engine die when shift gear

[late40]

I just got 1986 EN454 today from 2nd owner and everything was fine when ride home ( gear shift smoothly ). After 27 miles back home, i restarted the engine , the engine runs only on neutral. Every time i try to shift to 1st gear, engine die. Any one can help ?

[Blaine]

Nov 18, 2012 22:12:45 GMT -6 late40 said:

I just got 1986 EN454 today from 2nd owner and everything was fine when ride home ( gear shift smoothly ). After 27 miles back home, i restarted the engine , the engine runs only on neutral. Every time i try to shift to 1st gear, engine die. Any one can help ?

Is the kickstand down? There is a switch in front the kickstand that a tab on the stand contacts & keeps the bike from running if you try to put it in gear with the kickstand down.It is a safety switch so you don't forget & try to ride away with the kickstand down.Oh & welcome to the forum!!

[late40]

The kickstand up when shift to first gear. But the engine shut off while i slowly release the clutch. I check the shift linkage rod under the engine and found it was bent; after strait the rod and put it back, the problem still remain the same. I don't understand why it can run 27 miles on the freeway and local without problem on gear shifting. Still don't know how to fix it.

[bmwpowere36m3]

Sounds like either the clutch and/or sidestand (NOT centerstand) safety switch is malfunctioning. It has nothing to do with the shifter... if you had difficulty shifting then yes, but the engine dieing then no.

The ECU requires a "ground" from one of the safety switches to start/run the engine. The ECU gets a ground signal when:

• transmission is in neutral
  
• clutch is pulled in
  
• sidestand is up
  

I would start with the sidestand switch, you can bypass it in a pinch if need be.

[bwhittet]

Sounds like the kickstand safety switch has gone bad or it is sticking "open"*.

Quick way to check is to unhook kickstand switch and jump it. (connect both wires that run to the switch together.) This will complete the circuit the kickstand switch completes when kickstand is up. If bike runs now when you put it in gear and let the clutch out you know the kickstand switch needs fixing or replacing.


Your bike has three safety switches that work together. One of these switches has to provide a ground for your ignition module for bike to run.

One is neutral switch. This switch is "closed"** when bike is in neutral. So the bike will run while in neutral no matter what clutch and kickstand switches are doing.

Now when you put the bike in gear it now looks at the clutch switch. The clutch handle switch is "closed" when clutch handle is pulled in. So when the clutch is pulled in bike will run.

Now when you let the clutch out the clutch switch reroutes the circuit to look at the kickstand switch. The kickstand switch is "closed" when kickstand is up. So when bike is running and you pull in clutch, put it in gear, let out the clutch and the kickstand is down the bike will STOP running. But when bike is running and you pull in clutch, put it in gear, let out the clutch and the kickstand is up the bike will stay running. That is if all the switches are working right. I your kickstand switch is sticking open then your bike will think the kickstand is down and stop running as soon as you release the clutch.

* = open means switch contacts are NOT connected and power can NOT flow to ground.
** = closed means switch contacts are connected and power can flow to ground.
Think of it as a light switch. "Closed" is light on. "open" is light off.

Looks like bmwpower beat me to it. I tend to get a little long winded in my explanations.

[late40]

I found the problem, which is the kickstand safety switch stocked when the kickstand up. I pull it out and the bike runs normal. Thank you very much.

[Blaine]

Nov 19, 2012 17:09:06 GMT -6 late40 said:

I found the problem, which is the kickstand safety switch stocked when the kickstand up. I pull it out and the bike runs normal. Thank you very much.

Glad we could help. ;D