Clean your Ignition Switch - Prevent Stalling While Riding
Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 40
From: Eastern foothills of Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia
[If you can't fix it with a hammer, then you have an electrical problem.]
Yeh. And if it ain't broke, fix it until it is broke.
To test the switch, is this right?:
With switch out of bike, attach both of these at same time: jumper wire with alligator clips from battery positive to center tab on switch, and probe test light from battery negative to probe end on IGN tab, turn switch on, then same probe test Accessory tab. Correct?
Should either of the test wires have fuse?
Thx.
Yeh. And if it ain't broke, fix it until it is broke.
To test the switch, is this right?:
With switch out of bike, attach both of these at same time: jumper wire with alligator clips from battery positive to center tab on switch, and probe test light from battery negative to probe end on IGN tab, turn switch on, then same probe test Accessory tab. Correct?
Should either of the test wires have fuse?
Thx.
Last edited by Kayakeur; Aug 20, 2016 at 01:35 PM. Reason: add question
Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 40
From: Eastern foothills of Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia
[If you can't fix it with a hammer, then you have an electrical problem.]
Yeh. And if it ain't broke, fix it til it is.
To test the switch, is this right?: With switch out of bike, attach both these at same time: jumper wire with alligator clips from battery positive to center tab on switch, switch off, and probe test light from battery negative to probe end on IGN tab, then turn switch on. Same with Accessory tab. Correct?
__________________
Yeh. And if it ain't broke, fix it til it is.
To test the switch, is this right?: With switch out of bike, attach both these at same time: jumper wire with alligator clips from battery positive to center tab on switch, switch off, and probe test light from battery negative to probe end on IGN tab, then turn switch on. Same with Accessory tab. Correct?
__________________
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
Or use an ohm meter. Readings should be close to zero if the connections are good. In the IGN position all three terminals are connected together. In ACC position only the center and the acc terminal.
If you have removed the switch, go ahead and service it and reinstall.
The most common problem is the connector on the switch. The spade lugs get loose causing intermittent contact and arcing. The connector housing can melt. Mine melted. I cut it away, put heat shrink tubing on the lugs and put them on with out the housing. Make a note inside the console for which wire is on which terminal. If you mix them up the worst case is the power may not come on like you expect. You won't burn anything up.
If you have removed the switch, go ahead and service it and reinstall.
The most common problem is the connector on the switch. The spade lugs get loose causing intermittent contact and arcing. The connector housing can melt. Mine melted. I cut it away, put heat shrink tubing on the lugs and put them on with out the housing. Make a note inside the console for which wire is on which terminal. If you mix them up the worst case is the power may not come on like you expect. You won't burn anything up.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
I'm glad this thread has 6k views.. if it helps one guy or gal avoid the headaches I had with gunked up ignition switches it'll be worth it!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
TFB I've moved back to my hometown of St. Louis... so it'll be a bit longer ride! I hope to get back to FL from time to time however hope we can get together again, that FL Crew ride was great.
I'm glad this thread has 6k views.. if it helps one guy or gal avoid the headaches I had with gunked up ignition switches it'll be worth it!
I'm glad this thread has 6k views.. if it helps one guy or gal avoid the headaches I had with gunked up ignition switches it'll be worth it!
We did get to meet, that was a good day. You take care of yourself, brother. Cheers
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
Popping this up for a buddy who may not have taken my advice and had a cut out riding down the highway, like I did before I figured this out.
Hope I can save someone a big hassle with this thread - its a common problem folks as the bikes get older and it's free and easy to do, no reason not to do it every so often as regular maintenance.
Hope I can save someone a big hassle with this thread - its a common problem folks as the bikes get older and it's free and easy to do, no reason not to do it every so often as regular maintenance.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
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Thanks Joe but I don't think that was my issue today. I had the switch cleaned out a couple years ago. The bike just cut out as I came off the freeway to an exit and as I got to the red signal. It wouldn't restart and then it started and cut back out. Well it's now at the Indy shop so they can look at it next week. A few weeks ago it cut out on the freeway with a cough/splutter and restarted itself and I thought maybe some bad gas. I forgot about that until today.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
Thanks Joe but I don't think that was my issue today. I had the switch cleaned out a couple years ago. The bike just cut out as I came off the freeway to an exit and as I got to the red signal. It wouldn't restart and then it started and cut back out. Well it's now at the Indy shop so they can look at it next week. A few weeks ago it cut out on the freeway with a cough/splutter and restarted itself and I thought maybe some bad gas. I forgot about that until today.
On my friends bike I had borrowed, similar symptoms but it was the ignition wire to the coil had come loose.
I'm sure the shop will find it and glad you were able to get over to the side of the road safe. Please let me know what it turns out to be!
PS missed you guys at bike week, here is my bike week view from my porch. :-(
Last edited by Joe_G; Mar 11, 2017 at 06:48 PM.