Having to squeeze clutch to crank bike

Normally I can just turn my choke on, push start and my bike fires right up. This morning it wouldn't fire at all, I squeezed the clutch and it came alive. It was in neutral at the time. Is it possible something might be messing up?

 

I think if your neutral switch is messed up, it wouldn't let you crank unless the clutch switch is being engaged, because then it would think that it was in gear.

 

I have a similar issue with mine. It only starts with the clutch pulled in. The neutral light never even comes on. I've just been so happy that I got the major problems worked out that I have kinda glossed over that one so far. My first thought would be that the neutral indicator switch may be faulty? Now that I'm curious I'm gonna have to read up on them in the shop manual and play with it on my next day off.

 

ok, but as soon as it started I let the clutch go and it ran fine, shouldn't it cut out if that were the case?

 

it wouldn't cut out after letting go of the clutch as the bike would "think" you were in gear and trying to go somewhere.

 

Yeah, I think that circuit only cuts out the starter button or the starter relay. If it cut out the ignition, you would never be allowed to let the clutch out while in gear!

 

I think it only matters at start up. Kind of like the bike is being told "hey you're not in neutral" and then when the clutch is pulled in it starts. After it starts it doesn't really care if you are in neutral or not since it is an assumption that if you had the presence of mind to pull in the clutch that you're not gonna let it go unless it is in gear and you're taking off or it is in neutral. The neutral indicator switch is located on the bottom of the bike next to the sump. that would be a good place to check and make sure it is functioning. If you want details on that I can post what I've read so far or if you have a Haynes manual they go through it in the electrical section

 

Gotcha, I'll test it out later and see if it is still doing it. I blew a fuse last week. I'm not sure when it happened but the best I could tell it happened while I was cranking the bike up.

 

I accidentally pinched the wire going to the neutral switch between the cover and the engine case, this resulted in a short after the plastic coat wore off, and of course no neutral light, if you have been doing any maintenance round the front sprocket that would be a likely cause. its down there in all the oil and guk and so easy to to do....

 

Well it cranks fine now, but I had to put new plugs in it to finally get it to fire up. Cranking fine though with the spark plugs, and I also drained the gas.