Sidestand kill switch

[MikeM8560]

Ok so sence i bough my bike a couple year ago now, the sidestand kill switch hasnt worked properly. If the bike is running clutch in and in gear if the stand is lowered it sounds like one or two cylinders cut out but the motor still remains running. Ive nevr had a problem but the other day i got caught out in a severe downpour, i could hardy see no plce to stop so i c made it on home about 3 miles. when i turned left onto my road the motor died. it started up ok but dd it again on my driveway. started ok and pulled in out of the rain.I rode her again (dry) no trouble. do you think there may be trouble in the switch getting wet and grounding? dont think its in the steering as ive turn hard bolth left and right without this happening,. only the other day when it really got wet. ive rode in the rainm even tonight light rain no trouble again

[Neil86]

Mike, actually when the switch is grounded, the ignition is on and the CMS icon is off...lower the stand, the switch opens, ignition kills and the CMS alarms. There is 3 wires for the switch, one from CMS, one from sidestand relay, one ground....often the switch is bypassed by splicing the 3 wires together.

The problem you had before with the stand switch not shutting down the ignition is more than likely a sidestand relay problem, thats the part that actually kills the ignition.

[MikeM8560]

thanks Neil, the relay is this seperate from the switch?

[mother]

my 86 just started to do a silly thing also sidestand electrical related.

 

with the bike in neutral, key on, sidestand down, crank engine, but it wont catch. just as my wife walked in the garage i was cranking the engine when i flipped the sidestand up and the exhaust pipes ignited and what a bang out the two pipes. my wife went back in the house and i think she will not be coming in my garage for a long time. her hearing did come back.

the bike now does this on a regular basis, so i guess it is time to replace the sidestand switch, or replace the relay which is located up by the fusebox. i will sort this out over the winter months.

 

cheers, Scott

[mtman]

thanks Neil, the relay is this seperate from the switch?

 

Yes, it is up behind the headlight on an '86.

[Venturous Randy]

my 86 just started to do a silly thing also side stand electrical related.

 

with the bike in neutral, key on, side stand down, crank engine, but it wont catch. the bike now does this on a regular basis, so i guess it is time to replace the side stand switch, or replace the relay which is located up by the fusebox. i will sort this out over the winter months.

 

cheers, Scott

 

This is exactly the symptoms I was having on my bike when I was at Asheville. It would crank over in neutral, but no fire. When I raised the side stand, it would fire.

I finally found the problem and it was in the clutch switch wiring. I had a similar problem a couple of years ago with the starter turning over with it in gear with the side stand down. I had to stretch the little spring in the clutch master to make sure it pushed the clutch lever out completely. What I found on this last problem was the connection had come undone where the wires go from the clutch lever switch down behind my headlight.

One quick check is to peel the cover back on the clutch lever switch and use an ohm meter to check the circuit while pulling the lever in and out.

Let us know if this solves your problem and if it doesn't we can suggest other things. I would be surprised if it is your side stand switch with the symptoms you are describing.

RandyA

Edited September 20, 2008 by Venturous Randy

[Neil86]

Mike...on 83-85 the sidestand relay is located above the headlight.

Remove windshield molding, windshield, and the "hood" that covers the top of the instrument cluster. You'll see a row of relays....unless the rubber mounts have fallen apart, and you see relays hanging...it has 4 wires red/white, blue/yellow, black/white, black.

[Oldseadog]

A problem with the warnig light and side stand indicator happened to me the last time I rode. I was on the highway and suddenly the light and indicator came on. I pulled over but nothing was wrong. I couldn’t see where the stand was loose or anything. I put it on the side stand then took it off the light went out so I started out again. I got to about 60/70 kph and they lit up again, as I slowed down they went out at about 40 kph. After stopping again, putting the stand down then back up they didn’t come on all the way home. I wonder if it was a sticky switch, and is a lube I can spray on it to free it up.

[Neil86]

The plunger compresses with the sidestand down, extends with the sidestand up...so road debris can build up so the plunger can't fully extend, so cleaning may help.

Since the switch is normally grounded with sidestand up, a poor connection can also trigger the alarm....so inspect and clean the 3 wire connector.

[Neil86]

Mike...on 83-85 the sidestand relay is located above the headlight.

Remove windshield molding, windshield, and the "hood" that covers the top of the instrument cluster. You'll see a row of relays....unless the rubber mounts have fallen apart, and you see relays hanging...it has 4 wires red/white, blue/yellow, black/white, black.

 

Mike...basically the black/white is from the TCI...when the sidestand relay has to kill the ignition it closes the contacts between the black/white and the black so the control side of the TCI grounds and shuts down the TCI. You may just have a poor ground so when the relay tries to operate its only partially successful...thus the misfiring. Give the connector a good cleaning with contact cleaner.

[Neil86]

my 86 just started to do a silly thing also sidestand electrical related.

 

with the bike in neutral, key on, sidestand down, crank engine, but it wont catch. just as my wife walked in the garage i was cranking the engine when i flipped the sidestand up and the exhaust pipes ignited and what a bang out the two pipes. my wife went back in the house and i think she will not be coming in my garage for a long time. her hearing did come back.

the bike now does this on a regular basis, so i guess it is time to replace the sidestand switch, or replace the relay which is located up by the fusebox. i will sort this out over the winter months.

 

cheers, Scott

If the bike cranks fine with the sidestand down in neutral, but no ignition till you raise sidestand, probably one of the diodes has failed or the diode connector is bad...there are two diodes...one for the starter interlock, one for the sidestand relay coil. In effect when the one diode fails the sidestand relay coil can no longer ground through the neutral switch, ignition stops, till the sidestand is raised, then it can ground through the sidestand switch..ignition returns.

[Yammer Dan]

I remember you buying that Beauty Mike in aug or Sept of 06 when I was lying in a hospital bed drooling over it and couldn't do anything about it. It sure is Purty!!

[MikeM8560]

Thanks Neil, I wasnt ignoring you i was just working a trade show all weekend and didnt log on.

Thanks Dan how is the new Beast doing on the road yet?