Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

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Cakey
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Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#1

Post by Cakey »

Hi team and Merry Xmas. I did a full clutch adjustment today as per the manual instructions. When finished it improved the 1st gear not being so clunky when putting it into first gear from neutral, but now the neutral light doesn’t work and I have to pull the clutch in to start it. Any advice on what I have done wrong? Feedback appreciated, thanks.
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redglbx
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#2

Post by redglbx »

It’s probably the silicone diode (the brown thingies) under the left shelter panel. Check your service manual for which one it is. I just went through this a couple of years ago. Sorry I don’t remember which one of the 4 it is, someone here may pop-up on which one exactly it is, but that’s what I’d say it is. Let us know how you do.

Note: I just looked at my post from When I had this problem and PID here helped me, it’s the diode with the light green wire with the red stripe, PID gave me some great info on all this, good read ! good luck !
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#3

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Hm. Neutral light out + needing to pull the clutch to start it makes it sound like the bike thinks it's still in gear.

-Have you confirmed the bike is actually in neutral?
-While the bike is running and you shift from 1st to 2nd, do you get any momentary light out of the light as you shift through neutral?
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#4

Post by pidjones »

I doubt the clutch adjustment caused this. Probably as reglbx noted a diode went out (coincidence) or more likely poor connections (happens on these old girls). There are several sets of diodes - and one set is for the neutral safety circuit. Once you check the connections, just try swapping the diodes.
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Cakey
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#5

Post by Cakey »

Well it’s not the diode. I am sure it’s something to do with me doing the clutch adjustment. Could it be the clutch switch? When I fiddle with that it starts playing up. I am not sure what the clutch switch does though……
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#6

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Basically it locks out the start button if the bike is in gear and the clutch lever is released. A bad clutch switch would explain the no-start if the lever isn't pulled, but not necessarily the bad light.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#7

Post by Cakey »

So I just took off the clutch lever and the neutral light comes on. As soon as the clutch lever depresses the switch everything stops working. The switch is in the correct place but as soon as anything touches it,it cuts out the neutral light. If it’s not depressed, all good. Any ideas? Is there a work around?
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#8

Post by redglbx »

From what you’re saying it sounds like you have a bad clutch lever switch, don’t know if you can fix that w/o just replacing the switch. My .02
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#9

Post by Shadowjack »

The theory behind the clutch switch is to provide a ground path from the starter solenoid when pulled, completing the power circuit from the starter button through the solenoid. The neutral switch also provides this ground path, which also turns on the light. The diode is between the neutral switch and the clutch switch, so that pulling the clutch doesn't create a second path to ground from the neutral light and turn it on, whether it's in neutral or not.
The starter should work when EITHER the clutch is pulled, or when it's in neutral, assuming both switches are good and the wiring is connected properly. If the diode is shorted, the neutral light will come on when the clutch lever is pulled. If the diode is open, the starter will not work when the clutch lever is pulled.
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Cakey
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#10

Post by Cakey »

Shadowjack wrote: Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:44 am The theory behind the clutch switch is to provide a ground path from the starter solenoid when pulled, completing the power circuit from the starter button through the solenoid. The neutral switch also provides this ground path, which also turns on the light. The diode is between the neutral switch and the clutch switch, so that pulling the clutch doesn't create a second path to ground from the neutral light and turn it on, whether it's in neutral or not.
The starter should work when EITHER the clutch is pulled, or when it's in neutral, assuming both switches are good and the wiring is connected properly. If the diode is shorted, the neutral light will come on when the clutch lever is pulled. If the diode is open, the starter will not work when the clutch lever is pulled.
I have since checked my diodes with the multimeter on the highest ohms setting. When tested both ways by swapping over the posited and negative leads there was no reading at all. Does this mean bad diode.at the moment I took the clutch switch off the clutch and left it under the tank shelter so the button doesn’t depress. Just means the neutral light doesn’t go out at all.
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#11

Post by Fred Camper »

Test the diodes on the continuity setting, not the highest ohm. There should be a connection in the one direction and none with the leads reversed. Sorry mine did fail but I do not recall if it failed short or open. Seems like it was short.
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Cakey
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#12

Post by Cakey »

Fred Camper wrote: Tue Dec 28, 2021 4:48 pm Test the diodes on the continuity setting, not the highest ohm. There should be a connection in the one direction and none with the leads reversed. Sorry mine did fail but I do not recall if it failed short or open. Seems like it was short.
Thanks Fred. Now checked on the continuity setting I think I have it sorted. The diodes are reading nothing one way and about 990 the other way. I did have two bad ones in the group that were 003 and 026 each way. This leaves me to think that it could only be the clutch switch. The neutral switch is brand new Honda.
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#13

Post by pidjones »

Here is the manual page for the diodes.
Screenshot_2020-06-08-07-18-30.png
Screenshot_2020-06-08-07-18-30.png (192.9 KiB) Viewed 282 times
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#14

Post by Shadowjack »

All of the diodes are the same. Swap another one in to test.
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Re: Neutral light out after clutch adjustment

#15

Post by Sidecar Bob »

This drawing is for the later models that have the regulator and regulator in one unit but the part you need to understand for your issue is basically the same.
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