Hitchcocks Forum

My 2008 Electra EFI 'Effie' wouldn't bl@@dy start yesterday, seemed like a flat battery at first as there was absolutely nothing when I pressed the electric leg button but hey-ho!
Put the battery on charge (on the bike) and then thought about trying the lights, horn etc. They all seemed to work fine (???)
I checked the 'on/off' switch on the r/h switch cluster was set to 'on', it was.
Then thought about the clutch lever & how it needs to be in on my Kawasaki W650 before pressing the button.....
Well, whadaya know? It worked! - There is a small switch under the clutch lever which I only noticed yesterday but I'm sure that sometimes the bike will start without this being used?

I'm now a bit confused.....Anybody else had this?

Check neutral switch connection on the gearbox.
Don't need the clutch to start in neutral but need the clutch switch when trying to start in gear..
Does the neutral light come on when in neutral?

On the EFI the clutch switch is certainly interlocked with the neutral position; if the bike is in gear the clutch has to be pulled in to use the electric wellie. Do you have a neutral indicator on a 2008? The neutral switch may be out of kilter with the actual gearbox neutral, worth checking that's operating properly (could be typical Bullet false neural). When starting, the clutch /should/ be pulled in otherwise we also turn the gearbox over even if it is in neutral. The divot on the clutch switch may wear, the switch itself may be re-positioned a trifle by fiddling with its attachment screws under the clutch lever; it may need replacing due to wear shortening the peg.

Just wanted to say thanks for this post Gaz262, you have solved an intermittent problem for me.

Sometimes when I hit the start button, nowt happens. Try it a few times, or use the kicker, and it'll work next time, maybe. So after reading your post I went to check the clutch switch and guess what? Bike in neutral, clutch out and the starter works, but pull the clutch in and it doesn't. Now that doesn't seem right. So I tried it in gear and the starter doesn't work clutch in or out.

I thought perhaps the clutch switch was wired wrongly, but it all looks correct, so I've bypassed the clutch switch now, the bike still only starts in neutral, so no danger of setting off accidentally, but the clutch makes no difference, and so far, my intermittent problem seems to be solved.

Gwilly - bike was definitely in neutral.

jefrs - thanks for all the useful info (again!-:) )

2cvandy - I'm just pleased I found out what it was as it's a '...it works! ....and now it doesn't?' kinda thing.

Seems to be after I've left the bike on its side stand for any length of time in the man-shed.

Do any of you use the 'cold start lever' on the EFI?
Pulling clutch lever in & pushing cold-start lever down with my left hand is a bit of a struggle sometimes too! Especially as Arthur is visiting more often on these cold old mornings of late.....

I use the cold start for first start when the engine is is cold (overnight), otherwise leave it alone and give it some throttle.



First kick start is a slightly different procedure. Turn it on, turn it off, kick it over with the clutch pulled in to free the clutch off. Turn it on, wait for the MIL, hold the cold start and prod it no-throttle. If it fails to start turn it off and back on again to re-prime the pump (clue) - do it again.

If the bike hasn't been started for a while (days) it may well like the pump re-primed a few times to get fuel flowing whether kick or electric.



Gaz, did you find the little peg on the end of the clutch switch? I have adjustable-reach levers and found pulling the clutch fully in did not actuate the switch, I had to re-position the switch (two tiny screws) and relieve a little from the end of the peg so that it did actuate. But you are supposed to be able to start the bike in neutral with the clutch out unless the side stand is down (EFI), and which switch I have disconnected (connector behind/below the battery, pull apart, cable-tie). You mentioned the side stand, it's down there where the filth is - dodgy side stand switch?

jefrs - I disconnected the side-stand switch not long after I got the bike, so not a problem there.

The clutch switch thingy works fine now I've actually found out it's there. It seems common sense to pull in the clutch when starting her up as I do it every time on the Kwacker!

Sometimes though, when I've just forgotten to pull in the clutch & the bike is warm it starts ok? I can't fathom out why this should be but there's no problem using the clutch all the time, everytime from now on.

Thanks for the sagely advice mate.

Gaz, the starter /should/ work with it in neutral and the clutch lever out. Pulling it in puts less strain on the sprag because the gearbox is disengaged (good idea), but it is supposed to work then. If you have left the disconnected side stand switch connector hanging loose, it may be worth checking it is not full of conducting crud, and taping it up.

Gaz i can appreciate the "Arthur" problem also the difficulty pulling the clutch and operating the cold start at the same time..

It is for this reason that i think you should fix the neutral switch to allow starting without the clutch, sometimes this is convenient..

Here's a little video from our friend Singh which explains the problem better then i can..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEAVuQZ ... KA&index=2