Bike dies when put in gear

Gearhead82 · 11-03-2009, 01:31 PM

So I purchased my '99 last Friday and rode it 60 miles home. It's been down before and definitely needs a little work. Today I fired it up to move it and it dies immediately when I put it in 1st gear. When I bought the bike, I noticed it only starts when in neutral so I need to investigate the switch on the clutch lever I'm guessing. Today's issue is different. The clutch is working and I know it's not stalling the engine. I'm pretty sure it's electronic. The previous owner looks to have cut the wires on the side stand sensor which I'm assuming will by-pass that safety feature. Are there any other of those "safety features" that could be causing this?

The only thing that happened since I was able to ride the bike is that I accidentally "set it down" on its right side in my shop. I don't have a center stand so I was using a forklift to (stupidly) get the rear tire off the ground so I could check the chain. The bike fell off balance and I had to slowly set it down on it's side.

TOE CUTTER · 11-03-2009, 01:34 PM

Sounds like the wiring to the side stand switch, possibly the connection came loose.

Bweiss · 11-03-2009, 01:41 PM

damnit toe...you beat me to it! One of the few tech questions i could actually answer!

Gearhead82 · 11-03-2009, 01:48 PM

Ok then, follow up question. . . The PO has obviously disabled the side stand switch because both wires are cut. What else would they have needed to do to bypass the switch? When the side stand is up, does that close the circuit, or open the circuit?

TOE CUTTER · 11-03-2009, 02:42 PM

Can not say for sure but it has been my experience that it would need to be a closed cicuit.

Longerfellow · 11-03-2009, 03:45 PM

Connect them and see what happens-

Gearhead82 · 11-03-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longerfellow

Connect them and see what happens-

Easier said than done. . . Time to get a service manual or a wiring diagram of some kind.

TOE CUTTER · 11-03-2009, 08:07 PM

Honda VFR 800 98-01 Shop Guide - Go Fast Video - Racing Videos
Wiring diagram.And then some.

Meatloaf · 11-03-2009, 08:21 PM

Yep, the wires must be shorted together for the switch to be bypassed. His connections probably came loose. Open circuit means the sidestand is down. Closed circuit means that the sidestand is up. Short them and ride until you can get it fixed properly with a working switch...or just ride it without one.

Gearhead82 · 11-03-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOE CUTTER

Honda VFR 800 98-01 Shop Guide - Go Fast Video - Racing Videos
Wiring diagram.And then some.

Just made my day! Thanks!

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11-03-2009, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gearhead82 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Last Online: Today 09:04 PM Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bike dies when put in gear So I purchased my '99 last Friday and rode it 60 miles home. It's been down before and definitely needs a little work. Today I fired it up to move it and it dies immediately when I put it in 1st gear. When I bought the bike, I noticed it only starts when in neutral so I need to investigate the switch on the clutch lever I'm guessing. Today's issue is different. The clutch is working and I know it's not stalling the engine. I'm pretty sure it's electronic. The previous owner looks to have cut the wires on the side stand sensor which I'm assuming will by-pass that safety feature. Are there any other of those "safety features" that could be causing this? The only thing that happened since I was able to ride the bike is that I accidentally "set it down" on its right side in my shop. I don't have a center stand so I was using a forklift to (stupidly) get the rear tire off the ground so I could check the chain. The bike fell off balance and I had to slowly set it down on it's side.

11-03-2009, 01:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
TOE CUTTER Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Last Online: Today 09:47 PM Location: Sacramento - Find Me! My Ride: 2007 RWB 1990 RED 1986 750 DRZ 400 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,338 Thanks: 75 Thanked 120 Times in 108 Posts	Sounds like the wiring to the side stand switch, possibly the connection came loose. __________________ Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. Ronald Reagan

11-03-2009, 02:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
TOE CUTTER Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Last Online: Today 09:47 PM Location: Sacramento - Find Me! My Ride: 2007 RWB 1990 RED 1986 750 DRZ 400 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,338 Thanks: 75 Thanked 120 Times in 108 Posts	Can not say for sure but it has been my experience that it would need to be a closed cicuit. __________________ Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. Ronald Reagan

11-03-2009, 08:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
TOE CUTTER Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Last Online: Today 09:47 PM Location: Sacramento - Find Me! My Ride: 2007 RWB 1990 RED 1986 750 DRZ 400 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,338 Thanks: 75 Thanked 120 Times in 108 Posts	Wiring diagram Honda VFR 800 98-01 Shop Guide - Go Fast Video - Racing Videos Wiring diagram.And then some. __________________ Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. Ronald Reagan

11-03-2009, 01:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bweiss Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Last Online: Today 07:09 PM Location: Sacramento, Ca My Ride: 1999 VFR800fi Posts: 260 Thanks: 13 Thanked 28 Times in 21 Posts	damnit toe...you beat me to it! One of the few tech questions i could actually answer!

11-03-2009, 01:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gearhead82 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Last Online: Today 09:04 PM Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok then, follow up question. . . The PO has obviously disabled the side stand switch because both wires are cut. What else would they have needed to do to bypass the switch? When the side stand is up, does that close the circuit, or open the circuit?

11-03-2009, 03:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
Longerfellow Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Last Online: Yesterday 12:27 PM Location: Pollock Pines, CA My Ride: 1997 Honda VFR750F & lots of little Honda stuff Posts: 400 Thanks: 20 Thanked 20 Times in 18 Posts	Connect them and see what happens-

11-03-2009, 08:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
Meatloaf Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Last Online: Today 11:07 PM Location: Peru, IN My Ride: 2004 VFR Asphalt Black View my Photo Gallery Posts: 305 Thanks: 6 Thanked 36 Times in 32 Posts	Yep, the wires must be shorted together for the switch to be bypassed. His connections probably came loose. Open circuit means the sidestand is down. Closed circuit means that the sidestand is up. Short them and ride until you can get it fixed properly with a working switch...or just ride it without one.

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