
Happy days it runs (again)
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:14 pm
- Location: Fort Scott, Kansas
- Motorcycle: 1988 gl1500
Happy days it runs (again)

- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 18710
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (wife's!)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: Happy days it runs (again)
That's a fairly common failure in GL1500's. In fact, if you have a GL1500, and it doesn't start, you should run through this checklist:
- Kill switch centered
- Transmission in neutral
- Side stand up
- Pull reverse lever back slightly and then push forward (down) as far as possible
- Clutch in
- Try start
Either the reverse switch can fail, or the linkage can get loose, preventing it from being actuated unless the lever is pushed FIRMLY all the way down. Either will keep the bike from starting.
- Kill switch centered
- Transmission in neutral
- Side stand up
- Pull reverse lever back slightly and then push forward (down) as far as possible
- Clutch in
- Try start
Either the reverse switch can fail, or the linkage can get loose, preventing it from being actuated unless the lever is pushed FIRMLY all the way down. Either will keep the bike from starting.
- Kiwi2
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:07 pm
- Location: New Zealand
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL 1500/6
- Contact:
Re: Happy days it runs (again)
Yes WingAdmin, I too have sat on the wing pushed the starter and wondered why it just cranked over, only to find the kick stand was down ....... and you feel so stupidWingAdmin wrote:That's a fairly common failure in GL1500's. In fact, if you have a GL1500, and it doesn't start, you should run through this checklist:
- Kill switch centered
- Transmission in neutral
- Side stand up
- Pull reverse lever back slightly and then push forward (down) as far as possible
- Clutch in
- Try start
Either the reverse switch can fail, or the linkage can get loose, preventing it from being actuated unless the lever is pushed FIRMLY all the way down. Either will keep the bike from starting.
