neutral light and "gotta pull clutch to start it" issue

[dafox999]

Gang,

About a year ago, my neutral light died right when the ability to start the bike in neutral without pulling in the clutch started. A couple of google searches later I find it's either a diode under the seat or a gear indicator switch behind a cover in the front.

I ohm'd out the diode and it was bad. I happily motored over to radio shack and got a generic one and thought I fixed it. Nope.

So .. I guess maybe both things were wrong. Long odds, but that's all I can figure. I did jumper straight to the cathode of the diode (straight to the neutral light) and it came on and I was able to start it without pulling the clutch.

Soooo ... it looks like I have to drain the coolant before I pull that cover? Kinda looks like a pain. And then, where in the world do I find that switch?

Again .. any input is very welcome.

 

[dan filipi]

It's rare for that switch in the front cover to go bad.

Look down under the front cover you should see a wire coming out. There are actually 2 wires inside the loom, one is for the neutral light, other is for the OD light.
Follow that up to the plug.
Unplug there then you can jumper a ground to either of those pins. One pin should light the neutral light, the other the OD light.

If they come on then make sure the connection is good in that plug and the wires to the front cover aren't damaged.
You can check continuity on both to ground, one will have continuity when in neutral, the other when in OD.

If not then bad switch or the cover has been off before and the switch wasn't lined up properly when putting the cover on.

For grins, try shifting through the gears to see if you get continuty to ground in other gears.
That would mean the switch isn't lined up right.

 

[dafox999]

Got it .. makes sense. Will do. Thanks, Dan

 

[oldmopars]

OD on an 1100? Overdrive?

 

[dan filipi]

oldmopars » Wed Sep 25, 2013 3:19 pm[/url]":1xlli55p]
OD on an 1100? Overdrive?

Yes.

 

[oldmopars]

Uh, what years and where is the light?

 

[Steve83]

Overdrive started with the '83 model. The light is on the tachometer, where the '80-'82 "Rear Suspension Air Pressure" light is.

 

[oldmopars]

Oh, ok. Thanks

 

[dafox999]

Success!

So ... I trace the wires up to a connector at the upper right of the radiator. The other side of the connector has the wires cut about 1/4 inch from the connector. Took me 1/2 hour to find them buried in the wire bundle. The fan blades cut the wires. So, I soldered speaker wire to the wire stubs on the connector and coated with liquid tape. Connected them to the wires in the bundle. Some more liquid tape. Viola .. I got my Overdrive and neutral lights back and it starts with the clutch out now!

Woo hoo!

Thanks gang!

 

[Steve83]

Excellent!!! Way to go!

 

[slabghost]

I love it when a fix is found! Congratulations!

 

[dafox999]

thanks guys .. had a great ride afterwards. Looks like I've found a home here. Greatly appreciated. It worked fine with my radio shack diode, but kept the original. plugged it in, and it worked. Life is good.

 

[Steve83]

Cool - spare parts!