Bike died today

[freebird01752]

Hey Guys,

Has anyone had this happen to them I was stopping at a stop sign and the bike just died. It turned out to be the kill switch. But it took me a long time to figure that out.

So has anyone had the kill switch just die


Thanks,

Steve
'80 XS1100 SG

[skids]

I had two different xs11s die while at stop signs and each turned out to be bad batteries. Not enough capacity left to run at low idle. When the ignition box drops to 10.5 volts, or so, she just quits sparking.

[freebird01752]

Hi,

It is diffently the kill switch as I by-passed it and the bike starts and runs fine. I had to order a new kill switch.
And the battery is brand new, just over a month old.


Steve

[Ken Talbot]

You might try taking the kill switch apart (carefully, in case any little springs want to fly away) to see if if may only need a good cleaning. No sense $pending any more than you have to....

[dragxs11]

You're right Ken. I've seen the dirty contact plague before.

[Geezer]

I've seen that problem on all of the big 4 Japanese bikes. Switches don't last forever and most never get any maintenance. Spray some silicone lube in there and work it from stop to stop. About half the time that’s all it takes.

Geezer

[TopCatGr58]

Killl Switches, why bother?

After seeing this thread, I was wondering how many people really use their kill switch? I always use the ignition key when I'm ready to turn the bike off which is either when I park it or getting gas. I just don't see many instances where one is really needed. I know it's supposed to be the "emergency" off mechanism in case you need to shut it down when you're driving it, so you don't have to take your hands off the controls to reach the main key switch. Is it required by state/fed laws to be there?? If mine craps out or corrodes, I'll probably just bypass it instead of trying to fix it, but then seeing how I don't use it, that might work for me, but not be acceptable for others!?

Just a few thoughts! T.C.

[Steve Linderman]

Kill Switch

Hello !
Kill switches were meant for only one thing...when you needed to coast her in late one night... and you didn't want to run over the Neighbors dog sleeping in the street.
It went like this...the folks didn't like me blastin' in late (neighbors included) so at the top of the hill ('bout 1/2 mile from home) I'd speed up to about 40mph...hit the kill switch (killing only the motor) and roll the 1/2 mile downhill to the house (lights on)
and nobody was the wiser...turning off the key meant the bike went dark (good for other reasons) and if you "HAD to see" you had to re-start the motor (Basani Chambers forbid this) I used to call it the "Stealth Feature"
My Military Father used to comment "didn't hear you come in...what time did you finally get home?"
Thank God for kill switches!!
Especially on a Ripped up RD 350
If you listen to the Government's Propaganda...it goes something like this "Idiots and/or Fools who cannot either halt the machine with the provided braking system or utilize the transmission for such purposes as de-acceleration would be better protected having the motor NOT running when the crash occurs"
You can believe it...

Steve
'80 SG

[beechfront]

the PO (old roomate) of my bike went to start it one day and nothing. dead. He went all the way through the wiring and never did figure out what the problem was (which is why I think he was eager to get rid of the bike) but after spending days troubleshooting it suddenly decided to start again.

Anyway, a few months after I bought it, I was driving through downtown Omaha and the bike all of a sudden just dies. Would not start at all. I don't know why I thought to mess with the kill switch just then but switched it off, then on and she popped right off. I'm glad it happened to me because before that point I was scared to drive very far for fear of the thing dying on me in the middle of nowhere. No troubles since. My friend was sure pissed when I told him what the problem was.

[ratbyk]

The exact samr thing happened to me about a month ago. Riding along and the bike just up and died. Checked fuses at the road side with a test light. No problems found. For some reason I turned the kill switch off then on just in case it was partially in the off position. The bike immediately started.
This has happened once since then. I flipped the kill switch off and then on and the bike started right up.
Pulled top half of the handle bar clamp off, sprayed the switch area with a similar lubricant to WD-40. Worked the switch off and on a few times with no troubles since.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk

[Huron52]

Will the kill switch affect the ablilty of the starter to work? Mine the key turns on power ( turn lights work ,tail lights work, horn works)
There is nothing when I push the starter button.

I tried pushing it to get it to started ( that was fun) When the clutch was let out the motor would turn over and more lights would come on but the motor would not fire. I am thinking the kill switch ... but is there anything else I should look for?

thanks

[dragxs11]

Kill switch will keep starter from running. And I think you're on the right track. That, I'm sure is your problem.

[jiminos]

this sounds horribly like what i just went through... spent days hunting down the prob... my buddy came over, frowned for a bit.. twiddled the kill switch back and forth about three times and it started immediately.... did i mention i don't like him anymore....

[TopCatGr58]

Old Memories

This reminded me of when I had helped my best friend rebuild his little Nissan/Toyota? station wagon 4 cylinder, we had spent several weeks on it, got it done, he drove it for a week. Then I didn't see or hear from him for a week, finally called him and he told me he hadn't been able to start it and didn't want to bother me, thought he could figure it out, but hadn't after a week of sitting in his garage!
I went over, he showed me that it had no response to the ignition switch while I looked under the hood, no loose wires, battery seemed strong. I asked what he had done when he came home the day it died, he had been partying a bit, drove it home and shut it off and that's it. So...I hopped in the driver's seat, looked around for a little bit, then.....put it in park from "D", and it fired right up!!!! DOH!!!! Fresh eyes can really make a difference sometimes!

T.C.

[freebird01752]

Huron52

Does the head light come on when you turn the key on. Mine did not. On mine I always had to have the kill switch on for the head light to come on. Thats why I strated checking around the kill switch with the test light. I had power going into the kill switch but none coming out.

I did take the switch a part and cleaned the best I could but it still does not work. So ordered the switch.I did notice one of the wire eyelets looks to be enbeded into the plastic housing that screws into the switch. That could be the problem.


Steve
80 XS1100 SG