78e dies when put into gear

[Yamdaha]

just started to do this 40 minutes ago. start it up, pull in the clutch, drop into 1st gear, engine dies. manual is at work and, of course, i have a group ride tomorrow.
any direction where to start?

[bikerphil]

Try some Seafoam fuel treatment. Maybe there's some crap in the idle circuit. Check for fouled plugs too. Is the clutch disengaging?

[Rasputin]

Have you just washed it? I have problems with mine that clear up once it dries, usually a couple hours at most.

[prometheus578]

"Just to clarify..."

Hard to understand exactly what your meaning is.

start it up, pull in the clutch, drop into 1st gear, engine dies.

Are you saying that... with the clutch in, when you put it in gear(with the clutch still in), it dies?
Or...
You have the clutch in, put it in gear, release the clutch and it dies?

Two quick thoughts:
(Ok, maybe three...)
Idle is too low.
Clutch is not fully disengaging.
Bike is not running on all four cylinders.
Depending on what the meaning was of your opening statement...
If you're letting out the clutch and it dies... your idle is too low, or, due to not running on all four, the engine can't handle the load.
Or, again with the engine not performing properly, and the clutch not fully disengaged, when you put it in get(with the clutch lever pulled) the clutch is still partially engaged and the load kills the engine.

You have an "E" model. There is no neutral safety switch, nor side stand down switch, nor clutch lever safety switch. Problem should be engine or clutch related.

When you put it in gear... does the bike lurch forward? Does it jump a little, or die... like you turned the key off?

[Yamdaha]

" Are you saying that... with the clutch in, when you put it in gear(with the clutch still in), it dies?
Or..."

yes that is it. bike ran great on the way home. parked, ate dinner, came out to check oil level, tire pressure, etc for the trip. started up with no issues, as always, pulled in the clutch, dropped into first, blah, engine dies. tired multiple times with the same results.almost like a sidestand dwon switch or something. knowing is doesn't have one is what baffles me.
and thanks for the other input as well. tired again this morning and no change.

[Yamdaha]

Originally posted by Rasputin
Have you just washed it? I have problems with mine that clear up once it dries, usually a couple hours at most.

didn't wash it, but did ride thru about 3 miles of "after rain" on the interstate. but the bike didn't miss a beat at all on the ride home and had time to dry what may have splashed up as i rode for another 20 minutes or so after riding thru the damp stuff.

[egsols]

Is it warmed up?
What is it idling at?
Do you have free play at the clutch lever?
Have you adjusted the clutch as per the manual?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Yamdaha,

It probably won't help you get it ready for your ride, you've probably already missed it... but like Rasputin said, it sounds electrical in nature. IT was running fine mechanically before this event, so I doubt the problem lies with the clutch or even the carbs.

A few folks have reported this fluke/phenomena when their bike gets washed/rained on, etc., and usually goes away after it dries. The bike is running when in neutral, and the neutral light is on...the neutral light indicator is showing, and also provides a ground source, but once you shift into gear, the neutral light goes out, and bam, engine dies....possibly due to loss of ground!?

Pull your tank, check your connectors for the ignition coils, inspect for rubbing thru, as well as corrosion and moisture, ...clean them and apply dielectric grease. ALso check the connectors at the TCI, same thing, clean, etc.!! Check your Engine to Frame ground, clean, etc.! Good luck, hope you get it running in time to get some riding in!?
T.C.

[randy]

To help avoid problems like this, I ran a seperate ground lead from the engine to the battery, also one from one of the starter mounting bolts to the engine ground. Starter spins noticeably faster with an additional ground lead.

I'll bet you have a loose ground lead.

[xswilly]

i had the same problem right after i washed it
with the engine off, put it into 1st, then try to start it

mine would not start in gear.
put it into neutral, and it started
put it into gear and stall

for me it took 5 hours to dry
but i did hose it off real good behind the motor and under the carbs

good thing i was home when i did it

[randy]

I had to cut away one flange of the starter cover to get a solid connection.

[Yamdaha]

thanks gang. just back in from the ride. had to use my neighbor's aprilia rsv1000.
getting ready to pull the seat and tank for a look see. all the pointers are appreciated. need to get it back going to keep wifey from getting on her " see, that's what a 30 year old bike get's ya" soapbox.
news i figure stuff out.

[Yamdaha]

oh happy day. pulled the seat and tank, all looked well. checked clutch adjustment, just as manual says. gut feeling told me to pull the gauge cluster and look there. about a table spoon of water in each of the speedo and tach. also a smidge in the center cluster. contact cleaner and light air pressure, re assemble, and ta da. started fine, clunked into first with no shut off. several repeats and ran it up and down the block. all seems well. now i get to replace instrument gaskets, just for back up. thanks again for all the help.

[randy]

Huh?

That's a new one. How does a wet gauge cluster kill the ignition?

[Dsxs11]

That's where they die at when you wash them. From my bike it's never been under the tank it's always been the pilot box. I always toss a plastic bag over the cluster then wash the bike and to the cluster by hand have never had the problem again. I assume it has something to do with the neutral light in the pilot box.