Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Bad Kickstand kill switch symptom?

Had to start the bike in 1st gear with the clutch pulled.
I have NO neutral light when not running.
Get this...it stays on when running in ALL GEARS!
NICE!
My guess is the kickstand kill switch is stuck in or it's defective.
I'll look, wack it, then spray some lube at it in the AM.

Anyone had this happen?

Member
Gary James

I may be totally off base here, but I'd recommend you trace the wires that run up along the right side of the engine and look for a misrounted/pinched wire. It's happened more than once that working on the right side of the engine results in a pinched neutral wire causing the problem you describe. Especially when replacing the sprocket cover after changing the front sprocket. Done anything on the right side of the engine? Or anything at all around the engine lately?

Sounds good...I haven't done any work lately but I'll be removing the tank & looking the whole harness over today.
thanks...your more of a help than my local dealer...4-6 weeks just to look at my bike?
Are they F-in NUTS?

Member
Gary James

Gary you've switched/swapped your tank around so many times... How can you keep track of all those wires? Get the chrome one back yet?

Neutral Light Always On

Neutral Light Stuck On?

Well, I did pinch the wire mentioned, so a BIG THANKS!
However, I pinched it with one of the air filter screws.
The wire was not broken but it was bare & shorting.
Q: What is the wire connected to?
Q: Is it the neutral sensor or relay?

It now seems I have NO neutral light at all, but I haven't started the bike to see if going threw the gears will bring it back to normal.

Q: If I get no light, what would I have BLOWED UP?
Anyone?

*Benny….My “chrome” tank is done but I have to pick it up & line it yet.

Member
Gary James

Well, pinching the neutral wire with an air filter screw, I think that's a new one
If it was shorting causing the light to stay on, it may be completely broken giving you no neutral light at all, or it may, after a possibly solid short, be a blown fuse. The fuse is probably a long shot since you should have been working with the power off. But it doesn't cost anything to look at it.

Took it 4 a ride...
I have no neutral light what so ever.
Also, the bike will only start with the clutch pulled in.
Fuses are all OK wire is OK
I'm thinking I blew the "neutral switch indicator" out.
That's what the wire is connected to anyway...
part # (T1190014)
Not sure

Member
Gary James

Well whatever you blew, the bike never thinks it is in neutral... So either the switch itself is shorted out, or the wire somewhere you can't see maybe? I'm not sure where that switch is, sounds like the indicator you are talking about is the light on the dash. I think it's the actual switch because if it was just a light, you would think the bike would still start in neutral...

the "neutral switch indicator" is located on the bottom of the transmission...it's like a mini spark plug looking deal.
They are not in the dash but are related to the light & kickstand. This is where the wire leads me to.

Member
Gary James

Gary (and Benny),

From what I figure, the neutral indicator switch should be right under the gearbox selector shaft. The neutral indicator switch (NIS) uses a copper washer. You may remove the NIS to inspect, but be sure to anneal the copper washer before reassembly, or buy some spares if you do order a new NIS. You might try Palm Beach Triumph if you need to order as Bob may have one on the shelf.

What is the operating principle of the NIS? Plunger or sensor? It is positioned under the drum assembly selector (into which the gearbox selector shaft resides), so it must detect a slot. Magnetically or physically? The NIS’s very name seems to indicate a physical switch…Either way, removal for inspection will allow you to determine which it is and if it’s a sensor you’ll be able to clean it and if it’s a plunger you may free it up. The NIS could be of a ball-bearing socket type that rides along a surface too. Careful of the oil that may come out. Have a M10 bolt handy to plug up the case while the switch is out. (At least the copper washer for the NIS is an M10).

Have you checked both ends of the neutral subharness? One end would be under the gearbox selector shaft. The other end is? Maybe next to the relays along the top tube, but my guess would place it on top of the air box under the harness cover. Check the cable for continuity when you locate both ends.

Benny was saying that the bike never thinks it is in neutral. The NIS sounds like the culprit, but the wire could be too. I can’t imagine why the indicator light being burnt out would impact the circuit, but it may. That is simple enough to check out. The indicator light can be checked by removing the tank console, removing the tube the lamp is in then rolling back the tube to afford access to the lamp.

Hope this helps.

Thanks MOE...

The wire (short) is fixed & I'm now faced with the followling...
*Bulb is good
*Riding with NO neutral light at all.
*The bike will NOT start in neutral with kickstand down.
*WILL start with kickstand up & clutch in, in any gear (including neutral).
I was thinking the short F-ed up the NIS but team Triumph thinks it may be a diode...they looked into it & have
info 4 me but I got home 2 late today & could not return the call...They kick ****** BTW.
I get all my parts from them & they let me haggle!

Well, I'll know more tomorrow

Member
Gary James

Well? Tell us about the diode!

And is that Team Triumph of Wisconsin? I hear their Sceptres all the time!

The problem was the neutral indicator switch,
No light on dash
No starting with kickstand down
are the result of me & my (pinched) shorted wire
All is back to normal now.
I pulled the switch out to find it had no spring movement, it was stuck.

Thanks to all esp. Team Triumph $20.00

Member
Gary James

Hi Gary,

Good job getting her back to the 'regular starting routine'.

So the wire was not the actual problem even though you pinched it. Have you figured out why the switch itself failed? Haven't seen/heard of this problem before...

...which leads me to believe we need a sticky post or an online, searchable, troubleshooting database. I would prefer the database...

I am writing a note to myself and need to send an email tomorrow.

btw, I'd bet Moe steered you in the right direction? That boy is sharp!!

Gary,
Glad to hear you fixed it up. Did you get much oil when you pulled the NIS? Do you have any pictures of the NIS?