Tuesday, Mar 7 2017 [31,875 miles]
The clutch switch on my R1200GS isn’t working correctly. I can not start the bike when in gear and can not change riding modes on the go. The switch has two positions. The first seems to be used for cruise control. It toggles when the clutch lever is barely pulled in. The second switch position does not toggle until the clutch is fully engaged and the lever is almost all the way to the handlebar.
GS Clutch Switch
This is what the switch looks like. It’s actualy two switches in one. There are two cam-like protrusions on the clutch lever that contact the levers on each switch. With the switch installed I can hear two distinct clicks as first one lever is depressed and then …
As I write this I don’t know if the second click I’m hearing is the second switch being depressed or the first switch toggling in the other direction. In other words I don’t know if the switch is bad or the clutch lever. Hmmm.
There are three pins. The outer pins are connected until one of the levers is depressed. One of the outer pins is connected to the center pin when the second lever is depressed.
I see I need to do some more digging an an attempt to figure out how things are supposed to work. More later.
Wednesday, Mar 8 2017 [31,875 miles]
I removed the switch from the clutch perch but left it connected to the wiring harness. I wanted to actuate the levers and listed for any make/brake sound. Both switches clicked twice. But the clicks sounded different. OK, I’ll re-attach the switch and know what to listening for.
Then I remembered how much of an idiot I am. I’ve a GS-911wifi. It can read real time values. Values like the status of the clutch switch. I hooked up the GS-911wifi before re-attaching the switch to verify the bike could read the switch values. Yup. The bike saw both switches change state. I finally re-attached the switch.
Clutch disengaged
Clutch barely engaged
Clutch fully engaged
I hate heisenbugs. Perhaps something was sticking or there was some spooge that got cleaned as part of removing and attaching the switch. Whatever the reason the bike is working as designed, now.
Now I know that clutch switch 2 is the one that engages first which experience tells me turns the cruise control off without needing to actually engage the clutch. The main clutch switch controls starting and mode changing. I verified the bike will start in gear with the clutch engaged. All is well in GS-land. Will it stay that way?
Tuesday, May 30 2017 [34,066 miles]
About $73
My “repairs” lasted about a month. Then the switch mostly didn’t work. Once in a while it would. I got tired of having to switch to neutral to start the bike and not being able to change riding modes without coming to a complete stop. A new switch was ordered. The shop called today saying the switch was in. I picked it up and took a few minutes to install it on the bike. It even came with a new screw. All is well with the bike, again.