I still don't understand my AE and finding neutral

[Auron]

When trying to move my bike around without starting it, it won't seem to go into neutral even with the key turned on. I also swear I've left it in neutral only to come back to it in 1st without touching it. I have also noticed with the key on (not started) and pulling in the brake lever, it goes into freewheel while not in neutral. The only time it goes into neutral every time is while riding it and coming to a stop, then clicking down from 1st. Does the kill switch play a role?

I dunno, seems inconsistent and I can't find anything in the manual

 

[RiderX]

How long has this been going on? It should go into neutral when both speed sensors indicate stopped (and power applied).

 

[Auron]

No problems with it running, just when moving it around the garage

 

[mcatrophy]

If by "going into neutral" you mean the clutch freeing so you can walk it, you need to turn the key on, hold the brake on for a second or two, you can hear the clutch actuator disengage the clutch. If you then can't move it (leaving the ignition on), your clutch is sticking.

If you want to actually select neutral, so you can move it without the key on, then it's ignition on, select the hand shift control if you want to use the hand control, brake on, select neutral. Very occasionally the shift to neutral will baulk (you can hear the actuator, but no solid change), usually another try with the control will work, if not just move the bike a little and try again. You can then turn the key off, leaving the gearbox in neutral and he bike free to push.

As for thinking you left in it neutral and it's in gear when you come to it, most unlikely! If you want to leave it in neutral, make sure the neutral light is on before turning off the ignition. Then when you turn on, it should still be on. It is impossible to select first from neutral with the side-stand down.

[edit]Remember you can never select neutral unless a brake is on, so if you come to rest, release the brake, then try to select neutral, it won't, this might be why you thought you'd left it finally in neutral.[/edit]

 

[Auron]

I think I got it. I'm pretty sure I was forgetting to hit the green switch that activated the hand lever, so I was clicking it over and over but hadn't even turned it on. Thanks, sorry to waste a thread.

 

[mcatrophy]

I think I got it. I'm pretty sure I was forgetting to hit the green switch that activated the hand lever, so I was clicking it over and over but hadn't even turned it on. Thanks, sorry to waste a thread.

One of the reasons I added an automatic button presser on mine, part of a heated vest controller (posted here).

 

[Sirby]

All I do is walk up to the bike, reach down with my thumb and press on the shift actuator arm, sliding forward one click and bingo, it's in neutral. No need to power up the bike. The actuator arm linkage connector has a black rubber boot on it. That is where you press. It is located right below the side panel bolt and above the YCCS cover .

This is often done when I am laying on the floor to check air pressure on the rear with the bike on the centerstand.

A guy showed this to me at WFO 6.

 

[Auron]

^ Nice! I'll be doing that for sure, although I'm having trouble visualizing how to do it. I'll try it when I get a minute

 

[MrM0t0]

Yamaha warns that if you use the kill switch while the bike is in gear it will actually act as if it is in neutral. It's in the manual somewhere. I assume that prevents the rear from locking up if you hit the switch while underway.

 

[mcatrophy]

Yamaha warns that if you use the kill switch while the bike is in gear it will actually act as if it is in neutral. It's in the manual somewhere. I assume that prevents the rear from locking up if you hit the switch while underway.

I think that refers to when the bike is stationary "in an emergency" so the clutch is already disengaged, this paragraph?

I believe if the bike is moving and in gear, neither the ignition switch nor the kill switch will disengage the clutch until the bike has slowed sufficiently.

 

[ahchiu]

All I do is walk up to the bike, reach down with my thumb and press on the shift actuator arm, sliding forward one click and bingo, it's in neutral. No need to power up the bike. The actuator arm linkage connector has a black rubber boot on it. That is where you press. It is located right below the side panel bolt and above the YCCS cover . This is often done when I am laying on the floor to check air pressure on the rear with the bike on the centerstand.

A guy showed this to me at WFO 6.

Can you post a picture of the actuator arm linkage connector.

 

[mcatrophy]

Can you post a picture of the actuator arm linkage connector.

Here's one I took earlier. It's almost invisible in the thumbnail, but click on it, you'll get a larger view.



If you look at the top right of the picture, you can see the black rubber cover and the link arm disappearing further to the right.

The procedure is described in your Owner's Manual: