bypassing clutch start switch??
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 2
From: Alabama
Been there Done that,,,at Customers Request.....Well it does not work correctly,,,,after 3 start cycles the ECM figures out this has been done and Bike will only Start in Neutral....Disconnect the soldered wires,,,,and reconnect after a key on.....the bike will start for 3 more times then back again to having to be in neutral.....Wasted a lot of time on this,,,,bike now has new switch back in it...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 49
From: Northern California
Do it if you want to. I never had a bike with the pull in the clutch to start safety feature and in hyndreds of thousands miles and countless starts never had an issue. How did we even survive or live without this incredible safety feature ??
My 04 Police bike had this "safety feature" and I could not get used to it and disabled it.So far so good.10k miles and many starts with no issues. It is easy to do. I suppose I am an accident waiting to happen though.You better not park by me.
My 04 Police bike had this "safety feature" and I could not get used to it and disabled it.So far so good.10k miles and many starts with no issues. It is easy to do. I suppose I am an accident waiting to happen though.You better not park by me.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 3
From: Portage, IN
I have a question on the system and safeties...On the metrics I have messed with here is how they work.
On the hot side of start circuit you have the ignition switch. Then the power travels over to the kill switch. If that is in the run position then power moves onto the start button. When start button is pushed it sends power to the ignition relay (mag switch) and that will pull the contacts closed to then send battery power to the starter motor....This is the POWER side.
In order for the starter relay to work there needs to be a ground. The first place it runs looking for a ground is the neutral switch. If the bike is in gear the neutral switch is open and ground will not be completed so the next path is over to the sidestand switch. In line with the side stand switch is the clutch switch. In order to go all the way to the side stand switch, the clutch switch needs to be closed (clutch pulled in) when it gets to the side stand switch, if the side stand is down the switch will be open and no ground....NO START....Now if the side stand is up then ground will be completed and starter will turn. So when you wire the clutch switch to have it show closed all the time then the path to the sidestand switch is direct. If the bike is in neutral then it does not matter where the sidestand is. If the bike IS in gear then ground needs to go to sidestand switch. If kickstand is down then no ground, up and it will start.
This means that if the side stand is up and the bike is in gear that it will start (clutch switch now bypassed). If the bike is in gear and the side is down it won't start. Therefore if you turn the key on with the bike in gear and sidestand down it will not crank and make the bike fall over and it will only do so if the sidestand is up and (most likely) you are sitting on it...
Does Harley do something different?
Sorry for the long post/hijack...It just made me curious...
On the hot side of start circuit you have the ignition switch. Then the power travels over to the kill switch. If that is in the run position then power moves onto the start button. When start button is pushed it sends power to the ignition relay (mag switch) and that will pull the contacts closed to then send battery power to the starter motor....This is the POWER side.
In order for the starter relay to work there needs to be a ground. The first place it runs looking for a ground is the neutral switch. If the bike is in gear the neutral switch is open and ground will not be completed so the next path is over to the sidestand switch. In line with the side stand switch is the clutch switch. In order to go all the way to the side stand switch, the clutch switch needs to be closed (clutch pulled in) when it gets to the side stand switch, if the side stand is down the switch will be open and no ground....NO START....Now if the side stand is up then ground will be completed and starter will turn. So when you wire the clutch switch to have it show closed all the time then the path to the sidestand switch is direct. If the bike is in neutral then it does not matter where the sidestand is. If the bike IS in gear then ground needs to go to sidestand switch. If kickstand is down then no ground, up and it will start.
This means that if the side stand is up and the bike is in gear that it will start (clutch switch now bypassed). If the bike is in gear and the side is down it won't start. Therefore if you turn the key on with the bike in gear and sidestand down it will not crank and make the bike fall over and it will only do so if the sidestand is up and (most likely) you are sitting on it...
Does Harley do something different?
Sorry for the long post/hijack...It just made me curious...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
Domestic Harleys don't have a sidestand safety interlock.
Turn the ignition on and hit the start button with a disabled clutch safety interlock and it will attempt to start in gear.
Turn the ignition on and hit the start button with a disabled clutch safety interlock and it will attempt to start in gear.
i have an 07 ultra stripped down to a wannabe street glide. When I installed my ape hangers with new switches and wiring the harness didn't come with a clutch switch. I was told to just connect the 2 wires together and since the bike has been done the key fob alarm light stays on constantly showing a b1154 code which is clutch switch shorted to ground. The bike runs fine but will only start in neutral no matter what and light never goes out. any suggestions on how to fix this code without having to install a clutch switch? The bike is for sale and no one including myself would by it with the light on.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 3
From: Portage, IN
OK...thanks...I wasn't sure...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Oh, whatever did we do before the advent of this safety feature?..........
Get real boys, we don't need the nanny state to protect us from every little thing.