GL1500 Neutral indicator
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- Honda Hobo
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:36 pm
- Location: Greenleaf, KS
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SEY with a Hobo Trike Conversion
GL1500 Neutral indicator
Hello, I have a 2000 GL1500 SEY, and it has an intermittent neutral indicator when in the neutral position on the shifter, and won't start. Sometimes it shows neutral, and sometimes not, cant seem to do anything to get and indication. Can any one help me?
- virgilmobile
- Posts: 8745
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:39 pm
- Location: Denham Springs,La.
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500 I
Previously owned
78 GL1000
81 GL1100
82 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 standard
84 GL 1200 I
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
My 88 was and still is iffy on the neutral light.The switch in the front of the motor needs to be replaced. Mine will light the neutral lamp if I move from 1st to neutral but not from 2nd to neutral.
I did inspect the switch.There is just enough play in the coupler that the rotating contact just doesn't quite make it to the neutral landing pad in one direction.
I had no hand fix for this so I just live with it.
The only other possibility is the plug between the switch and the harness.It may be corroded.Worth a look see first.Its also a great test point.When the light isn't working,short the matching wire to ground to verify what works and what is bad.
I did inspect the switch.There is just enough play in the coupler that the rotating contact just doesn't quite make it to the neutral landing pad in one direction.
I had no hand fix for this so I just live with it.
The only other possibility is the plug between the switch and the harness.It may be corroded.Worth a look see first.Its also a great test point.When the light isn't working,short the matching wire to ground to verify what works and what is bad.
- Honda Hobo
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:36 pm
- Location: Greenleaf, KS
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SEY with a Hobo Trike Conversion
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
Thank you, I will give that a try and see what I find.
- ct1500
- Posts: 1099
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:09 pm
- Location: Glastonbury,CT
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500
- Contact:
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
To help isolate the problem, will it start by pulling in the clutch when there is no neutral light showing?
Local and need repair help with your 1500, Valkyrie or ST please click contact
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do
- Honda Hobo
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:36 pm
- Location: Greenleaf, KS
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SEY with a Hobo Trike Conversion
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
No it will not start with the clutch in, but on occasion it will start: clutch in and shifted in to "OD". Ans sometimes it gives you a Neutral indication as it should and starts. I have checked the continuity of both switches on the clutch and they are good. Got any ideas?
- ct1500
- Posts: 1099
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:09 pm
- Location: Glastonbury,CT
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500
- Contact:
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
Even with a defective gearshift sensor (which on a 2000 model I would not suspect) it should always crank over with clutch pulled and side stand up. I would first investigate the reverse lever switch and wiring there for good connections and proper voltage. Next time there is no neutral light try jiggling/cycling the reverse lever to see if it will then light.
Local and need repair help with your 1500, Valkyrie or ST please click contact
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do
- Honda Hobo
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:36 pm
- Location: Greenleaf, KS
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SEY with a Hobo Trike Conversion
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
When no neutral signal showed, I wiggled and actuated the Reverse lever and there was no change, but when I did finally get it started in OD, I put it in neutral, actuated the reverse lever back and forth and the neutral indicator went on and off as it was supposed to.
- Honda Hobo
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:36 pm
- Location: Greenleaf, KS
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SEY with a Hobo Trike Conversion
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
Hello, I have no idea what I tightened, touched or fixed but now it's working fine.
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
WELL DOG GONE IT... I was hoping you found the solution, exactly like yours it's happening to mine.Honda Hobo wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2017 2:10 pmHello, I have no idea what I tightened, touched or fixed but now it's working fine.
(got my telepathetic "Vulcan mind meld" working) THINK back and remember... step by step... what you did... what you were eating & drinking.

I'm hounded for posting helpful solutions? ARGO!!! (2012 film)
"May you have a quick & safe trip into oblivion"
"May you have a quick & safe trip into oblivion"
- Honda Hobo
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:36 pm
- Location: Greenleaf, KS
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SEY with a Hobo Trike Conversion
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
I wish I could help you, all I can say is try what I tried, I just traced out the wires, tightened, crimped and checked every connection I could that would possibly relate to that circuitry.
Hobo
Hobo
Re: GL1500 Neutral indicator
Honda Hobo wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2017 11:57 pmI wish I could help you, all I can say is try what I tried, I just traced out the wires, tightened, crimped and checked every connection I could that would possibly relate to that circuitry.
Hobo
TO ANYONE...
OLDER POST but I'm still looking for the solution.
I believe this started around 175K miles.
Neutral switch light is randomly VERY difficult to find but it does work, did I mention, frustratingly randomly?
I've tried UpShift/DownShift and vise-versa the motions nothing seems to work consistently.
Recently I've added MMO to the oil few 1,000 miles before changing hoping it loosen what ever was sticking, NADA.
I haven't pulled the switch so I don't know what it looks like or operates. Spending $50.00 TAINT gonna happen. "Lotto is still trying to find me."
Is there a contact pin or a rod that makes contact in/on the switch where I can repair it?
I had a similar problem with the master clutch switch and (pulled a MacGyver) melted in a micro brass screw to take up the worn metal space.
.
.
I'm hounded for posting helpful solutions? ARGO!!! (2012 film)
"May you have a quick & safe trip into oblivion"
"May you have a quick & safe trip into oblivion"
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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- 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: GL1500 Neutral indicator
It's not a single switch like that. It's a rotary switch, potted, that is mounted on the inside of the front engine cover. It gets rotated by the shift drum, and tells the bike what gear it is in (or neutral). The engine cover has to come off to gain access to it.