Side Stand Operation

[Randy WH]

This bike is a 1982 GS850GL. I'm not sure if I have a problem or not. I did do a lot of reading, but I didn't find an answer. I am waiting on a manual.

The bike runs great, but only cranks and starts with the stand down. The side stand warning indicator stays on until the stand is up. It sort of appears it's working correctly. Shouldn't it crank and start with the stand up?

By the way she hasn't been on the road since 95. I just got her running, for my brother. I sure appreciate all the help and info available here.

[tom203]

Yes,you'd think it should crank sidestand up or down (clutch safety switch on)- I think it's just a light to remind you.Maybe your brother was very safety conscious and liked wiring changes!

[posplayr]

This bike is a 1982 GS850GL. I'm not sure if I have a problem or not. I did do a lot of reading, but I didn't find an answer. I am waiting on a manual.

The bike runs great, but only cranks and starts with the stand down. The side stand warning indicator stays on until the stand is up. It sort of appears it's working correctly. Shouldn't it crank and start with the stand up?

By the way she hasn't been on the road since 95. I just got her running, for my brother. I sure appreciate all the help and info available here.

side stand switch normally only controls a dash light.

The clutch handle switch disables solenoid so engine will not crank.

Always is possible someone rewired it, but ...........

[GateKeeper]

Welcome to the site.....lots of good info here, and possibly a manual for your bike as well

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[Randy WH]

My brother hasn't even ridden it yet. It was a freebie 2 years ago.

It doesn't look the wiring has been modified. Except for me cutting the side stand switch wires and splicing them together, in an attempt to bypass it. It wouldn't crank after that. Only would crank after grounding the wires to the frame. Then the indicator light wouldn't shut off. So I soldered and heat shrinked everything back the way it was. I like the warning light to work properly.

The thing is 30 years old, so I guess you never no who's did what to it. It doesn't make any sense for it not to crank with the stand up, so I got to figure that out.

I read about a diode in some other posts, I have to admit I don't completely understand the circuit.

Thanks for the input.

[Steve]

The side stand has nothing to do with whether the engine can be started or not.

It simply turns on a light saying the stand is down.

The diode won't have anything to do with not starting, either.

The bike will run just fine without the side stand switch installed.
We got my wife's bike without a switch installed, did not find one for about two years.
The only thing that has changed since it's installation is that now the light comes on when the stand is down.

As I understand it, the diode is between the side stand switch and the oil pressure switch.
When the stand is down, only the stand light illuminates, but when the oil pressure is low,
both the oil light and stand light will come on.

.

[Killer2600]

I have to ask, are you pulling in the clutch when you try to start it?

[Randy WH]

I guess there's no question that some bonehead has wired the side stand switch improperly. Unless some kind of wiring anomally.

I do pull the clutch in.

Here's what happens. Everything on, clutch in, starter button pushed. If the stand is anywhere but all the way down, nothing happens. I push it down and it cranks and fires right up. Then I let the clutch out, position the stand up and away I go.

Strange. I guess at this point all I can do is start tracing and see what's going on. I haven't looked in the headlight area yet. Hopefully it's something obvious.

[Killer2600]

Sounds like someone did a custom job on the safety, I have to wonder if you even need to pull the the clutch to start the bike.

[Randy WH]

Killer2600,

You do have to pull the clutch in.

I'll post what I find.

[Randy WH]

Some of you are gonna say I'm smokin' crack, but here's what I found.

I found nothing obviously changed with the wiring. So I went back to playing with the switch and got it adjusted to where it starts with the stand up now, and won't start with it down. The warning light works properly also.

You guys are probably right. Someone must have modified the circuit and did a real good job. It just needed a little tlc.

Even if it's not factory, In my opinion it's working like it should.

Thanks for all the help and incite.

[Steve]

Thanks for the report.

I agree that it would be nice to have it working like it is, but that's not the way it left the factory.

Question, though, ... you are saying that you have to basically be on the bike and have the side stand up (or have it on the center stand) before you can start the bike?
What a pain. Hopefully it warms up quickly so you can ride sooner.

In my opinion, if you are going to have the kick starter interlocked with the starter and ignition circuits, there should also be some logic in there, too.
- If the bike is in neutral, no need to pull the clutch switch, regardless of kick stand position.
- If the bike is in gear, clutch must be pulled, regardless of kickstand position.
- If kick stand is still down when bike is put into gear, ignition is killed.
- If bike is already in gear and kick stand is put down, ignition is killed.

That is the way it should be done, but the circuitry to make that all happen did not come along until a few years after our bikes were made.

.

[Randy WH]

Steve

You brought up some good points. I agree with them all.

I did put the bike on the centerstand, so I could play with the sidestand. And yes it could be somewhat of a pain. I don't usually let a bike idle on the side stand anyways though. Fortunately It's running really good. It start's and idles perfectly, although it is over 80 degrees out.

Since my hourly rate is $0 for my brother, I'm gonna leave it alone. I think it's safe the way it is. Unless someone can change my mind.

It may not be the way it left the factory. The only sign of butchery though is where I tried to bypass the switch....stupid,stupid, stupid, although I covered my tracks pretty well.

Thanks

[jbs80106]

Sounds like a nifty, novel anti-theft set up to me! If it just means starting with side-stand down, and bike keeps running when it's tucked away to ride...

[Randy WH]

I could be a real jerk and put a switch on that requires it to be on the center stand to start. That would be a theft deterrent.

Maybe it's my technique, or just weak and old, but that thing is not fun getting on the center stand.