Clutch Switch and Starting Circuit Cut-off Relay

[Brian_D]

When the weather permits, I will be troubleshooting a bad clutch switch or starting circuit cut-off relay as my '81 LH will only start in Neutral.

I've noticed that Yamaha's web site lists the same clutch switch for all '81 H,SH,LH and '82 XJ models; however, it only lists a starting circuit cut-off relay for the '81 LH and '82 XJ.

Does the H and SH also have the starting circuit cut-off relay?

And, other than the possibility of starting the bike in gear (like all '78-'80 XS1100s) is there any reason why the $58 relay could not be removed and bypassed by shorting the two R/W wires? (From my review of the wiring diagrams, this should bypass ALL the safetys on the '81 XS and '82 XJ).

[DiverRay]

Then it would be like my '78.
No, I don't see any problem, other than riding off the side stand, or starting in gear. The "safety" was to keep the "Deet dee dee" from killing themselves on the first ride. All the "old" bikes never had that stuff, and if you messed up, you REMEMBERED after that.

[Brian_D]

Yup, my LH only has the neutral and clutch 'safetys' - believe the sidestand safety was added in '82 to the XJ.

I 'learned' quickly how to lean on takeoff to retract the sidestand

[John]

Originally posted by DiverRay
Then it would be like my '78.
No, I don't see any problem, other than riding off the side stand, or starting in gear. The "safety" was to keep the "Deet dee dee" from killing themselves on the first ride. All the "old" bikes never had that stuff, and if you messed up, you REMEMBERED after that.

I still remember...all the time I remember.

[HobbyMan]

Its should be the switch, not the realay. When you are in neutral and you turn on the key, the relay activates. If it was bad, you could not start at all. BTW: I think one of the wiring diagrams is wrong in the manual. It is the LH suppliment in the manual for H/SH/LH. There is not hot primary feed to activate the relay. I was staring at it for about 10 min untill I asked my dad with a EE deg if I was missing something. He replied, "They screwed up." Its nice to know I am not a complete meathead all the time

[Brian_D]

John,

Does Foster Child (81SH) have the Starting Circuit Cut-off Relay and Clutch Switch?

[81xsproject]

mine does

[John]

Yeah, the SH does have the clutch switch, but I don't think that circuit is working. I can start it without having to pull the clutch lever in.

[81xsproject]

I can too, but only because my switch went bad and I am too cheap to buy a now one. So I bypassed mine in the head light bucket.

[Brian_D]

Originally posted by HobbyMan
Its should be the switch, not the realay. When you are in neutral and you turn on the key, the relay activates. If it was bad, you could not start at all.

Yeah, more than likely its a bad clutch switch; however, the XJ Service Manual shows the relay uses an internal diode to seperate the two trigger inputs. (Without the seperation, activating the clutch switch would also turn on the neutral light.) Still need to verify the relay is good and which trigger (clutch or neutral) is connected to the diode of the relay.

[Brian_D]

Originally posted by 81xsproject
I can too, but only because my switch went bad and I am too cheap to buy a now one. So I bypassed mine in the head light bucket.

Without the clutch bypass, would it not start in neutral?

Thinking that I'll add just the clutch safety to my 79F project bike by wiring a clutch switch in the L/W wire from the Start Button to the Starter Solenoid.

[81xsproject]

The clutch swith simple allows you to start NOT in neutral. If I was to be stupid now, I could activate the starter while the bike was in gear, without the clutch engaged. Then I could watch my bike drive away without me.

[Brian_D]

Originally posted by 81xsproject
The clutch swith simple allows you to start NOT in neutral.

Just wanted to verify the H and SH use the cut-off relay - as it is not listed on their web site - only the cllutch switch is listed