Oil Pressure light is now my Neutral Indicator!

[Breezerider]

My Neutral light no longer comes on, instead, when I start the motor, the Oil Pressure Light stays on until I put it in first gear.  It now seems to be acting as the neutral indicator light.  I inspected the connections behind the light panel, cleaned and reinstalled them...same problem.  Any Ideas?

[Bob_Roller]

I would check the wiring connections at the wiring harness on the left side of the bike, around the foot peg area, both the low oil pressure switch, and the neutral light switch wiring are in the same harness, sounds like some wires got misconnected .

[Yikes]

I had a similar problem on my '82 that involved the neutral indicator light that turned out to be a failing diode contained in the starter relay.  Replacing the diode fixed the problem, but i ended up having to replace the whole relay a few weeks later.  Perhaps the starter relay could also have something to do with your other starter problem.

[Bob_Roller]

The diode in the starter relay, if it fails, will cause the neutral light to illuminate when the clutch lever is pulled in, no matter what gear you are in .

[Yikes]

The diode in the starter relay, if it fails, will cause the neutral light to illuminate when the clutch lever is pulled in, no matter what gear you are in .

Bob's got it.  That's exactly what was happening with my '82.  

John M

[Justin B.]

This almost sounds like a bad ground, maybe in the tachometer.  When a ground opens up in an instrument panel (cars anyway) all kinds of strange things happen as circuits try grounding through other bulbs, etc...

[Breezerider]

I would check the wiring connections at the wiring harness on the left side of the bike, around the foot peg area, both the low oil pressure switch, and the neutral light switch wiring are in the same harness, sounds like some wires got misconnected .

I don't think so.  It was working fine, then went through a period where it would switch lights, sometimes working normally, sometimes not.  I didn't touch anything on the bike when it started, no wires could have got misconnected.

[Breezerider]

I had a similar problem on my '82 that involved the neutral indicator light that turned out to be a failing diode contained in the starter relay.  Replacing the diode fixed the problem, but i ended up having to replace the whole relay a few weeks later.  Perhaps the starter relay could also have something to do with your other starter problem.

Hmm, yes the two problems might be related.  I'll start looking for a new starter relay.  Thanks guys.