Engine Stop/Start Switch Broken- Can't Kick It Over

DOGSRLOCKED

Hello, I recently purchased a 1979 XS650 Special that was in good condition until yesterday. I was replacing the right-hand mirror and needed a little extra "umphhh" so used a hammer to loosen it up. When I did, the engine run/stop switch broke. It appears it was sun damaged and the plastic switch fell away, leaving 3 brass contacts exposed. The electric starter never worked, but I was able to easily kick it over on 1 or 2 trys. However; now I can't get it to kick over at all!

I have spark, battery is charged... but no go. Is there a chance that the broken switch is the culprit? Is there a way to "jump" the contacts or wires inside the switch to allow me to kick it over? I've tried using a piece of copper from the top to the bottom, and in between both top contacts. I'm pretty new to motorcycle electrical systems, I have a basic knowledge from cars and residential applications but this has me stumped.

Any ideas? Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

nudude53

Bite the bullet and replace the switch.

xsjohn

Tie the 2 wires together and use the key to shut it off.............

xsjohn

gordo

the switch circut need's to have continuity. But, if you've got spark, you should have voltage at the coil's. Make sure you've got battery voltage at the coil's, the orange/red wire. If not, go into the headlite, find the wire's for the kill switch, and jumper the wire with voltage to the orange/ red. Give it a few kick's, and see if the bitch start's. If not, give 'er a swift kick in the side cover's. That'll learn 'er. Seriously, the kill switch remove's power from the coil's when off. So try what I wrote & see. Good luck,,,Gordo

pamcopete

Also, the right hand mirror is a left hand thread...

gordo

Forgot to mention that, Thanx Pete.

DOGSRLOCKED

Thanks guys... I'm going to try and get that done tomorrow and see what happens.

PamcoPete, I guess I kinda figured that out the hard way with the right hand mirror and the "backwards", left hand threading! Ahhh... I love being the "booter" again... so much to learn!

I'll drop a post and let you all know how it goes!

DOGSRLOCKED

OK... this morning I opened up the wire loom from the switch, I have three wires (red, blue, and brown). I looked over the schematic diagram, but I never have been very good at interpreting those. So just wanted to ask if I were to jump or bypass the switch, which wires do I need to cut and splice together? I'd hate to rely on my inexperience here... like my dad always told me... "measure twice and cut once".

Thanks for the help guys, I'll pay it forward.

Joe

gordo

I know the brown should have battery voltage, the red power's the bike, and, I think the blue is for the light's. Try putting them all together, watching for a big draw that could smoke up a wire. Try it & see.

Retiredgentleman

For a temporary quick fix. Remove the headlight. Follow the wiring harness from the righthand switch into the headlight bucket. You will find a 4 pin connector with 3 wires; 1 blue/white and 2 red/whites. Disconnect the connector.Make yourself a jumper, then connect the 2 red/whites together , on the connector side that feeds into the harness.

Because the blue/white is also disconnected, you have lost the use of the starter motor push button. However you said you weren't using the starter motor anyway.

gordo

That's right, could not remember for the life of me what the blue/white was for. RG is THE man as far as knowing which wire's to jump. Jayel doe's, too.

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