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Clutch lever/starter safety switch failing?

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    Clutch lever/starter safety switch failing?

    After three and a half years without a glitch, I have had some problems starting that appear to be related to the clutch lever. Where is the switch that keeps the starter from getting power without the clutch being disengaged?
    sigpic
    1983 GS1100ES (Bought July 2014)
    1983 GS1100E (Bought July 2014)
    1985 GS700ES (Bought June 2015) Sold
    On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
    All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

    #2
    Should be under the lever with a black oval plastic cover. Needs adjusted probably. Loosen the two screws and move the circuit board a little toward the end of the bars. tighten screws and retry.
    MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
    1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

    NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


    I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

    Comment


      #3
      Or you can follow the wires down inside the headlight bucket and unplug the leads from the switch. Plug the leads from the wire harness into each other and be done with the clutch safety all together.
      MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
      1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

      NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


      I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
        Should be under the lever with a black oval plastic cover. Needs adjusted probably. Loosen the two screws and move the circuit board a little toward the end of the bars. tighten screws and retry.
        Thank you Chuck. An easy fix--just how I like it. I would add that if you decide to open the switch and peek inside to see how it works--as I did--there is a teeny tiny spring that can easily be lost and then you would have to use method B (bypassing the switch).
        sigpic
        1983 GS1100ES (Bought July 2014)
        1983 GS1100E (Bought July 2014)
        1985 GS700ES (Bought June 2015) Sold
        On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
        All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

        Comment


          #5
          Whenever you open a clutch or front brake switch, take a big zip loc baggie and put it over the switch and then poke the screw driver through the bag. This way whatever falls out gets caught by the bag.

          EDIT..you can also loosen the clamp bolts and rotate the assembly so the bottom is facing up as much as it will go. This is limited more on the brake master side due to the line only allowing so much rotation.
          Last edited by chuck hahn; 01-29-2018, 05:34 PM.
          MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
          1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

          NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


          I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
            Whenever you open a clutch or front brake switch, take a big zip loc baggie and put it over the switch and then poke the screw driver through the bag. This way whatever falls out gets caught by the bag.

            EDIT..you can also loosen the clamp bolts and rotate the assembly so the bottom is facing up as much as it will go. This is limited more on the brake master side due to the line only allowing so much rotation.
            Good hacks! I actually did rotate the assembly as you suggested. Had to turn the bars to the left to get enough slack. BTW, I learned the hard way with the front brake switch. Never found that little spring. (And there's no plan B for that one. I just ordered a new switch and was glad it was available. Bought a back-up too)!
            sigpic
            1983 GS1100ES (Bought July 2014)
            1983 GS1100E (Bought July 2014)
            1985 GS700ES (Bought June 2015) Sold
            On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
            All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

            Comment


              #7
              And when reassembling a switch a little dab of grease on the pin inside that black plastic thing will keep the spring from falling off and wont hurt anything. Not a ton but a little drop that will make the spring stick inside while you are putting it back together.
              Last edited by chuck hahn; 01-29-2018, 07:09 PM.
              MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
              1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

              NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


              I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
                And when reassembling a switch a little dab of grease on the pin inside that black plastic thing will keep the spring from falling off and wont hurt anything. Not a ton but a little drop that will make the spring stick inside while you are putting it back together.
                Wish I'd done that. Hopefully it will be good for another 35 yrs.
                sigpic
                1983 GS1100ES (Bought July 2014)
                1983 GS1100E (Bought July 2014)
                1985 GS700ES (Bought June 2015) Sold
                On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
                All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

                Comment


                  #9
                  I by passed mine and never looked back.
                  sigpicMrBill Been a GSR member on and off since April 2002
                  1980 GS 750E Bought new in Feb of 1980
                  2015 CAN AM RTS


                  Stuff I've done to my bike:dancing: 1100E front end with new Sonic springs, 1100E swing arm conversion with new Progressive shocks installed, 530 sprockets/chain conversion, new SS brake lines, new brake pads. New SS fasteners through out. Rebuilt carbs, new EBC clutch springs and horn installed. New paint. Motor runs strong.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I've found over the years that the design of the GS brake light / clutch switch is possibly the worst switch design in the history of mankind.
                    Current:
                    Z1300A5 Locomotive (swapped my Intruder for it), GS450 Cafe Project (might never finish it....), XT500 Commuter (I know - it's a Yamaha :eek:)

                    Past:
                    VL1500 Intruder (swapped for Z1300), ZX9R Streetfighter (lets face it - too fast....), 1984 GSX750EF, 1984 GSX1100EF (AKA GS1150)
                    And a bunch of other crap Yamahas....

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by hillsy View Post
                      I've found over the years that the design of the GS brake light / clutch switch is possibly the worst switch design in the history of mankind.
                      And the brake light doesn’t do anything to warn you that it’s not working.
                      sigpic
                      1983 GS1100ES (Bought July 2014)
                      1983 GS1100E (Bought July 2014)
                      1985 GS700ES (Bought June 2015) Sold
                      On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
                      All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I went ahead and bypassed the switch by simply pulling out the wires and connecting them. However while I have not been stranded since, the starting is still not 100%. The starter mostly starts perfectly but on occasion it may just give a turn and give up or do nothing. Feels like it could be the button. How do I diagnose the starter itself?
                        sigpic
                        1983 GS1100ES (Bought July 2014)
                        1983 GS1100E (Bought July 2014)
                        1985 GS700ES (Bought June 2015) Sold
                        On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
                        All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

                        Comment


                          #13
                          I've found those to be surprisingly filled with grit in the past. Brake switches too. Only 50,000 miles of 0 maintenance, and it was all filthy in there. Some of mine work, at least one is bypassed. The bypass is helpful when you have a choke cable that won't stay out, and no clothespin to put on it to hold it out.
                          sigpic Too old, too many bikes, too many cars, too many things

                          Comment


                            #14
                            I run a hot lead from the battery to the small wire connection on the Solenoid to test the switch circuit. If that works, the skinny wire circuit isn't right. I use one side of a jumper cable from the battery hot lead to the outlet side of the solenoid to test the starter. Or short the two heavy wires at the solenoid together with something like the handles on a pair of pliers. The kill switch is in that loop too, with the skinny wire, as is the ignition switch, so you can check the kill switch for dirt and corrosion too.
                            sigpic Too old, too many bikes, too many cars, too many things

                            Comment

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