whats a 'starter lockout switch'?

[DynamiteBoy]

As i mentioned yesterday im having a few problems with my kawasaki gpz500s when trying to pull off in first...thanks for all the suggestions so far.

This morning I let her warm on the drive-way before engaging first and very slowly/gently let the clutch out a tiny bit....the engine cut out. When riding the cb500 on my DAS I could fell the bike pulling when doing this procedure, on my gpz nothing...

Even though I don’t know much about bikes I got a feeling that its an electrical problem, the clutch bite when changing from say 3-4 is quite high but the bike dies way before I let the clutch out that far.

Reading the wiring diagram in my owners manual the 'left handle switch' has a 'starter lockout switch'...I don’t know what this is but was wandering if it could be to blame....prob wrong but worth a try. also someone has suggested the microswitch down by the side-stand.....the bike had been standing for about 8 months before i purchased her.

Bought fresh fuel today and I got 2mo off work so im going to change plugs and empty/clean tank/filter...If anyone can help I would be grateful as I wish to ride to work on Tuesday...thanks, Ow
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Honda CG125 (sold) - Kawasaki GPZ500s (sold) - Kawasaki Zephyr 550 (sold) - Kawasaki er6n (current work horse)

[stinkwheel]

That would cause the problem you describe. You would never be able to move away.

Is the neutral light coming on?

There are two safety interlocks. One is on the sidestand to stop you riding off with the stand down, the other is on the clutch lever to stop you operating the starter motor with the bike in gear and the clutch out. If it was the sidestand switch, the engine would die as soon as you selected the gear. If it was the clutch switch it would die as you let the clutch out

It is all unecessarily complex in my oppinion, I have removed and bypassed the system on my bike.

To start with, try squirting some WD40 in and around the switches and the connectors to them. Give them a good work in and out, if they are just gummed up, this should sort it. You should hear a distinct 'click' as each switch closes

The sidestand switch is attached to the frame, the stand presses a little metal tag when it is up (which can bend), easily found as they are the only two wires in that area of the bike, follow them and you will find the switch.

The clutch switch is under the clutch lever. A black plastic rectangle with a 3-wire snap connector attached to it. Looks something like this:

https://www.toolparts.co.uk/acatalog/SSKF01.jpg
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[cagiva gezzer]

The time it took you to write that post you could of put starter lockout switch into google and found the 4th post that talks about the GPZ.

From the sounds of it, it's a switch on the clutch lever that prevents the bike from being started unless it's got the clutch pulled in.

Never had to deal with any form of nannyness of bikes, so i'm no use but this goes into it a bit.
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[DynamiteBoy]

Thanks for the reply stinkwheel, gonna get the WD40 out 2mo...hope it solves all my problems...

And yes cagiva gezzer thanks for pointing out my lack of imagination... ...I actually searched google after I posted and thought y didn’t I do this first...but as is always the case I prefer problem solving bike issues through BCF as there’s usually many different options and suggestions to rectifying any issues...

Cheers...Ow
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"I dont like my Job anymore - I dont think i'll go" OfficeSpace

Honda CG125 (sold) - Kawasaki GPZ500s (sold) - Kawasaki Zephyr 550 (sold) - Kawasaki er6n (current work horse)