See if you can figure this problem out for me.

[mela]

I know we are on a gs site, but you guys are among the most savvy and knowledgeable bunch of guys that I know.
See if you can figure this problem out for me.
Thanks

1982 Yamaha Virago xv920j
Current problem:
I just replaced the neutral switch .
The green neutral light is still remaining on in all gears.
But when you have the bike not running but with the kick stand down and you go from neutral to first the light goes off.
You go from first to second to third the light is off.
Back to neutral, the light is on like it should be.
The problem is when you start the bike, and have the kick stand down, and in neutral, the light is on. But when you put it in first gear or any gear, the engine dies.
The kick stand has a safety switch on it which causes the bike engine to stop when you put the kick stand down if you are in gear.
I rather have the neutral light working versus the safety kick stand.
I have already unplugged the connection under the seat but it still dies when I put it in gear from neutral when the motor is running.
Any suggestions on how to correct this problem would really appreciated?
Please get back to me.
Mel

Email me at: melalice2002@yahoo.com

[Guest]

maybe you have a bad sidestand switch in that it's ON regardles of the position of the kickstand (meaning cuts the power to the engine)
perhaps unpluging it the system still reads as sidestand ON (meaning still cuts the power to the engine)

moral of the story - maybe replace the sidestand swich

but bear in mind this reply is only a GUESS

[Steve]

Obviously don't have a schematic in front of me, but it sounds like there might be a diode that is bad or missing.

As a general rule of thumb, any time you have electrical items doing funny things, it's likely a ground problem. With some bikes, the designers installed diodes to steer current in different ways than you might expect it to go.

.

[Bribird]

Hey Mel, simply unplugging it might not be the answer... it may need to be unplugged then you jumper the pins in the plug so that the harness is still making the circuit(creating a bypass). What was it doing before you replaced the neutral switch???? Is the switch you replaced it with a match as far as normally open or normally closed contacts?
Without a wiring diagram I can just offer advice, if you have a wiring diagram then it is easy.

Good luck.

[OhioEric]

ask that question at the virago owners club dot org forum. Those guys will love that! they get bored with the standard problems they have answered 500 times...good guys.

virago 920's are great! well, except for that starter thing...

[76FJ55]

Assuming it is set up like my Yamaha RZ350 you will need to install a jumper wire across the side stand switch plug. the easiest thing to do it to cut the connector off the side stand switch, bridge the two wires together. the plug the jumpered connector back onto the harness.

[Sandy]

Assuming it is set up like my Yamaha RZ350 you will need to install a jumper wire across the side stand switch plug. the easiest thing to do it to cut the connector off the side stand switch, bridge the two wires together. the plug the jumpered connector back onto the harness.

What he said, the sidestand connectors have to be jumpered to bypass it's function but that probably won't fix your original problem. Time for a wiring diagram. Sounds like you could have the positive wire coming from the neutral light shorting to ground somewhere. Check your wiring harness for rubbing somewhere.

[trippivot]

I can tell you the black wire with white tracer going into the igniter brain box is the one that you pull out to create an "open". it will disable the safety interlock circuit completely.

the neutral circuit has positive going to the bulb and ground is fed by a metal contact in the engine. find your uncontrolled ground