Neutral lights on K1100

[Johnalan]

I'm restoring a crashed '94 K 1100 LT. I've gotten everything to work except the neutral light will not come on, and must be started with the clutch pulled in, and the gear indicator doesn't "indicate". Any ideas on where to start to track this down?

[kioolt]

This link may help.

http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech/trans-switch.shtml

[OfficerImpersonator]

I'm restoring a crashed '94 K 1100 LT. I've gotten everything to work except the neutral light will not come on, and must be started with the clutch pulled in, and the gear indicator doesn't "indicate". Any ideas on where to start to track this down?

First of all, I'm posting this under the assumption that this system is similar if not identical to the system on my '92 K75.

Aren't you supposed to have to squeeze the clutch to start the engine? I think that's a safety feature designed to keep the starter motor and engine from lurching the bike forward if it's in gear when the engine is started. I think your bike is working perfectly in this regard.

There are two things you should check regarding the gear indicator display and the green "N" light not illuminating:

Regarding the LCD readout that displays what gear the transmission is in, there is a plastic "nub" on the back of the transmission that contains the gear selection indicator device. This plastic bit can easily degrade over time, allowing water and grime into the part and further hastening it's destruction. This might be the source of the failure of the gear display. It's also possible that because this part is so far gone, it is unable to activate the "N" light when the transmission is in neutral.

If you've replaced the gear indicator on the transmission and the "N" light still won't illuminate when it should, you likely have a burned out bulb or loose wire inside the instrument pod.

These are relatively inexpensive parts to replace but they end up being labor-intensive repairs due to the work required to access the location of these parts.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[kioolt]

Even the K75 should start with the clutch lever out if the bike is in neutral. If yours is not then you probably have a problem. My K100LT will start in gear with the clutch lever pulled in or it will also start with the clutch lever out if it is in neutral.

[Johnalan]

I had considered that the clutch haveing to be disengaged was a safety feature. but on my '89 K100LT that isn't the case if it's in neutral. I've checked the bulbs and did visual inspection of instrument cluster (which was used from the bmerboneyard) and everything seems kosher. I'm checking the wiring as per instructions offered on other forum. this bike has been stored inside as scrap for 7 years, not sure what effect that had in bike. I didn't mention that when i had it running the speedo wasn't working, but after that discovered a bad relay. At this point not sure that is remedied. I'd sure like to get this figured out so I can get the plastic back on and ride...if warm weather ever gets back to Michigan. thanks for your input, this is a new chapter for me, I usually fix ski boats for fun.

[PGlaves]

I'm restoring a crashed '94 K 1100 LT. I've gotten everything to work except the neutral light will not come on, and must be started with the clutch pulled in, and the gear indicator doesn't "indicate". Any ideas on where to start to track this down?

Logic tells me that since both the neutral light and the gear indicator don't work you are not getting the transmission gear selection signal from the switch on the transmission. Find the wire that emerges from the top of the transmission and trace it to the 4 pole connector on the right side of the bike - looks like the same type plug as the one to the fuel tank. Trace from there.

[Johnalan]

After much checking and lookin, and studying wireing diagrams and checking and nothing making much sense, and some more looking, with my helpful neighbor's questions, we found, between the battery and the frame, where the wrecker person had wrapped a chain to lift the cycle, 4 severed wires. One to the speedo and three from the gear indicater, in a tite spot to fix, but easier than taking the rear end off! Thanx for your coments that helped direct our thinking.