Ignition switch short?

[mustangdave]

Ok...I'm gonna run this up the flag pole...have noticed lately that the NEUTRAL indicator light will not glow GREEN when the ignition is switched on, the bike will still kick start...but its a NO GO using the electric start...as a side note the KILL switch on the bike has never been functional....I think that wires are crossing and shorting out somehow...it just has me puzzled.  I did a quick search of the FORUM but nothing exhaustive.  Ideas...thoughts...solutions

[ace.cafe]

It wouldn't hurt to check that the neutral switch wire on the back side of the tranny, the little brown wire all alone back there, is still attached.

[mustangdave]

will give it a look ACE thanks

[Vince]

     A short circuit is just that- power bypasses the load it is supposed to go through. This over loads the rest of the circuit. This will pop a fuse and burn wires. You have an open circuit. Power is not connected. Look for loose or unplugged connections. A component such as a solenoid can fail internally where you can't see the open connection.

[Arizoni]

This sounds like another job made for a multimeter (volt/ohm meter).

The first place I would start would be the neutral switch.
By disconnecting its wire and then using the meter set to read ohm's resistance, touching the bare end of the wire and the engine case with the test probes should show a reading.
It might take shifting the transmission into gear and back to neutral a few times to make sure the switch had been actuated but it should show continuity to ground.

If it did, while I was sitting there with the wires unplugged I would test the wire to the light.  If the meter read zero, either the wiring has become disconnected or the bulb has burned out.
After checking the bulb I would know which problem to look for.  A loose connection.

[baird4444]

sometimes that neutral switch needs to be removed from
the back of the case and the inside contact cleaned of gunk.
be very careful not to cross thread or strip it out as it is plastic;
you may want to put a couple of wraps of teflon tape to seal when re-installing.

            - Mike