Engine cutting out

Hi all,

I have a problem with my bike that I hope someone can help me with.
It is a '97 ZX-6R F3.

I've had the bike off the road for a few weeks and took it out for the
first time in a while last Saturday. Engine started easily and all
seemed fine, and same again on Sunday until I stopped for petrol.
When I restarted the engine it cut out when I pulled in the clutch. I
checked the sidestand was up but same result. This happened a few
times until I pushed the bike to a parking space, and after scratching
my head for a while I tried again and the problem seemed to have gone
away so I drove home.

Like a prat I put this down to a freak anomaly and drove the bike into
work this morning [1]. Come home time I started it up but again the
engine was cutting out every time I pulled in the clutch, and I ended
up having to leave the bike at work. My guess is that there is a
problem in either the sidestand switch or clutch switch. If I
remember correctly I used to be able to engage 1st gear with the
engine running and sidestand down, and the engine would only cut out
when I let out the clutch to pull away; for this reason I'm thinking
probably clutch switch rather than sidestand. I only need to pull the
clutch a minute amount before cut out.

I should say at this point that I know very little about motorcycles
so my estimation may be way off. I am hoping that I haven't missed
something obvious, please tell me if I have or alternatively whether
this sounds like a reasonable diagnosis. If it is how could I go
about testing before going out and buying new parts? I don't have any
electrical testing equipment but may be able to borrow some. Or is
there an easy way for me to bypass the safety circut and verify
whether or not this is where the problem lies?

Thanks in advance,

mb

[1] Probably not relevant but I noticed the temperature gauge was up
over 3/4 when I got to work. If it persists I may be posting about
this again later :0)

 

IMHO, you're most likely right with that assumption.

Disconnect the switches, clean up the connectors and try again.

If you're still having problems with them, then you could always bypass
the problematic one.

 

This is definitely it.

 

How should I go about cleaning the connectors? A spray with GT85 and
wipe with a rag? If the problem is still there I would like to try
bypassing the clutch switch before buying a new one [2], but haven't
got a clue how. Can anyone give me some idea, or is it just not worth
the effort?

Thanks again.

[2] Even if it's just to get the bike home so I can do the job
properly[3].
[3] I use the term loosely.

 

IMHO, GT85 is too 'oily' for this. I'd try WD40 first, or an electrical
contact cleaner.

As for shorting them, then you can do this with a folded out paperclip
prodded into the connector.

Should be able to diagnose the faulty switch from this - personally, I
probably wouldn't replace a clutch switch (I'd just snip off the
connector and crimp the wires together), although a sidestand switch is
pretty essential, IME, so I'd replace that.

 

Wha..? <shakes head>

 

You've obviously never suffered the embarassment / pain of being
catapulted off on the first left hander of the day, then ;-)

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember (SteveH)
saying something like:

Oh yes. And you only do it once.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

Grimly Curmudgeon wrote

You'll learn newbie, you'll learn.

 

What he said. Although I wasn't catapulted off, just very nearly. Sobered
me right up, that.

 

Well, I took off the clutch switch and tried to clean it up a little,
and at first it seemed to have fixed the problem because I could pull
in the clutch without the engine cutting out. But instead it now cuts
out when I release the clutch to drive away. I managed to get the
bike home in the end by removing the clutch switch and taping it to
the handlebars in the disengaged position. But I am now wondering if
maybe the sidestand switch is also faulty; it does not make sense to
me that a faulty clutch switch could be causing this latest problem.
What do you all think? It seems a bit improbable for both to go at
the same time, but I also seem have a problem with the radiator fan
not coming on which I guess is most likely electrical so who knows?

Thanks once again.

 

Somebody, please, I need some help!