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Should I Have to Hold the Clutch to Start?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Buster-boy
  • Start date Start date
B

Buster-boy

Guest
Hey guys. I just bought an 82 GS450L for my wife. The bike won't start unless the clutch is pulled in, no matter if it's in gear or Neutral. Is there something wrong with this bike or is this a feature of this bike? My GS850 doesn't do this, nor any other bike I've seen. I'm not familiar with the GS450 at all, so I'm not certain what's what here.

Also, see my other post abuot not finding Neutral. maybe these problems are related?

Thanks in advance.

Jim
 
Buster-boy said:
Hey guys. I just bought an 82 GS450L for my wife. The bike won't start unless the clutch is pulled in, no matter if it's in gear or Neutral. Is there something wrong with this bike or is this a feature of this bike? My GS850 doesn't do this, nor any other bike I've seen. I'm not familiar with the GS450 at all, so I'm not certain what's what here.

Also, see my other post abuot not finding Neutral. maybe these problems are related?

Thanks in advance.

Jim
Click to expand...

it probably has a starter interlock switch

you should be able to see it under the lever if there is one.

Mine has one and its wearing out so I have to pull up and back on the lever.

You could remove it by bypassing it in the headlight bucket where the leads attach but I would not so so.

Grinding a starter mechanism into a running engine may not be bad on a bike but it cant be good.
 
My bike is like that. Only bike I've ever owned, so I didn't think much of it. Most cars with a manual trans have this feature nowadays. I thought it odd on an older machine, but I just squeeze the clutch to start it.
 
I've had only one or two other bikes with this feature. the GS I will eventually get has it. an odd feature for 1978.
 
Its a "safety feature" designed to assure that you dont start the bike "in gear"....of course only a retard would start a bike in gear without the clutch pulled in. Frankly, I find the whole design particularly annoying when trying to work on the bike, esspecially when I have my two hands doing other things... I disable it by pulling the headlamp, disconnecting the yellow/green wire from the harness (one female and one male end) and plugging the harness back into itself. Thus the switch is always "closed" as far as the bike knows...
 
JEEPRUSTY said:
Grinding a starter mechanism into a running engine may not be bad on a bike but it cant be good.
Click to expand...
I am trying to figure out what this has to do with a neutral safety switch. :-k

Engaging the starter while the engine is running will have the same results, whether the clutch is pulled or not. :o

Oh, because of the type of starter clutch that is used on our bikes, there is virtually no chance of damage if you do hit the starter while the engine is running. :-\\\

.
 
Steve said:
I am trying to figure out what this has to do with a neutral safety switch. :-k

Engaging the starter while the engine is running will have the same results, whether the clutch is pulled or not. :o

Oh, because of the type of starter clutch that is used on our bikes, there is virtually no chance of damage if you do hit the starter while the engine is running. :-\\\

.
Click to expand...

i cant imagine rolling the starter at an engine running speed could do it any good.

but if its there as a safety for the rider issue it should not be removed.
 
JEEPRUSTY said:
i cant imagine rolling the starter at an engine running speed could do it any good.

but if its there as a safety for the rider issue it should not be removed.
Click to expand...
Youre talking about TWO different things... The neutral safety switch requires that the clutch is pulled in before the starter will turn over... Disabling the switch will not cause the starter to spin at any point (unless of course you wired it up wrong :p) unless you hit the start button to start the bike. Its a pretty simple elimination, and no ill effects (other than if you're an idiot and start the bike in gear with the clutch out) will be had from doing it.

Its not that much different than the more modern switches that wont allow the bike to start with the side stand down...now THAT is a safety measure I can agree with..

As far as rolling the starter with the bike running.. No damage. The GS uses a sprague clutch to turn the crank. After the crank reaches a certain speed, the clutch is no longer engaged. Hitting the starter button simply spins the gears against nothing at that point.
 
TheCafeKid said:
Youre talking about TWO different things... The neutral safety switch requires that the clutch is pulled in before the starter will turn over... Disabling the switch will not cause the starter to spin at any point (unless of course you wired it up wrong :p) unless you hit the start button to start the bike. Its a pretty simple elimination, and no ill effects (other than if you're an idiot and start the bike in gear with the clutch out) will be had from doing it.

Its not that much different than the more modern switches that wont allow the bike to start with the side stand down...now THAT is a safety measure I can agree with..

As far as rolling the starter with the bike running.. No damage. The GS uses a sprague clutch to turn the crank. After the crank reaches a certain speed, the clutch is no longer engaged. Hitting the starter button simply spins the gears against nothing at that point.
Click to expand...


most elucidating thanks
 
Trust me, hitting the starter button at speed yesterday made sure I kept myself going after it stalled on me one time during my ride. I was just surprised I thought to do it instead of just letting the bike stop first.
 
If the bike stalls out on you when riding, its usually with the clutch pulled in and the ideal being to low. I just let the clutch back out and the engine will fire right back up, basically bump starting it but at a much higher speed.
 
If you do disable it, MAKE SURE you hook it back up again before you sell the bike! You don't want some clown suing you because you've disabled a safety feature! :eek: Highly unlikely, but he, you can't be too careful these days....
 
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