02 california sidestand switch.

[s1120]

OK..  so Ive heard about the side stands being issues on a lot of these bikes. Going bad, and making the engines pop, and stall..  Well took my daughter for her first ride yesterday, and on the way home the bike started bucking, and popping. Once I had to stop, and shut it down, and restart it.  So first thing I think about is the stand switch....  SO after we get home, [and I spend a few hours replacing the alternator in my van..] Im wheeling the bike into the garage. I happen to see with the pass foot pegs down, and the stand up, its so long that the foot of the stand is really right in front of the peg... almost looks like a shift lever...  So I ask my daughter about it, and had her sit on the bike..  Yup, her toe is right at the foot of the sidestand…  so every time she moved a little it was tap the stand and kill the engine...  So.....  being this is my first bike to ever have this switch...  and knowing the dangers of leaving the stand down, im going to bypass it. While bypassing it, so you leave the wires open, and connect them?

[Wayne Orwig]

I still have my switch after a zillions miles with a passenger. I did have to bent the switch bracket once. Are you sure you don't simply need to adjust something?

If you have the LARGE computer under the seat, you just unplug it.
If you have the small computer under the left hand cover, you need to short it.
Pretty sure that is always true.

[s1120]

I still have my switch after a zillions miles with a passenger. I did have to bent the switch bracket once. Are you sure you don't simply need to adjust something?

If you have the LARGE computer under the seat, you just unplug it.
If you have the small computer under the left hand cover, you need to short it.
Pretty sure that is always true.

Ill check to make sure the bracket isn't bent, or out of adjustment. Its a small computer bike.

[s1120]

OK, so I went out and eye balled it good..  It looked like it was adjusted fine, but then I noticed that the little rubber stand bumper had fallen off. I found it, and when on it looks like the stand just barley makes contact with the switch. Ill clean the switch up with some contact cleaner, replace the bumper, and adjust it so it makes more contact. Thanks.

[Kev m]

I still have my switch after a zillions miles with a passenger. I did have to bent the switch bracket once. Are you sure you don't simply need to adjust something?

If you have the LARGE computer under the seat, you just unplug it.
If you have the small computer under the left hand cover, you need to short it.
Pretty sure that is always true.

You're probably right, and it was over a decade ago, but I could have sworn that on my small computer under the sidecover Jackal I just unplugged mine.

[Zoom Zoom]

I still have my switch after a zillions miles with a passenger. I did have to bent the switch bracket once. Are you sure you don't simply need to adjust something?

If you have the LARGE computer under the seat, you just unplug it.
If you have the small computer under the left hand cover, you need to short it.
Pretty sure that is always true.

Just a point of clarification: On both my '01 EV's, I was able to unplug the switch and leave it open. The '01's have the small puter under the left side cover.

Something changed shortly after that and I'm not sure what year, which then necessitated shorting the pins together.

John Henry

[OldMojo]

Have you confirmed that the problem disappears without a passenger?
Like Wayne, I've had my switch forever with nary a problem.

However...

I once had a problem that I suspected to be the switch, since it gets talked up so much - sounds similar to yours - intermittent dying or stumbling while under way, pull over, restart, repeat.

It wound up being the crank sensor flaking out.

Easy to replace, not outrageously expensive, and I haven't had a repeat occurrence in 10-odd years since.

[s1120]

Have you confirmed that the problem disappears without a passenger?
Like Wayne, I've had my switch forever with nary a problem.

However...

I once had a problem that I suspected to be the switch, since it gets talked up so much - sounds similar to yours - intermittent dying or stumbling while under way, pull over, restart, repeat.

It wound up being the crank sensor flaking out.

Easy to replace, not outrageously expensive, and I haven't had a repeat occurrence in 10-odd years since.

That's my thinking now.  The switch didn't fix it, but it did give me a chance to fix some other issues with the sidestand. So anyways....  its still bucking and coughing back. Cleary sounds like its a timing issue..  so my next thought was the engine speed sensor. I pulled it out, and cleaned it up, and still no joy. It is swollen a little in the shaft... so maybe its bad. Where does it plug into the harness on this bike? Is there a test for it?  [im going to search now....  but might as well ask wile im here responding to my thread  :)

[Mackers]

If it's occurring at a specific rev range, I'd suspect the TPS.

[OldMojo]

That's my thinking now.  The switch didn't fix it, but it did give me a chance to fix some other issues with the sidestand. So anyways....  its still bucking and coughing back. Cleary sounds like its a timing issue..  so my next thought was the engine speed sensor. I pulled it out, and cleaned it up, and still no joy. It is swollen a little in the shaft... so maybe its bad. Where does it plug into the harness on this bike? Is there a test for it?  [im going to search now....  but might as well ask wile im here responding to my thread  :)

As I recall, it runs up to a connector behind the head stock cover in front of the tank.

For me, the clue was when the tach dropped off to nothing while it would do it's sputtering bit - my rationale being that it would not behave that way if the problem was fuel related.

[Zoom Zoom]

Another simple thing I experienced that caused running issues was my spark plug wires were sort of lodged into the cooling fins where they came around the back of the heads. As a quick fix, I used some old fuel line sliced lengthwise to protect the wires where they came around the heads. I had planned to replace the wires and keep the added protection but that completely resolved my trouble so I left it alone. I had many miles on the bike after that.

Might be worth a look.

John Henry

[s1120]

If it's occurring at a specific rev range, I'd suspect the TPS.

Im going to check it, but it doesn't feel like it. Feels more timing related.

[s1120]

As I recall, it runs up to a connector behind the head stock cover in front of the tank.

For me, the clue was when the tach dropped off to nothing while it would do it's sputtering bit - my rationale being that it would not behave that way if the problem was fuel related.

I don't have a tach, so cant see that. Dont think its fuel. Its popping, and even coughing through the intake.. 

[s1120]

Another simple thing I experienced that caused running issues was my spark plug wires were sort of lodged into the cooling fins where they came around the back of the heads. As a quick fix, I used some old fuel line sliced lengthwise to protect the wires where they came around the heads. I had planned to replace the wires and keep the added protection but that completely resolved my trouble so I left it alone. I had many miles on the bike after that.

Might be worth a look.

John Henry

That's on my list also.  I did check, and no contact with the engine. I do have a little carbon tracking on one side, so they are getting due..  But a little cleanup, and dielectric grease made no difference.

[s1120]

Im going to start a new thread on this...  Ive checked a few things, and so far ive had no luck.

[pehayes]

Another simple thing I experienced that caused running issues was my spark plug wires were sort of lodged into the cooling fins where they came around the back of the heads. As a quick fix, I used some old fuel line sliced lengthwise to protect the wires where they came around the heads. I had planned to replace the wires and keep the added protection but that completely resolved my trouble so I left it alone. I had many miles on the bike after that.

Might be worth a look.

John Henry

+1 Same issue on Regina's EV.  Intermittent coughing when the sparks jumped from wire to fins.  Fixed the same way.  Preemptively fixed mine as well.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA