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Won’t start in gear?

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Old May 19, 2021 | 04:55 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Andy from Sandy
....Hopefully they only charge for the part that actually fixes the fault and not other parts they might have used along the way.
That would never happen. Most dealerships, motorcycle or automobile, diagnose by changing parts until the problem is fixed, and you pay for all labor and parts used in the process. Usually when trying to track down an elusive problem it all boils down to a process of elimination.

Jim
 

Last edited by roussfam; May 19, 2021 at 05:00 AM.
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Old May 19, 2021 | 06:32 AM
  #22  
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Andy has it right.
If the Neutral switch is bad you will only be able to start the bike by pulling in the clutch, if the clutch switch is good.

If the Clutch switch is bad the only way to start the bike is putting it in neutral, if the neutral switch is good.

The switch pak modules do fail. If the turn signals and cruise still work then the module is communicating with the BCM so I think you can rule out Can Buss error from wiring.

 
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Old May 19, 2021 | 08:01 AM
  #23  
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Remove the clutch lever and see if there is a machined dot on it. If not present, you likely have the original switch pack which has since been updated.

 
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Old May 19, 2021 | 09:31 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Kawickrice
Clutch switch pak has a mini circuit board that goes out occasionally without being hit. I would check there first
Yeah that. Plus the neutral switch has nothing to do with starting in gear.
 
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Old May 21, 2021 | 04:30 PM
  #25  
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I think there was a recall to fix that problem. Check with your shop.
 
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Old May 21, 2021 | 05:57 PM
  #26  
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Ahh,
the good ole days before they had neutral safety switch, clutch switch, etc. If you tried to Start without the clutch pulled in and in gear you’d get embarrassed when your bronco jumped away from you........

That would happen to you once. Once.

There was no need for the switches. LOL
 
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Old May 23, 2021 | 12:21 PM
  #27  
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Happened to me once! Only once!
 
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Old May 23, 2021 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by KCFLHRC
If you got hit in the rear start looking there. Make sure the brake light is working properly.
that was the first thing I checked after I got hit.......I was really surprised that the back of my bike wasn't all smashed up, but the nose of her car caught the bottom of the tour pack and shoved me forward pretty good. I'm glad I was moving and not at a dead stop or it prob would have been a much worse situation.
 
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Old May 23, 2021 | 12:30 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Andy from Sandy
If it is bad such that you don't get the lamp on the dash the BCM will think the bike is in gear and ought to then only start if you pull in the clutch.

Can you start your bike with it in neutral? I don't think you have actually said or not.
Bike will start in neutral, but here's the thing........after checking on this problem a bit more, it seems to be intermittent. Sometimes bike will not start in gear with clutch pulled in, other times it will. Hmmmm??
 
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Old May 23, 2021 | 12:40 PM
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Thanks for all of the replies so far

Here is an update............I had read on another thread that a member had identified that the switch that extends when the clutch lever is pulled in was sticking on his bike. He put some graphite on it and no more problems.

I thought that was worth a look only to discover that the switch seems to be internal and not easily accessed without pulling the switch pack housing off of the bar, but I could hear an audibly click when I pulled in the clutch so I figured the switch was behaving as it was designed to.

Then I discovered that sometimes the bike will start when in gear and clutch pulled in, and sometimes it will not. Working the clutch a few times may make the difference, as does turning the ignition switch on / off. Bike has always started in neutral.

I can live with having to put the bike in neutral to start it, but I'm a little concerned that at some point that my not work and I could get stranded. Or worse.....electrical gremlins start to show up. Hopefully not.

Is there an easy way to check the Clutch switch? Or just head to the dealer to let him diagnose?

I'm planning to change the bars on this bike in the next couple of weeks and would like to have everything working correctly prior to doing that job.
 
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