Problem with neutral light?

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Sep 21, 2019 | 05:10 PM

#21

Bruce Herchenroder

Stage III

Joined: Sep 2019

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

From: Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy from Sandy

With the bike in neutral and no light will the engine start okay? Do yo have to pull the clutch?

No clutch it is probably the bulb, led or wiring. With clutch it is probably the switch or wiring to it.

I know that when the light is lit I can start without pulling the clutch. When it's in Neutral, but light is NOT lit, I have to pull the clutch to start. Not really sure how to check the wiring, but know to replace switch is more work than I'm comfortable with. Might just put it in the shop and spend a few bucks as I have ZERO mechanical experience on motorcycles.

Sep 22, 2019 | 12:15 PM

#22

Andy from Sandy

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 12,254

Likes: 4,946

From: England

Quote:

When it's in Neutral, but light is NOT lit, I have to pull the clutch to start.

That would seem to point to something wrong with the switch.

I had a faulty led wiring harness, so although I had no neutral light the bike would still start without needing to pull the clutch.

Quote:

but know to replace switch is more work than I'm comfortable with.

It certainly looks to be quite long winded with having to remove rear pipe to get the cover off and then removing the front belt pulley to get at the switch.

It makes you wonder what the engineers were thinking when they decided that was the best place for the switch.

Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Sep 22, 2019 at 12:19 PM.

Sep 22, 2019 | 01:16 PM

#23

Bruce Herchenroder

Stage III

Joined: Sep 2019

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

From: Florida

It makes you wonder what the engineers were thinking when they decided that was the best place for the switch.

I understand some things just end up where they do because that's where they have to be to do their job, but it kind of makes me wonder if some are intentionally difficult to get to so that a little residual income is generated in authorized service centers...

Thanks for your help!

Sep 26, 2019 | 03:06 PM

#24

chrispCY

Novice

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 16

Likes: 2

From: Cyprus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Herchenroder

I just bought mine used a couple of weeks ago with only 5,000 miles and it does exactly the same. Did you ever figure out the problem?

Li

Had similar issues with mine. Before forking out cash and if u are not afraid to tinker a bit with the indicator board, check for defective LED’s; its easier than replacing the neutral switch. I have made a writeup on how to check the board and replace a defective LED here: http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?p=5767351

Jul 26, 2020 | 02:29 PM

#25

Hayden Cran

Stage I

Joined: Jul 2020

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by 37sportster

Yesterday I was riding my 07 883 that I have had for 3 weeks and noticed the neutral light was not coming on anymore more. It would go into neutral, just no light. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if I should be worried. Of course it's still under warrenty but I just wanted to know if there were more with problems? Thanks.

I know this is an old thread, but I'm literally in the same boat. Had my 07 Sportster for 3 weeks, pulled in from a ride and the neutral light didn't come in.

Nov 19, 2020 | 12:54 PM

#26

Johann Burtner

Novice

Joined: Nov 2020

Posts: 15

Likes: 1

From: Nashville

I get this too. '06 Sporty 1200C. It's intermittent and works as expected all day some days and other days stops working. In my case I don't need to pull the clutch to start it. Purchased the bike used and it was doing this already. I'll surely be taking it apart at some point lol so if it's the switch i'll research that but doubt it's the LED. Turn signal indicators in the cluster work as well as the oil indicator. Check engine indicator has lit up in the past before I start her up but the check-engine indicator also doesn't light up as expected while the N indicator is in failure-mode.

Cheers!
-jonny

Nov 19, 2020 | 01:35 PM

#27

Andy from Sandy

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 12,254

Likes: 4,946

From: England

If when the neutral light is not on but the engine still starts then I don't think it can be the switch.

On my bike it has leds and the neutral one failed but all the others were okay. The problem is being leds and not individual bulbs meant the complete harness had to be changed from the speedo to under the tank.

Nov 20, 2020 | 03:40 PM

#28

boomerguy

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2018

Posts: 627

Likes: 324

From: Covington, VA

I came across this today and I think I jinxed myself. I got ready to take my 2005 Sporty for a ride and my neutral light would not come on. I always park it in neutral in my garage with the engine running and the petcock closed so the carb runs empty until the next ride. BUT I remembered that I had not ridden it since I changed my risers from the stock 2" to my new 4.5" risers. This involved replacing my front brake line with a longer one and pulling on the wires to the dashboard while placing the dashboard on the taller handlebar. I'm suspecting that I pulled something loose. I'll check the connections before I do anything else. Hopefully, it's "operator error".

UPDATE:

With the bike in neutral, I tried to start it with the clutch lever not pulled and it did, just like it should. This tells me the neutral switch is good. From there, I removed the dashboard to discover the wire and socket had pulled away from the light bulb. I disassembled the strip of light bulbs, pulled the light bulbs with sockets attached out of the holder, cleaned up everything, put the unconnected bulb back into its socket (like a Christmas tree light bulb socket), and inserted all of the bulbs back into the strip/bulb holder and tried the lights before I screwed it back onto the dashboard. SUCCESS! Then I reassembled everything, sprayed silicone around the backside of the strip to help weatherproof the area and tried all of the lights again. Still good. All of this took about an hour with minimal tools.
Love my Sporty!!!!! It's still old enough to have actual light bulbs in the dashboard. It's just new enough, but not too new.

Last edited by boomerguy; Nov 20, 2020 at 06:21 PM.