Bike won't start in gear, clutch in

[FB400]

Just noticed this starting to happen on a 3 day camping trip. I had expected the bike to start when having the clutch lever pulled in while in gear with the kickstand up.

Presuming at this point it is the small switch attached to the clutch perch or connections.

Any other possible reasons to investigate?

FB

 

[Erci]

Sure sounds like the clutch switch. I believe it's normally closed (goes open when lever is squeezed). Either way, it seems it would be easy enough to test, by disconnecting the wires from the switch and strapping the clutch lever to the handlebar (so the bike doesn't take off).
With wires connected to each other, bike shouldn't start (provided I was right about *normally closed*) and with wires apart, it should start.

Does that make sense?

 

[FB400]

Eric - yeah I think this is a good approach. Trouble right now is weather is so good I would rather be out riding than tinkering with the bike (off this week).

I thought also the connectors could be dirty. I had to replace the brake switch blade connectors and this worked fine (wasn't the switch)

 

[2nd childhood]

I had this exact same problem with my old vStar 650. Rotating the clutch switch on the handlebar fixed it.

 

[greg]

the sensor relay block connector had corroded on mine, causing this problem (the biggest relay under the left pod). Some emery cloth and contact cleaner sorted it out.

I (or rather the AA man with my assistance) tested the kickstand switch continuity with a multimeter when we were diagnosing it.

 

[FinalImpact]

the sensor relay block connector had corroded on mine, causing this problem (the biggest relay under the left pod). Some emery cloth and contact cleaner sorted it out.

I (or rather the AA man with my assistance) tested the switch continuity with a multimeter when we were diagnosing it.

Good Find! ^^

FWIW: it has about dozen wires going into it. its under the left pod should you go looking for it. Its the interlock relay. So if all the switches agree, it allows a signal to the starter relay to spin the electric motor when the start button is pushed. Starter relay is atop the battery.

Looks like so... Far right

 

[greg]

for some reason the connectors look to be made of aluminium, so they develop a layer of oxide on top, the ECU uses brass or copper connectors that don't suffer from this. The handlebar harness connector also has the same issue (behind the battery box), which has caused my tail and indicator lights to stop functioning in the past.

 

[agf]

I had a similar problem about two years back, the micro switch at the clutch lever had become a bit gummy.a squirt of wd-40 into the switch and I have had no issues since

 

[FB400]

Solved. I disconnected the plug, dremeled the connections (best I could), added di-electric grease. Now works fine as it should. Had a feeling it was the connections and was right