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No Neutral Light & Engine Doesn't Turn Over

13K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  Sixfeetofmud 
#1 ·
While replacing the old instrument bulbs with LED's I noticed the bulb socket for the neutral light was badly corroded. So I rebuild to socket with new connectors and put it back together. When complete the neutral light failed to illuminate. The oil pressure light, which appears to share a common hot wire, works OK. When I tested the blue (positive?) and black with white stripe (negative?) I get no voltage reading. I then ch:confused cecked to see if the engine would turn over and got no response. I made sure the transmission is in neutral and the red saftey switch was on and still no response. I don't believe it's a fuse problem because the low oil pressure light is working OK.

Any ideas what I sould be looking at?
 
#2 ·
Check the neutral switch, in the right bottom of the engine by the oil filter. Page 8-16 in the Haynes manual.
 
#3 ·
Your problem is most likely a grounding problem, IMHO.

The neutral switch supplies a ground to the neutral light and to the igniter. I am a little confused about the "blue wire and black/white wire check" you did. On my diagrams it shows the hot wire to the neutral light and the low oil pressure warning light to be a green/red wire. The ground wire for the neutral light is a black/white wire that connects to the igniter and to the neutral switch.

I suggest you try this first. Try starting the engine with the clutch pulled in and the side stand UP. If it starts, then you are missing a ground through the neutral switch. These bikes will start in gear with the clutch in and the side-stand up. As far as the light is concerned, I would double check it by supplying a ground to the black/white wire. Once this wire is grounded, the neutral light should light or there is a wiring problem or a bad bulb, IMHO.
 
#13 ·
13 years later I read this comment and it saved a lot of headaches. Thanks

Your problem is most likely a grounding problem, IMHO.

The neutral switch supplies a ground to the neutral light and to the igniter. I am a little confused about the "blue wire and black/white wire check" you did. On my diagrams it shows the hot wire to the neutral light and the low oil pressure warning light to be a green/red wire. The ground wire for the neutral light is a black/white wire that connects to the igniter and to the neutral switch.

I suggest you try this first. Try starting the engine with the clutch pulled in and the side stand UP. If it starts, then you are missing a ground through the neutral switch. These bikes will start in gear with the clutch in and the side-stand up. As far as the light is concerned, I would double check it by supplying a ground to the black/white wire. Once this wire is grounded, the neutral light should light or there is a wiring problem or a bad bulb, IMHO.
 
#4 · (Edited)
neutral switch?

john,

Check the kill switch is made first, then try starting with the clutch pulled in and the sidestand up, see if she turns then. If the neutral circuit isn't made (bulb lit) your bike 'thinks' it's in gear and won't permit a start. a simple test for the neutral switch (provided you know the rest of the circuit is good) is to dab the wire on the top of the switch to earth, with the ignition on, to see if the neutral light then comes on. Worth checking too is if the connectors to the fuse box are on tight (give them a push to make sure they're fully home)
 
#5 ·
Thanks to everyone for their response. Redbird, I agree with your comments on the wire color. My Haynes manual clearly show a green/red wire comming off the oil pressure light but the power wire on my bike is definately blue. The only gree/red wire I see goes to the turn signals. The oil pressure light has the blue wire and a white with brown stripe wire going into the socket. I have owned the bike since new so I don't think anyone else has been there before me. My bike was one of the original 2001's so maybe the wiring is slightly different. Must be one of those unexplained Triumph things?
 
#6 ·
Engine Doesn't Rurn Over

I use to work at a utility trailer place, all the time people would come in and have no lights.

ex. customer, "I rewired this whole thing and still ain't got lights"

9 times out of 10, it was a ground.

just trying to help.

noopsj74
 
#8 ·
It doesn't surprise me that you have a different color wire--I have run into that in a couple of instances on both my bikes.

Keep us posted on what you find and the resolution to the problem.
 
#9 ·
I had this same exact problem. look on the bottom of the engine for a hanging terminal wire. It had vibrated off at some point while I was riding and it caused exactly what you are talking about. There is a grounding lug on the bottom of the engine that the wire terminal pushes up onto it.
 
#12 ·
I know this is an old thread, but just in case others have this issue: My 2009 Bonnie SE had the same problems (no neutral light; engine wouldn't turn over; battery in full health/charge). I found by putting the kickstand up, the engine would start. The neutral light still doesn't work, but at least i could ride. Figuring out why this is happening is my weekend agenda, but knowing the bike starts was a relief.
 
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