: CT/FL
Default
Originally Posted by john lee
the new switch ?
nope, same old one! It is not as bright as the oil light, so new switch is probably a good idea.
 
Last edited by Joe12RK; Jul 29, 2022 at 10:58 PM.
Reply
0
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Neutral light / switch help
Dazzauk
EVO
3
May 9, 2016 02:36 PM
neutral light keeps coming on
monopearson
General Topics/Tech Tips
1
Mar 13, 2012 08:40 PM
Neutral Light staying on
Thomo_Baca
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
15
Jan 8, 2012 12:24 AM
Neutral light/switch
badgerland
Touring Models
0
Aug 6, 2008 08:36 PM
Neutral indicator
mradl2
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
1
Aug 6, 2006 02:19 AM
Back to Subforum
Shovelhead
View Next Unread
Engine case porosity.




Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:11 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE