82 xj 750 thinks its always in neutral?!?!

Its a long story so settle in with your favorite cold beverage...

The oil level sensor hasn't worked properly since I've owned the bike, first think I did was change the oil and according to window there's plenty of beautiful oil in there so I've decided the sensor isn't needed and I would love to get the warning light to stop flashing. I located the sensor and the wire coming from it, some PO has butt connected the black/red wire coing out of the sensor to a solid black in the same loom as the orange, grey, and two black coming out of the alternator as well as a heavier gauge black wire going to a split eyelet that seemingly was just tucked under between the frame and #1 exhaust pipe.

This is where the trouble began.

The split eyelet didn't seem to be connected to anything to I pulled it out of its hidey-hole to gain better access and try to figure out what to do with the oil level sensor wire. I grounded the sensor and attempted to start the bike, the neutral indicator didn't light up and the bike wouldn't fire, it'd just crank. I looked into said hidey-hole and spied a small screw coming out from the bottom in the most impossible location to access shy of removing the entire exhaust system. When the wire that came from this depth of oil/greased covered labyrinth was touched to the screw the neutral light would come on turn off when put in gear, seemed simple enough. (famous last words) With a few hours of determination, and more than a few choice phrases, I reconnected the wire to the worlds most impossible to access screw.

After wiping down my hands and firing up the bike, started right up, I noticed that the neutral light stayed on regardless of what gear the bike was actually in. On the plus side the oil level sensor warning didn't light up!

One step forward and two steps back, nobody gets too far like that.

My guess at this point was that the bike should promptly be pushed into the local gully and be set ablaze while I danced around like a man possessed.

Acting against my primal urge to torch what I did not understand, I rolled her back into the shed to cool off for the night.

Today while thinking it over a nice cup of coffee I recalled that the light was staying on when the wire was connected to any ground, but not if it was only touching that screw.

Oh dear XJ wizards, I beseech you! Please help this lost soul find his way back to neutral when the bike is actually in neutral.

I tried to include anything I could think of but if I've over looked anything I'd be happy to provide more info if its helpful.

 

Well there are worse decisions then that; gotta admit I had a pretty good visual and laughed (with you not at you).

Sorry electricity is magic to me, but hold tight someone will be by shortly to take the lighter out of your hand.

 

On my 1982 XJ750J Maxim, the Black/Red wire for the oil level sensor goes from the sensor back to a 9-pin connecting block within the headlight bucket. Trace it back to there.

 

push the warning button twice to reset the blinking. Or cover up with black electrical tape like I did. (Bike's computer doesn't like my LED lights).

 

i didn't completely follow that but my first thought was the oil wire and neutral wire are reversed, sound possible?
or
do what must be done to put the lights out and have the bike start, then go for a ride.
if you fill it by the sight glass and never see a puddle under it, the oil's ok.
your a big boy you don't need a light to tell you your in neutral

 

Does it start in any gear too? i.e. is the neutral switch actually stuck or is it an electrical short somewhere further up the bike?

 

Polock, I'm fairly certain they're not reversed since when the wire that came from the neutral safety switch is touched to the screw and not the frame or block operates the light correctly and when the one that came from the oil level sensor is grounded the warning for the oil level turns off.

Ribo, I'll have to check tomorrow but I think it started in 1st gear now that i think about it.

 

do you have access to a wiring diagram ??? Trace your wires....you indicated that the black/red wire was butt-connected to another loom of black,orange, & grey wires.....that sounds like wires coming off the pickup coils rather than your alternator.......the alternator wires are white......not black, orange & grey....please check again.....???

The below diagram is a little blurry so PM with your e-mail and I will send you a .pdf file of the below wiring diagram as it will be much clearer to read....

 

Appreciate it five but i have that diagram already. You were correct though, that was from the pick up coils not the alternator.

So today I figured out that the wire leading to the neutral safety switch was turned just enough that when tightened down it would make contact with the engine and ground the circuit, causing the bike to think it was always in neutral. I aligned the wire where it wouldn't touch anything but the screw coming out of the switch and it's now working as it should.

As for the oil level sensor I grounded it to one of the bolts on the cover behind the gear selector, grounds that circuit and turns off the oil level warning light.