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Bike won't start in gear/won't shift in/out of neutral, no green light

4745 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  vincelp
Hi all,

Well I have been having problems with the ol' Scrambler as of late. I drove it to work on Monday, like I do every day, and after stopping for fuel, bike wouldn't start.
I assumed it was an issue with my side stand sensor (since it sometimes gives me troubles) but that was not the case. The bike just wouldn't start in gear. I had to shift into neutral before starting. Rode on Tuesday no problems, starting each time in neutral. Flash forward to this morning. Went out to start the bike, nope. Bike was in neutral, no light, wouldn't shift into first or second, wouldn't "shift" into neutral so the light would turn on. Tried rolling the bike back and forth to get it out of the dead zone, nope. I didn't have time to fiddle around too much, since I had to get to work. Thank goodness I live near a train station so I could just jump on and get to work, but I am still a sad panda knowing that I have to deal with this bullshit when all I want to do is ride the last few good days of the season.

Any ideas of what I might try to at least get it to limpin'?

Thanks!

Rose
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Sounds like you may have two issues.
1. The bike should always start in gear if the clutch lever is pulled in but not if the the side stand is down. If the side stand is down it won't run when it is in gear and will immediately cut out if you select a gear. So I think you probably have a faulty clutch switch.
2. Inability to select a gear may be due to a broken return spring on the selector control fork in the gear change mechanism so that the fork isn't engaging and fails to rotate the cam drum. If you are persistent you may get it to move in to a gear.
Let us know what the dealer says Rose, hope it's all covered under warranty straightaway.

Sarah
Sounds like you may have two issues.
1. The bike should always start in gear if the clutch lever is pulled in but not if the the side stand is down. If the side stand is down it won't run when it is in gear and will immediately cut out if you select a gear. So I think you probably have a faulty clutch switch.
2. Inability to select a gear may be due to a broken return spring on the selector control fork in the gear change mechanism so that the fork isn't engaging and fails to rotate the cam drum. If you are persistent you may get it to move in to a gear.
I was thinking it was a two-pronged problem of death as well. Just my bike giving me two middle fingers instead of the one... :)

I am definitely going spend some time this afternoon "persuading" it into gear, but I am not too hopeful in the outcome.
The side stand issue is totally clear, and perhaps after this is all fixed, it may turn out that I never had a semi-faulti switch rather the problem has always been with the clutch.

Meh, guess we will see.

Rose
Let us know what the dealer says Rose, hope it's all covered under warranty straightaway.

Sarah
Hi Sarah,

Yep, will keep you informed. They had better cover it! The bike is only 4 months old!
Update: Got home and my better half was able to get my bike into neutral...still taking the bike in for the non-starting-in-gear-problem. So I will have them look into this other issue as well.
Hello

If your bike doesn't start when a gear is engaged, I think your clutch switch is faulty or badly positioned. Try to disconnect the wire from the contact and create a contact between both end of the wire. Then, your bike should start, because it will believe your clutch is entirely engaged.

Of course, side stand must be folded during this test.
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