Kick Stand Warning Light

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  • retcol
    • Mar 2026

    #1

    Kick Stand Warning Light

    My kick stand warning light stays on, whether the stand is up or down. The plunger on the switch moves in and out freely. What could it be? A bad switch?
  • tkent02
    Forum LongTimer
    Past Site Supporter
    • Jan 2006
    • 35571
    • Near South Park

    #2
    Originally posted by retcol
    My kick stand warning light stays on, whether the stand is up or down. The plunger on the switch moves in and out freely. What could it be? A bad switch?
    Maybe. Got a multimeter?
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    Life is too short to ride an L.

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    • BigD_83
      Forum Sage
      Past Site Supporter
      • May 2011
      • 4872
      • Vancouver

      #3
      Could be a cracked or corroded switch inside the housing. It should be relatively easy to strip the unit off and open it for inspection. Can you get the light to turn off by removing the spring and pushing the plunger in by hand?

      There's a bit of an odd thought in my head...something about the oil pressure sensor/sending unit and kickstand light. Can't quite recall what I'm reminded of.
      '83 GS650G
      '83 GS550es (didn't like the colours in the 80's, but they've grown on me)

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      • salty_monk
        Forum LongTimer
        GSResource Superstar
        Past Site Supporter
        Super Site Supporter
        • Oct 2006
        • 14013
        • London, UK to Redondo Beach, California

        #4
        If I remember correctly it's a Normally Open Switch. When you deploy the sidestand it creates a path to ground.

        It could be:

        1. Faulty switch
        2. Chafed wire somewhere else providing the path to ground.

        Not much else to it....
        1980 GS1000G - Sold
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        1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
        1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
        2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
        1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
        2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

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        • tkent02
          Forum LongTimer
          Past Site Supporter
          • Jan 2006
          • 35571
          • Near South Park

          #5
          Originally posted by BigD_83
          Could be a cracked or corroded switch inside the housing. It should be relatively easy to strip the unit off and open it for inspection. Can you get the light to turn off by removing the spring and pushing the plunger in by hand?

          There's a bit of an odd thought in my head...something about the oil pressure sensor/sending unit and kickstand light. Can't quite recall what I'm reminded of.
          I think the wire chafes on the oil pressure wire or something like that. Someone on here had this problem a while ago.
          http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

          Life is too short to ride an L.

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          • Guest

            #6
            Originally posted by BigD_83
            Could be a cracked or corroded switch inside the housing. It should be relatively easy to strip the unit off and open it for inspection. Can you get the light to turn off by removing the spring and pushing the plunger in by hand?

            There's a bit of an odd thought in my head...something about the oil pressure sensor/sending unit and kickstand light. Can't quite recall what I'm reminded of.
            On the 1100E, at least the '82, the sidestand switch works independantly of the headlight relay idiot light switches, along with the battery light which is also an independant switch, or light. That oil pressure switch opens the circuit which turns out the idiot lights when the motor starts up, except the sidestand and battery.
            Check that sidestand switch with an multimeter. Probably just corroded, or even out of adjustment. One extreme you should get continuity and an open at the other extreme.

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            • Redman
              Forum LongTimer
              Past Site Supporter
              Super Site Supporter
              • Mar 2004
              • 13762
              • Michigan, west Michigan

              #7
              1100G:
              The sidestand switch "completes the ground" when sidestand is NOT completly up. WHen side stand is completly up, the switch should open and light go off (if oil pressure okay, but that is another story).

              (The sidestand swtich operates the light. Is no starter interlock or igintion interlock anything like that)

              Pull the wire off the connector at the sidestand switch. If light goes out, then know the problem is/was the sidestand switch staying closed (connected) when it should open (even though the pluger is moving).

              .
              Bikes
              Had 650G & 850G. GK since 2005. BOTM 850G 6/2024 , GK 9/2015​

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              • retcol

                #8
                Many thanks to everybody that replied, your suggestions and thoughts really helped me out. Thanks again.

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                • Redman
                  Forum LongTimer
                  Past Site Supporter
                  Super Site Supporter
                  • Mar 2004
                  • 13762
                  • Michigan, west Michigan

                  #9
                  Originally posted by retcol
                  Many thanks to everybody that replied, your suggestions and thoughts really helped me out. Thanks again.
                  Whaaja find?

                  .
                  Bikes
                  Had 650G & 850G. GK since 2005. BOTM 850G 6/2024 , GK 9/2015​

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