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Hi, I've finally got my bike back together and now I'm having problems with it cutting out.
For a long time now my bike would only start in neutral with the clutch OUT ( which I'm pretty sure is wrong) and it won't start in gear with the clutch pulled in.
I never bothered to sort it out as electrickery is not my thing.
Now my bike starts with the clutch out in neutral but cuts out as soon as I pull the clutch in. I looked at the side stand switch (which I presume is he problem) and it seems like it might have water inside which I'm guessing is not good. I've removed the switch but still got the same problem.
So I've got 3 questions:
1.) when you remove the side stand switch, does the bike presume the side stand is down or up? (Should that allow me to pull the clutch in without it cutting out)
2.) what could cause the clutch to need to be out, rather than pulled in, to start the bike?
3.) why is it now cutting out whenever I pull the clutch in? (Maybe because the side stand switch isn't connected?)
Cheers!

You can't just remove the sidestand switch, you need to close the circuit with a bit of wire to act as a loop, the bike will then assume that the sidestand is always in the up position, I.e. Not touching the ground.

As for the clutch switch there are 3 wires going in, you need to put a piece of wire between 2 of them, the black wire and the black/yellow wire, this should then allow the bike to be fired up whilst in gear without pulling the clutch in...just always remember to pull it in if you fire it up in gear.

I think your issues are related to the clutch switch, I had a similar problem and I needed to slip the clutch on the bike 3 miles home as it was cutting out with the clutch not pulled in.

As for starting it, in neutral gear the bike should start with clutch in or out. When in gear the bike should only start with clutch pulled in.

Ok, now the side stand switch has suddenly started working again. However I still have to start the bike in neutral with the clutch out.

I'm getting confused with my old bike on starting procedure now.

If wired correctly, should a zxr 400 be able to start in first gear with the clutch pulled in?
And when in neutral should the clutch lever need to be pulled in or out (or either) to start the bike?

Oh sorry, I just saw the answer to both my questions at the bottom of your reply.

So would a new clutch switch maybe sort my problem out?
I believe I've still got the one off my old bike so I'll try swap it over tomorrow maybe.
I hate electrickery

yes a new switch should sort it out, i would still bridge those two wires and see if the bike fires up in gear (with clutch pulled in).

and have you bridged the sidestand switch wires or just removed the switch - it wont go into gear with engine on if these wires are not bridged.

banner001 wrote:yes a new switch should sort it out, i would still bridge those two wires and see if the bike fires up in gear (with clutch pulled in).

When you say this, do you mean the two clutch wires?

banner001 wrote:and have you bridged the sidestand switch wires or just removed the switch - it wont go into gear with engine on if these wires are not bridged.

When I removed the switch, it would start with the clutch out in neutral but would cut out when I pull the clutch in.
I've reconnected it now and it decided to start working again so I can pull the clutch without it cutting out but can't start the bike with the clutch pulled in.
I'll try what you've said when I'm home later (if it's not too late, straight pipes and all )
And hopefully determine which ones messed up
Cheers

ok, you need to make two pieces of wire.

remove the sidestand and clutch switches.

use one wire to bridge the connections on the sidestand wires.

use the other wire to bridge the black and black/yellow wires of the clutch switch wires.

the bike should now fire up, clutch in or out, with the sidestand in any position, and in neutral or in gear...if it doesnt then your switches are not the problem.

Brilliant! I got it, I'll give it a go tomorrow, cheers

no problems bud.

Turns out the clutch switch was the problem, I've left the wire in there and taped it all up out of the way so I'll just have to remember to kick up my side stand
Cheers for the help!

no worries.