Starter button does nothing

[arvo92]

Today when I finally thought the bike is now ready for MOT, I pressed the starter button and nothing. Not a bleep.

The curious case is that everything was running. I have touched no wires, nothing is taken apart beside the brake re-build I did yesterday. I did buy a battery charger and charged it yesterday. The battery is a brand "Super Sport" which means it is probably lowest shelf battery from Tesco.

Could it be that the battery is just shit or do I really need to get into starter diagnostics... heck. All the rest of bikes electrical system is working though.

Pretty dissapointed at the moment. That was definitely what I did not need.

[MrRiden]

Without going into all the possibilities and checks just a quick off the cuff suggestion. Check to make sure your kill switch is in the RUN position. Yea I've done it.

[arvo92]

Progress already:

I pushed in the clutch lever and Voila!

When removing the gearbox I could not keep the neutral wire on neutral indicator switch because it just got in the way of getting the gearbox in. So I removed that wire and thought that it is not really that important to me.
Is the neutral switch wire vital for starting the starter motor in neutral? Anybody with knowhow?

[arvo92]

Without going into all the possibilities and checks just a quick off the cuff suggestion. Check to make sure your kill switch is in the RUN position. Yea I've done it.

Kill switch was checked by me even though I have done this error in the past and panicked like we all have. I even took the assembly apart and multimetered all the wires to be sure the button is fine.

[MrRiden]

you have found the problem. The neutral switch being disconnected will prevent the starter from working unless, as you have found, you pull in the clutch lever. Reconnect it and your good to go.

[arvo92]

you have found the problem. The neutral switch being disconnected will prevent the starter from working unless, as you have found, you pull in the clutch lever. Reconnect it and your good to go.

It seems to me that in order to get the neutral wire back I need to take the gearbox out again, the room is very tight under there. I am open to suggestions here.

The problem for me was that the gearbox did not fit between the frame if the wire was on, it´s connector just got into the way. After 20 mins of fiddling I removed it and the gearbox went flush in.

Could I just start with the clutch pulled in until I take my gearbox off to replace rear main seal in the nearer future? It should not do anything bad, should it?

[Bob_Roller]

No, you won't do any harm by using the bike with the wire(s) off of the neutral switch .

But now, you are dependent on the switch at the clutch lever to work properly, if it fails (I've had two fail so far), you won't be able to operate the starter .

[montmil]

I plugged in the two wires to my fresh neutral switch using a pair of angled forceps. Long ones.

Get it reconnected before you become stranded beyond push it home distance.

[arvo92]

Thanks for the advice! As a beginner one can never truly estimate the delicate character of these bikes. How could I ever have thought that a piece of wire could stop these tanks from running...

Monte - do you have a picture of the angled forceps so I know what do look for when getting into shop?
I have needle nose pliers all sorts which are angled etc. I will try to get the wires on with them tomorrow.

[montmil]

Monte - do you have a picture of the angled forceps so I know what do look for when getting into shop?
I have needle nose pliers all sorts which are angled etc. I will try to get the wires on with them tomorrow.

No photo, but your doctor could show you one of his. Forceps I have are Mil surplus from a medic's bag. Stainless steel. Seize the initiative... google up a photo.

[montmil]

Monte - do you have a picture of the angled forceps so I know what do look for when getting into shop?
I have needle nose pliers all sorts which are angled etc. I will try to get the wires on with them tomorrow.

No photo, but your doctor could show you one of his. Forceps I have are Mil surplus from a medic's bag. Stainless steel. Seize the initiative... google up a photo.

[arvo92]

No worries. I already broke my neutral switch by trying to force wires onto connections - it seems that one of the terminals was damaged by previous owner as it did not stick out ot side but downwards not letting to put the wire onto it before gearbox re-assembly. Little bit of bending made it crack and brake.

I could actually wiggle them on with my fingers but it was a pain. the first time I put them on in the wrong order. Second time the terminal broke.

New neutral switch ordered.