Anyone know where I can get one, or know how to bypass it? My bike is dead right now. >:( I need help!!! :sad:
trace the wires back to a couple of bullet connectors. Unplug them from the switch and connect them together.
or unscrew the switch, stuff some tinfoil in htere and close it up
I think up through 1996 the switch was hard wired to the tiny switch board assembly. You may have to cut the wires to short them together. I think in 1997 they switched to a real switch, not something cobbled together with a PC contact board and a separate contact that fit into the clutch lever. You gotta be real careful taking out the 1989-1996 clutch switch to replace the lever because all kinds of tiny things can fall out. I had that happen and got on my hands & knees looking for the tiny brass contact and the itty bitty spring.
You could use the newer switch but there is one possible problem. The lever on the new real switch is longer than the older separate contact thingy meaning the slot in the clutch lever has to be deeper. Old clutch levers need to be bored out for the new switch while later clutch levers can be used on the older bikes with the fugley switch contraption. If a clutch lever is for 1989-1996 then you need to deepen the switch slot if you're using it with the newer switch. Otherwise, you can damage the switch or it won't work right. I think the older ones have a slot 1/8" deep while the newer ones (which are backward compatible) have a switch slot 1/4" deep.
Anyway, just short those wires together until you get the switch fixed.
Just short those wires together and then forget about the switch. As long as the CPU between your ears is working you don't need the POS switch!
Did you happen to remove the switch or change the clutch lever? Switch must come out to change the lever. 89-96 had a messy switch built from tiny parts which easily get lost when you take the switch out.
Fortunately, the tiny parts are only about $4 at a dealer. It's the wiper assembly. The rest of the switch is a small PC board with 2 copper pads that get shorted together by the wiper. Fortunately, that never goes bad. Maybe a wire came unsoldered. That board is hard connected to the wiring harness and isn't available as a separate part.
As everyone says, you can short the wires together until you get a new switch part.
If your bike is 96-now, you can buy a new switch at a dealer for about $12.
The clutch switch rarely shows up as used parts.
I actually shorted the leads together and ordered another slider. Works great right now.