Won't start, no neutral light, but does with clutch in??

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stivesvelo · #1 Post by **stivesvelo** » Sun May 22, 2011 9:28 pm

Spent a few hours of fun pissing about in the garage today....... having decided to start the bike & check things over as I was going out to meet a mate tomorrow. I had fitted a hugger a couple of weeks ago & just after that the speedo sensor went, replaced that & everything was working well again, so not too pleased to be ripping the bodywork off again.

Anyhow, all I could get was the fuel pump but no starter when I pressed the button & thought it must be a duff battery (1 yr old & optimated), checked it was in neutral (got no light though but did notice it once fleetingly), anyhow, after checking the obvious things like side stand, tilt switch etc I had given up & was coming in to refuel myself & I thought of trying it with the clutch pulled in.......and.......hey presto it started & ran normally, put it in & out of gear a few times & no problem, but no neutral light.

Any one else have this problem & have any advice or ideas?

Rob

off to get some grub!

Nooj · #2 Post by **Nooj** » Sun May 22, 2011 11:05 pm

The clutch has a microswitch up by the lever, have a ferret around there for a pinched wire or something.

stivesvelo · #3 Post by **stivesvelo** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:25 am

I did wiggle it about & came to the conclusion that it must be ok because when I pulled the clutch in it did start, so it has detected the clutch being pulled in.

I'm wondering if it could be a switch in the gearbox or the wiring between that & wherever it goes to, preferably something easy to see & fix!

Aladinsaneuk · #4 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:46 am

check the sidestand switch as well...

anzacinexile · #5 Post by **anzacinexile** » Mon May 23, 2011 11:00 am

The only two things that could cause this behaviour is the gearbox switch or the diode pack going bad.

Both easy enough to check and although the diode pack is easy to swap out, the gearbox switch is a little trickier

stivesvelo · #6 Post by **stivesvelo** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:29 pm

just checked the neutral switch (just in front & below front sprocket) & I think that's the problem, but where is the diode pack & what does it look like now that I'm looking?

anzacinexile · #7 Post by **anzacinexile** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:45 pm

Have a look at

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... p?t=226332

The guy thought it was a relay but its the diode pack.

It sits with the relays under your rear cowl

Olig7475 · #8 Post by **Olig7475** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:47 pm

I don't have the clutch micro switch anymore (since changing to a radial mc) and it starts as normal and the neutral light still works so I don't think it would be the micro switch

stivesvelo · #9 Post by **stivesvelo** » Mon May 23, 2011 2:25 pm

not sure about the switch now, if I disconnect the wire attached to the switch, the neutral light stays off, if I then earth it there's no difference. I thought that by earthing it I would be replicating the switch??

Any idea on how to test the diode pack, I have diode test on my meter, just wonder which pins do what on the diode pack.
Note, I am an electrical ignoramus!

D-Rider · #10 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon May 23, 2011 2:51 pm

stivesvelo wrote:not sure about the switch now, if I disconnect the wire attached to the switch, the neutral light stays off, if I then earth it there's no difference. I thought that by earthing it I would be replicating the switch??

Any idea on how to test the diode pack, I have diode test on my meter, just wonder which pins do what on the diode pack.
Note, I am an electrical ignoramus!

Ahem! ..... Have you looked in the Workshop Manual ?

Hint: Try sections 6.6.1 to 6.6.5

..... and I'm hoping that I really don't need to have to post the link yet again to download it ..... oh, all right then ...... here it is .... but this time with a pic to click:

<------Falco Workshop Manual

stivesvelo · #11 Post by **stivesvelo** » Mon May 23, 2011 3:18 pm

OK done it,

looked in the manual, took out the diode, gave the pins a good clean (a bit of green stuff starting to appear on a couple of them so cleaned it all off, needed to gently scrape with a screwdriver) tested it & aok according to the manual instructions.

Put it back & tried earthing the connector to the neutral switch & it worked, reconnected that & the neutral light is now working & it starts as normal, so fingers crossed that it's sorted out.

As I haven't had to replace anything I can only think that it is one of 2 things, dirt on the connections....or, I had put some contact grease in the connector not long ago & had maybe put too much & shorted out some connections???? not sure if it conducts that well but suspect that it was the dirty pins on the diode pack.

Anyway, I think that's sorted out & thanks for pointing me at the diode as I'm sure I would still be scratching my head for another week.

Rob

stivesvelo · #12 Post by **stivesvelo** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:19 pm

Thanks for the manual link, I have it already but can't have too many reminders! I wouldn't have worked it out with the manual on it's own without the various handy hints, I can just about work out the wiring on the Velocette.... I think!

anzacinexile · #13 Post by **anzacinexile** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:02 pm

stivesvelo wrote:OK done it,

looked in the manual, took out the diode, gave the pins a good clean (a bit of green stuff starting to appear on a couple of them so cleaned it all off, needed to gently scrape with a screwdriver) tested it & aok according to the manual instructions.

Put it back & tried earthing the connector to the neutral switch & it worked, reconnected that & the neutral light is now working & it starts as normal, so fingers crossed that it's sorted out.

As I haven't had to replace anything I can only think that it is one of 2 things, dirt on the connections....or, I had put some contact grease in the connector not long ago & had maybe put too much & shorted out some connections???? not sure if it conducts that well but suspect that it was the dirty pins on the diode pack.

Anyway, I think that's sorted out & thanks for pointing me at the diode as I'm sure I would still be scratching my head for another week.

Rob

Good news. Dont worry about the contact grease, its insulative, not conductive.

Sounds like dirty connectors to me