nvt 650 sudden demise of start button and neutral light.

[karma omalley]

Recently acquired NVT 650 ,love how it goes,all was well for a week(1996 model),then neutral light fails to  function,and start button does nothing.Battery is v. good,fuses all ok, kill switch seems watertight and clean.Removed fuel tank,some wiring looks a little flaky but nothing obviously burnt or loose,any workarounds possible?Or could I bumpstart the bike without causing damage until fault is diagnosed?Common problem?(47000 miles,apparently.)This machine was a gift from a good friend.Please help.(SW Scotland.)

[De Graaf van Salland]

Do you think this is caused by just one fault?
If that is the case, then I wouldn't know what could cause this.

But having two problems occur at once could also have by two different causes.

The neutral switch is known to wear down. Easy remedy: remove the engine oil. Unscrew the neatral switch & remove the ring & replace the switch. Put the oil back again.
If your neatral light works again, then the end bit of the switch has just worn down. This is a temporaray repair: buy a new switch & install it.

If you bumpstart the bike: will it run OK ?

GvS

[karmadon]

Thanks muchly, De Graaf van Salland ( excellent clues and,dare I say,cool looking moniker ( I mean your name)) I shall forthwith,weather permitting,attempt that neutral switch workaround.Tomorrow should ascertain whether the Bike runs well when bump'd.More to follow.


p.s. I feel so safe and positive-minded when driving this machine.It really is a Super Dream.

[karmadon]

Kill switch occluded with ancient copperslip.Unfortunately broke the solder connections,re-soldered (blk wire to ign 1...blk & wht wire to the other,according to Haynes Manuel wiring diagram.),dissasemble kill switch,lot more gunk on copper contacts,(heat of soldering iron?)

Cleaned and reassembled,all ancillaries seem to work,ie headlight indicators,horn etc,)but no joy from start button,no audible click from relay,doesnt seem to bumpstart.Help!
Just about ready to call a mechanic.

[ssray]

Have you tried shorting out the relay? jump lead from one side to the other, if not replace the main 30a fuse that is beside it, where are you based?
Ray

[karmadon]

S.W. Scotland.I have just removed the starter relay to get tested with an aMmeter.If I use jumper leads to test the relay and it clicks,do I still need to test continuity with the aforementioned Meter?

[karmadon]

Is it possible to bypass the relay and attempt to crank the starter directly with jumper wires ?

Is that what you are meaning?

[ssray]

Mar 21, 2015 14:57:30 GMT 1 karmadon said:

Is it possible to bypass the relay and attempt to crank the starter directly with jumper wires ?

Is that what you are meaning?

Yep thats it, mine had a 30amp fuse attached, i found some cheaper fuses were quite thin and would overheat rather than starting, check the whole area for bubbling or blackend wires or contacts

[karmadon]

Don't much fancy flying sparks; attempt to bypass relay void!
This all began when I noticed a brown wire dangling below the frame,very near to the cly. head.Removed seat,twiggled with that wire to tidy it up and from there the very next attempt to fire up begat the failed neutral indicator and zero starter response.I think a simple wiring fault is the cause.Looking to borrow an ammeter.

[karmadon]

Cured neutral switch/light malfunction.Deeply satisfied.Start button feels like it wants to, and soon will, Thunder on the Mountain.Deep joy.

[karmadon]

Tested ig. relay,clicks well when jumped,zero juice getting to relay,aiming to unwrap loom and trace reason for such.

[karmadon]

All sorted.Loose headlamp rim lead to H2O ingress and the utter dustification of several wiring loom connecting blocs over the last year of previous ownership.Now she's all guid..And sounds  like thunder.