New question to an Old Thread

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 2:30 pm

So,

a lot has happened since I purchased my 80 GL1100 in May of last year. 1. High idle 2. changed my belts but took the engine off of TDC.

1. tried to clean carbs, but I purchased lackluster gaskets. ended up having to send it off to a professional to clean for me.

2. because I screwed up the position of the engine in relation to the left cylinder head, I broke a valve stem and gouged the cylinder. got another cylinder head, cleaned the bloody hell out the surfaces, popped it on, and now the engine runs well, except for a little clunking from the transmission. I did a clutch tightening on the back first then on the lever by the engine, and finally at the lever. much better shift thru now.

my final piece, I hope, is the neutral light switch which is bright when neutral and less bright when in gear. I know what I have to do, but dammit, how did you all wedge the wood in between the frame and the engine? I loosened the back engine bolt and pulled it out, and then engine bolt in the front engine bolt, which is below the neutral light switch, does not have a bolt on it just a cotter pin. I tried to flex the frame without success, so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction...thanks

DenverWinger · Post by **DenverWinger** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 6:05 pm

If Neutral light changes brightness when shifting in/out of neutral, methinks the switch is OK and something else is putting a different ground path to the bulb. Seems there's a couple diodes in the Neutral light circuit, one of them may be "futzed".

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:37 pm

DenverWinger wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 6:05 pm If Neutral light changes brightness when shifting in/out of neutral, methinks the switch is OK and something else is putting a different ground path to the bulb. Seems there's a couple diodes in the Neutral light circuit, one of them may be "futzed".

You wouldn’t happen to know where those diodes might be located?

Wilcoy02 · Post by **Wilcoy02** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:53 pm

I know one is buried in the wiring harness.
Located by the left knee.
There is a branch that goes to the right side.
Unwrap the harness tape by left knee and work your way to the branch. Buried in the wires is a diode. I had to replace as my neutral light never went off.

I have not found this diode in any parts catalog or schematics.

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:56 pm

Wilcoy02 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:53 pm I know one is buried in the wiring harness.
Located by the left knee.
There is a branch that goes to the right side.
Unwrap the harness tape by left knee and work your way to the branch. Buried in the wires is a diode. I had to replace as my neutral light never went off.

I have not found this diode in any parts catalog or schematics.

Thank you for the info I will check it tomorrow..

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Tue Jan 29, 2019 12:28 pm

So i finally started chasing down the neutral switch wire, but it seems to be in a plug interface. I was trying to pinpoint the Diode in question, but I don't seem to see one. I was looking for a square diode closer to the recitfier right?

Wilcoy02 · Post by **Wilcoy02** » Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:35 pm

You need to go to the right of the branch of wires. Mine was toward the air intake box.

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:49 pm

Wilcoy02 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:35 pm You need to go to the right of the branch of wires. Mine was toward the air intake box.

Thanks, I will check to see if something is in that location.

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 8:49 pm

I found the diode. I pulled it out, and was expecting to see the neutral light to go off, and it didn’t. Is it supposed to if I pull the diode?

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:08 pm

Please disregard earlier post. I did continuity test and there was no continuity.

Rc67 · Post by **Rc67** » Sun Feb 10, 2019 8:55 pm

Just an update to the Neutral light situation. I got a new diode, but it still did not resolve the issue, so I finally had to do the dreaded neutral switch. in the process of trying to remove it, the wire broke off,
and I remembered in another thread, WingAdmin stated that if the wire was disconnected and the Neutral light was still on, then its problem is a bad ground somewhere. If, however, the wire is disconnected and the light goes out then it's the switch...Double Damn, I have to go in and pry the frame from the engine...Holy crap, what a process. I will detail what i had to do to remove the neutral switch.

1. I've read in many different forums to use Shims to separate the frame from the engine, just enough so that the neutral switch would come out. Did not work for me. what I had to do, is tap the bottom bolt inward toward the engine block and then take flathead screwdriver with a wider shaft and tap that between frame tube and the engine, that the bolt goes thru.

2. next had to get the switch out and determine what would be the best direction and orientation to get it out. could not bring it forward, due to the engine shape so I had to look to the rear of the engine and found the backplate with a filter located inside, and removed it.

once I took the cover off, I could get the bad switch out. I ordered a new OEM switch on eBay, but that sucker was 50 bucks...oh well. I really hope this helps someone who is trying to accomplish this, it's an ass-kicker. Oh, I thought I had drained all the oil, but when I took the cover off, it was like a waterfall....