Something good and easy to check

[Venturous Randy]

I thought I had a TCI or kill switch problem that ended up being a side stand switch that had a lot of resistance. My bike went from an occasional stumble to shutting down. The connection is under the left side panel and can be followed from the side stand up. I found mine had all kinds of resistance readings. You can check any combinations on the three wires with the side stand up or down and there should be no resistance or a complete open, nothing in between.

I ended taking my switch off and sprayed contact cleaner down the side of the plunger while moving it in and out. I did this several times and then blew air around it and put the boot back in place. The bike started instantly and on a 180 mile trip yesterday thru the mountains doing many hard pulls, it never missed or stumbled at all.

This is an easy check whether your bike is running good or not and should be checked before you start to have a problem or get stranded.

RandyA

[Yammer Dan]

I have mine pulled apart at the connection where it joins the wiring harnesss and a jumper wire crossing it over. Plug it up and bike won't start. Never can think of the thing whenI'm doing nothing. Hey thats most of the time isn't it?? Probally just needs a good cleaning.

[GeorgeS]

This is why I keep telling everbody with an OLD, 1st Gen, or who Buys an

" OLD " 1st gen bike--- To take a half of a day, and Clean, and Inspect EVERY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON THE ENTIRE BIKE !! Its time well spent.

 

The Male and female connectors are made of LOUSY Material. It corrodes, and the Female pins, in some cases need to be bent a little to make a tight fit.

 

The Pins Are Not Gold, or Silver Plated, or even Copper. They are low quality junk !!! Clean All your electrical connections, it will save you sitting by the side of the road

 

Note: Aircraft, use Gold Plated Pins, in most case's. OR at least Copper.

[6m459]

occasional stumble

 

What was the occasional stumble like in detail? Did it happen at idle, on the hwy, while pulling hard, cold engine / hot engine ?

 

My bike has a little misfire thing it does when not fully warmed up and I am running 3 - 4 k rpm (and sometimes higher rpm too). She idles nicely. When she is good and hot the misfire goes away, only to return when she cools down again. If I get caught in traffic, as I did at a level crossing the other day, and the temp gauge heads to the red line, the bike runs great after that.

 

I have always suspected it is caused by thermal effects on some electrical connection or other, like a solder joint, so naturally I thought TCI. Especially since the TCI is above the engine where radiant engine heat would warm it gradually as the bike warms up. I also hear of folks putting their TCI's in the oven to warm and dry them.

 

Sounds like I'll have to look at my side stand switch first though.

 

Thanks,

 

Brian H.

[MikeM8560]

Randy ever sence i got my 84 the side stand down the bike wil not start but if the bike is running and in gear if I put the stand down it only slitly kills the motor like its running on not all 4. hit the kill button and try to restart no go. do you think it may be a dirty plug like yours?

[Venturous Randy]

Randy ever sence i got my 84 the side stand down the bike wil not start but if the bike is running and in gear if I put the stand down it only slitly kills the motor like its running on not all 4. hit the kill button and try to restart no go. do you think it may be a dirty plug like yours?

 

Mike, I would strongly suspect that you need to clean or replace the side stand switch. Like I said above, it is real easy to check and have all kinds of effect on how it runs, from skipping to shutting down.

Brian, my stumble was more noticable just off idle as I was pulling out or at low rpm's as I was manovering around.

RandyA