Clutch safety switch

[trips]

I've had problems with starter not engaging, thought I had a loose battery terminal (I did, but not the problem). Turns out it's the clutch safety switch, I believe, I can start it if I carefully clutch in and out til I find just the right spot. Is this something that can be disassembled and cleaned? Or should I buy a new one, and are they still available? 1980 r65

[Bob_Roller]

You could try cleaning the switch with alcohol, but don't expect a miracle cure .

The switches are still available, don't know the cost .

If the switch fails completely, you can cut the wires and splice them together and bypass the switch until you get a new one, but you eliminate the safety interlock feature doing so .

[Tony Smith]

I would simply bypass the switch permanently. I did so on my R100 in about 1979 when the original switch failed and I am yet to try and start the bike other than in neutral or with the clutch pulled in. I regard thing such at side stand switches and clutch switches as being a needless and unwanted nanny state intrusion into my motorcycling, that provides an unneeded and unwanted additional failure point in the electrics.
 
Both switches are of relatively recent invention and the streets prior to their introduction were not littered with the broken bodies of motorcyclists who pressed the starter button and were not in neutral, or who rode off with the side stand down.

Actually, I've never ridden off with the side stand down on any BMW I've owned, but I will admit to having done so exactly once on a Yamaha XS750 I owned back in the day. I assure you that you will only ever ride off with an extended side stand once in a lifetime, the shock stays with you forever.
 
If you have spent anytime riding bikes that are kick-start only, being in neutral becomes indelibly ingrained.

[trips]

Interesting, I didn't think to try neutral. ( I just figured it out this afternoon)  Thanks for the responses. Re the side stand, I did it once on  my Honda, a guy in a car, who must have been a rider, saw it and pulled me over to tell me. It's a side car rig, so side stand and center stand are off.

[montmil]

Nanny State... I think Tony nailed it. Spot on, Mate. I'll even toss out that I believe the neutral indicator light switch and circuit is also Nanny State mandated.

Gimme back my old 1953 non-unit Triumph T100C with the factory race kit fitted. Now that was your basic, fire breathing motorcycle.

We don't need no stinkin' warnings.  

Have also removed the clutch interlock switch and wires on my R100S. If/when the same switch fails on either of the R65s, they are gone, too.

[steve hawkins]

I say,

Here, here!

Toodle pip!

Rev. Light

[Barry]

On the early models the clutch switch also controls the indicator beeper so that will tell you if it's working or not. I wouldn't know otherwise as I always start in neutral with the clutch pulled in to ease the load on the starter. It's just an automatic reflex like using a valve lifter on a kick start single.

[trips]

No indicator beeper on mine, at least when I got it. My CB750 had one, took the damn thing off the first day, what a PITA that noisy thing was.

[Tony Smith]

On the early models the clutch switch also controls the indicator beeper

What Beeper? When I picked up my R100RS all those years ago in 1978, I rode round the first corner, stopped and disconnected it. Some time later when doing a service I grabbed the beeper and put it where it belonged - in the rubbish bin.
 
we don't need no stinkeen beepers neither!

[Tony Smith]

It's just an automatic reflex like using a valve lifter on a kick start single.

I did a cruel thing once....

I had a Velocette 500cc single and along with other members of the "old British bike fraternity" I was asked to put it on display during the town show. A smug young lad came up to me and said that he couldn't see why we old buggers made such a big fuss about old English singles, he after all had a 600cc Kawasaki trail bike that had no electric start and he found it a pussycat to start.
 
Needless to say I invited him to try his mettle and kick over the Velo.
 
Being half smart he asked for some basic info on procedure - I told him to turn the fuel on, juggle the "tickler" until fuel came out, then push that lever on the left hand side of the bars all the way forward, open the throttle about 1/2 way and then "go his hardest".
 
Evil bastard that I am, I completely forgot to mention decompressors, and left him with a flooded carb, fully advanced ignition and half throttle.
 
Well, he leapt up and came down with a mighty kick, the Velo however kicked back just as hard and the lad sailed through the air and landed about 3 feet in front of the bike.
 
Before he hobbled off in the arms of his friends I retarded the ignition (and turned it off), turned off the fuel and of course, closed the throttle. After prodding it through twice, I turned on the ignition and gave it a gentle prod and it sat their quietly idling away.

"Technique son, it's all about technique" I said as the lad went away with a new found respect for both old English bikes and their owners.

[Barry]

"Technique son, it's all about technique" I said as the lad went away with a new found respect for both old English bikes and their owners.       
 

Making kick starting look effortless was one of the joys of owning a kick start single - that is once you'd got the Knack.

[Tony Smith]

Actually, although at the time I thought it was funny, i am less proud of myself now, the silly bugger could have actually been seriously injured and I would have been responsible. I still enjoy deflating the odd over blown ego, but I wouldn't engineer a situation where someone could be hurt now.

[Dizerens5]

That exchange got me thinking. For years bikes have been provided with a kill switch or button on the handlebar, although a runaway engine must be a very rare problem. But when it has happened, has anyone actually been wideawake enough to use the kill switch, as well as closing the throttle, hauling on the brake lever and hanging on?!!!

[montmil]

Actually, although at the time I thought it was funny, i am less proud of myself now, the silly bugger could have actually been seriously injured and I would have been responsible. I still enjoy deflating the odd over blown ego, but I wouldn't engineer a situation where someone could be hurt now.

Pity [smiley=mad.gif]

[Barry]

That exchange got me thinking. For years bikes have been provided with a kill switch or button on the handlebar, although a runaway engine must be a very rare problem. But when it has happened, has anyone actually been wide awake enough to use the kill switch, as well as closing the throttle, hauling on the brake lever and hanging on?!!!  

Not me ever. I suspect it's the result of another piece of legislation that wasn't really needed. What was wrong with the ignition key ?

Now the kill switch is just an added trap for the unwary that can inadvertently prevent a bike from starting.

Probably not a bad idea to use it occasionally to help keep the contacts clean.