Checking the clutch safety switch: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Clutch & Transmission]]

For more information on the safety switches on the EX250, [[Understanding/troubleshooting the safety switches|click here]].

The purpose of the clutch safety switch is to make it so you can't start the engine in gear unless the clutch is pulled in. This keeps the bike from getting away from you when you try to start it. It also, in tandem with the sidestand switch, prevents riding away with the sidestand down.

When working properly, if your sidestand is down, bike is in gear, and clutch lever is squeezed, the bike will die as soon as you release the clutch lever. If you break off the plunger from the clutch switch, you can take off with the sidestand down, which is of course very dangerous. Don't ride with a broken clutch safety switch.

Your clutch switch is under the clutch lever. In this picture it's the rectangular piece right under the word 'lock'. You can see the plunger, which acts as an on/off switch, on the right of the switch (left side of the bike).

[[image:13adjuster2- annotate.jpg|150px]]

The first thing to check is the sound. When the clutch (or brake) lever is squeezed, the switch moves. The Kawasaki switches have a 'click' at the transition between off and on. Squeeze the brake a couple of times to listen for the 'click', then go to the clutch side and listen for the same noise.

If this checks out, do the following:

Put bike in first gear with the engine off and sidestand up.

*Put bike in first gear with the engine off and sidestand up.

Pull in clutch lever.

*Pull in clutch lever.

Try to start bike. Bike should crank over.

*Try to start bike. Bike should crank over.

Shut engine off. Release clutch lever.

*Shut engine off. Release clutch lever.

Try to start bike.

*Try to start bike.

If the clutch switch is good, the engine will not crank over.

If the clutch switch is good, the engine will not crank over. <br>

If the switch is bad, the bike will start cranking, chugging you forward.

If you are able to hold the clutch lever in while the engine is running, but, as soon as you start to release the lever, the engine turns off, that means it's the sidestand switch and not the clutch lever switch.

If you are able to hold the clutch lever in while the engine is running but, as soon as you start to release the lever, the engine turns off, that means it's the [[My sidestand switch doesn't work right|sidestand switch]] and not the clutch lever switch.

If it won't go into first with the sidestand down, regardless of the position of the clutch, chances are pretty good that the clutch safety switch is not working properly. If you have ever taken the lever off, chances are you broke the plastic plunger (see below).

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 [[Category:Clutch & Transmission]]
+For more information on the safety switches on the EX250, [[Understanding/troubleshooting the safety switches|click here]].
+The purpose of the clutch safety switch is to make it so you can't start the engine in gear unless the clutch is pulled in. This keeps the bike from getting away from you when you try to start it. It also, in tandem with the sidestand switch, prevents riding away with the sidestand down.
+When working properly, if your sidestand is down, bike is in gear, and clutch lever is squeezed, the bike will die as soon as you release the clutch lever. If you break off the plunger from the clutch switch, you can take off with the sidestand down, which is of course very dangerous. Don't ride with a broken clutch safety switch.
+Your clutch switch is under the clutch lever. In this picture it's the rectangular piece right under the word 'lock'. You can see the plunger, which acts as an on/off switch, on the right of the switch (left side of the bike).
+[[image:13adjuster2- annotate.jpg|150px]]
 The first thing to check is the sound. When the clutch (or brake) lever is squeezed, the switch moves. The Kawasaki switches have a 'click' at the transition between off and on. Squeeze the brake a couple of times to listen for the 'click', then go to the clutch side and listen for the same noise.
 If this checks out, do the following:
-Put bike in first gear with the engine off and sidestand up.
+*Put bike in first gear with the engine off and sidestand up.
-Pull in clutch lever.
+*Pull in clutch lever.
-Try to start bike. Bike should crank over.
+*Try to start bike. Bike should crank over.
-Shut engine off. Release clutch lever.
+*Shut engine off. Release clutch lever.
-Try to start bike.
+*Try to start bike.
-If the clutch switch is good, the engine will not crank over.
+If the clutch switch is good, the engine will not crank over. <br>
 If the switch is bad, the bike will start cranking, chugging you forward.
-If you are able to hold the clutch lever in while the engine is running, but, as soon as you start to release the lever, the engine turns off, that means it's the sidestand switch and not the clutch lever switch.
+If you are able to hold the clutch lever in while the engine is running but, as soon as you start to release the lever, the engine turns off, that means it's the [[My sidestand switch doesn't work right|sidestand switch]] and not the clutch lever switch.
 If it won't go into first with the sidestand down, regardless of the position of the clutch, chances are pretty good that the clutch safety switch is not working properly. If you have ever taken the lever off, chances are you broke the plastic plunger (see below).