Neutral Indicator

[BockinBboy]

Hey guys...

Hopefully a quick and easy one here, just wanted to get steered in the right direction before I delve into it.

Last night on my ride home, my neutral indicator stayed on.  Tried all gears, and even turning off the bike and back on, but neutral light stayed on at all times (except when ignition in off position, of course).  Made sure the safety switches worked, clutch out when starting didn't start it, and kickstand down in first killed it.  It doesn't seem like anything else is awry with the neutral other than something with the indicator panel.

A few specifics for us:  I installed LEDs all in the instrument panel EXCEPT for the turn signal due to laziness on the diode mod    ... All of these have worked for the past 2500+ miles since the install.  The LED Neutral indicator did 'appear' to brighten up when I actually clicked into neutral, but it could just be a flicker when I click into neutral.

So, what am I looking at here for when I do get a chance at it tonight/this weekend?  Bad LED (I have extras to try anyway)? Bad connection somewhere?  ... something indicative of a worse problem?  Impending doom?!?!

Thanks,

- Bboy

[tialloydragon]

Try putting an incandescent back in and see what happens.  I am pretty sure the instrument cluster wasn't designed to handle the low wattage of the LEDs.

[adidasguy]

Did your bike get wet?

The LEDs require very little current to come on. Inside the wiring harness is buried a dual diode. This isolates the side stand from the neutral indicator to turn on the "side stand relay" (the safety that kills the bike if in gear and the side stand is down).

Water getting in there will cause a little current flow due to dirt and the LED will come on. Been there - had it happen a few times. Sometimes after washing the bike. Water got onto the wiring and the dual diode got wet. After a a few days of heat and dry weather, it goes away.

You may notice the neutral LED gets a little brighter when in neutral. Maybe a little dimmer with side stand down and not in neutral.

Check it out and report back.

[BockinBboy]

With that description, adidasguy, I'm confident you nailed it on the head.  I washed it two days ago but only rode it for a short bit to warm the chain for cleaning/lubing and may not have noticed it then until I road it for a good ride last night.  The LED did seem brighter when in neutral, and also seemed to dim when I put it in first and lowered the side stand (to ensure that switch worked).

Thanks for grounding my thoughts, that theory ties it all together nicely.  It'll be sunbathing today when I'm home, so I'll wait it out and see if works out on its own.

- Bboy

[adidasguy]

It will work out. You wouldn't have noticed it until riding in the dark.
Take the seat off and let the bike air out and dry out.
You'll be fine.

[weedahoe]

Mine got wet once and I had the same issue and Adidasguy said the same. Sure enough, it went out after a day or so in the sun

[BockinBboy]

Yep that must have been it. She was out for a tan yesterday and today, and then a ride tested the light works as it should! So glad I asked before I "fixed" it though... I probably would have wasted a bunch of time if not messed something up!  Thanks guys!

- Bboy