Weird Problem, Sidestand Switch?

Hi, odd problem with my 2004 America. Yesterday, pulled up, went into neutral, put her on side stand and after ten seconds or so, bike cut out. Trying to restart, odd problem seemingly related to side stand switch, or maybe clutch switch? Or is there a switch/sensor in gearbox?

If I have side stand down, in neutral, it will no longer start as it normally would. I have to pull side stand up for engine to start. Then when I put her in gear engine stops.

I have propped the bike against a wall and looked when operating side stand and plunger of switch is moving in and out properly so if the problem is this switch, it is electrical rather than mechanical. I hate electrics!

Any ides on where to start looking for fault? Can I temporarily bypass the switch in the harness plug to test and if so which terminals need shorting?

Would a faulty side stand switch produce this kind of issue? I assume a faulty switch would cut engine when engaging gear but why would it stop starting when stand down? Could it be some other part of this safety system?

 

I thought I would update on this. I bought a bypass block that fits in the plug on the loom - £50 cheaper than buying a new switch. When I took the old switch off, a lot of water poured out so seemed to be the problem.

So, after fitting the block, everything worked perfectly - for 4 days

Then bimbling across work car park to leave for home, bike cut out. Same symptoms upon restarting, it will start in neutral then cut out when putting it into gear. Cue being recovered by the RAC for second time in a week.

So, I have tested the bypass block with a multimeter and it is fine - continuity between pins 1 and 3 emulating sidestand being up. I also made a new one up myself by cutting the plug off the old switch and soldering the brown and black wires together. Still no joy. I have tested the clutch switch and it is working properly. The neutral light switch is working perfectly as the light comes on in neutral and goes off when in gear.

I don't really know where to go next. I would try to get a motorcycle garage to look at it but locally they are all closed during this lock down.

Stumped.

 

Yeah, these do have a clutch switch but it is only there to stop you starting when in gear without clutch in - if you stall at traffic lights for example. These older carburetor 790cc's would always start on the side stand without having to pull the clutch in so you could warm them up and put the manual choke in before riding off. Anyway, I got out my multimeter and the clutch switch is fine.

I'm thinking either a wiring problem or faulty diodes. Sadly the Haynes manual doesn't seem to have any picture or drawing showing what these "diodes" look like or where they are located. Presumably there should be a way to bypass the entire system, sidestand switch, clutch switch, diodes the lot; but my knowledge of electrics on vehicles is nowhere near that advanced, even looking at a wiring diagram.

 

Thanks guys, certainly gives me a starting point. I haven't tried this before Ducattotriumph but will attempt to upload a .pdf of the wiring diagram. I hope it means more to you than it does to me!

 

I hope I have had a "Eureka" moment. When I replaced the switch with the bypass block, I had a problem with access to unplug it because the tab on the connector block to release the 2 halves was broken. So I had to take the tank off and use a small jewelers screwdriver to push up the catch in order to unplug it. When removing the tank, you have to take off the panel on it that contains neutral light, oil light etc. and there is a connector with quite a few wires in it to undo in order to remove the panel. As the bypass seemed to work initially but then failed again, by a process of elimination, I'm thinking that there may be a bad or loose connection in this wiring as this is all I touched other than the plug connecting the side stand switch. Maybe the problem was initially fixed simply because I unplugged then re-plugged the connector and this, rather than the bypass, was the reason why it started working again. Subsequently through vibration of the bike it may have failed again. So, I have ordered some contact cleaner spray and when it arrives I will have a good look at the wiring in this area. Fingers crossed.

 

Bugger. Checked wiring, gave connector a good clean. No joy, it is something else.

Looks like I am gonna have to wait for end of lock down and get it picked up by motorcycle mechanic.