Neutral Light Flicker

[NCGS]

I noticed recently that the neutral light on my ‘81 GS750E flickers very slightly when the bike is idling with the turn signal on. Turn off the signal and the neutral light is solid, no flickering like it should be. I checked the connections on the gear position indicator switch under the sprocket cover and they are clean. None of the other gear positions flicker. For example, the gear indicator is solid when I’m riding and turn the signal on.

What could be going on?

[bwringer]

As as educated guess, I'd say this is probably perfectly normal

Turn signals on motorcycles cause a bit of a voltage drop because the stator can't generate full voltage at idle. So you see the headlight and other lights fluctuate in brightness a little bit.

If you haven't done so already, it's worthwhile (for this and many other reasons) to go through and inspect, clean, and protect every last connection and switch on the bike to minimize voltage drops. The neutral and gear lights go through a lot of connections, so if you measure voltage at the bulb, it's probably quite low. The gear position bulbs are much smaller and lower wattage, plus you're at full voltage while you're riding.

[rphillips]

Just say'in, ground problems are known for creating weird stuff to happen, like turn signals affecting neutral indicator.

[NCGS]

Thanks guys! I’ll do some tracing of the wiring for the neutral switch and see if I can find a voltage drop across any connections. I’ll also double check all the grounds.

[Runningdog]

Spider webs and dirt in the dashboard?

[rphillips]

Just assuming this has started kind'f recently, or has it always done it?

[NCGS]

Just assuming this has started kind'f recently, or has it always done it?

I’ve only had the bike since July but I’ve ridden it pretty regularly since then except for the last couple weeks. It’s always done the flicker since I’ve owned it. It’s just one of the many things I’m still discovering about this bike.

[NCGS]

Spider webs and dirt in the dashboard?

It could very well be some dirty connections. I am hoping it’s something easy like that, and not some kind of impending doom with the stator.

[Cipher]

Mine did this sometime in the past 40 years.
the wires from the contacts at the end of the shift drum have the wires for gears sheathed together but neutral separate, both have a connection on the frame spine. Multi white connector apt to crumble and a lone bullet connector for neutral.