SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB350/400

CLUTCH SWITCH ???

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Mikep328:
"If your bike is wired correctly, the starter will not work unless the neutral light is on. so disengaging the clutch will have no effect without the switch."

Hmmm.  I guess a previous owner must have disconnected/rewired it since the bike will start in gear with clutch engaged (lever out).  Interesting to me that the owners manual says nothing about that.  I would expect there to be a statement something like, "Motorcycle must be in neutral or have clutch disengaged for starter to operate." Was that switch on all years of the CB400F?  Wondering if maybe it was added later than '76?

If not a previous owner must have bypassed both the clutch switch and the neutral switch.

Mikep328:
Turns out...nobody disconnected nuthin'!   I was wrong when I said there was no clutch switch.  I  assumed there was no clutch switch because the function wasn't present.  But the switch was (is)!

The bike had probably sat so long in a previous life that the little plunger in the switch had seized in the closed position. A shot of WD40 released it and now it works as intended.  Nice when a "fix" is so simple!  :)

Athame57:

--- Quote from: Mikep328 on August 06, 2025, 12:45:21 PM --- Nice when a "fix" is so simple!  :)

--- End quote ---
Reminds me of when I could't select first gear for a few weeks. Workshop suggested different oil, and then wanted to pull bike apart.  :o In the end I had a hunch and repositioned gear change lever, bingo, it was cured! ;D
Meanwhile workshop went out of business and new management is there now.  8) 

Aye Gee 1977:
If the plunger was stuck home, the electric starter should not operate when in gear.
I recently took the switch apart on the F2 I bought new on 1977.  The contacts were corroded and I spent a happy half day trying to make and fit new ones.  In the end I bought a repro from DSS.  The old one is in the maybe box, in case I forget how frustrating it was trying to fix it.

Oddjob:
Don’t forget the switch will only sit properly in the handlebar switch when it’s oriented correctly. It has a small prong which sits in a groove in the switchgear.

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