trike will not start unless in neutral

[Al Corr]

This trike will not start unless it's in neutral. I've had many bikes and all you do is pull clutch and start. What is going on?

 

[Roblou15]

I think there is a small protruding knob on the clutch handle that needs to engage a spot to be able to start in gear. Check the service manual. You may need to adjust the clutch handle. Just a guess.

 

[Leeb]

Pull the clutch in step on foot brake then it will start

 

[rhino 2]

This trike will not start unless it's in neutral. I've had many bikes and all you do is pull clutch and start. What is going on?

Firmly step on foot brake or hand brake! Then it will start in gear...

 

[Jack Klarich]

If it does not start with the clutch pulled in and foot on the brake you may have a bad clutch switch. That switch is in the LS switch half on the handle bars. Before you replace it, remove the clutch lever and spray some contact cleaner on the micro switch and then reinstall the lever. If that does not work you will need to replace the switch half ( the clutch switch is not replaceable as a single switch) on newer HD Trikes

What year Trike is this?

 

[LadyonaMission]

If it does not start with the clutch pulled in and foot on the brake you may have a bad clutch switch. That switch is in the LS switch half on the handle bars. Before you replace it, remove the clutch lever and spray some contact cleaner on the micro switch and then reinstall the lever. If that does not work you will need to replace the switch half ( the clutch switch is not replaceable as a single switch) on newer HD Trikes

The switch on my 2015 Freewheeler had to be replaced when I had my 1K service done.

 

[Jack Klarich]

The switch on my 2015 Freewheeler had to be replaced when I had my 1K service done.

Did yours come with a new lever? There is now an updated switch pak with a new designed lever My 17 has acted up a few times mostly in the rain. I have used contact cleaner on it and lubed the lever pivot pin, so far so good

 

[LadyonaMission]

Did yours come with a new lever? There is now an updated switch pak with a new designed lever My 17 has acted up a few times mostly in the rain. I have used contact cleaner on it and lubed the lever pivot pin, so far so good

I was told it needed a new switch, so I don't know if they changed the lever. I was also told HD doesn't want me to be starting it without putting it in neutral so I showed the service writer the page that told me how to do it.

 

[MB1953]

I had the repairs done on both my '14 and '17 triglides. Warranty covered switch pack replacement. Took about 15 minutes both times. FREE

 

[Al Corr]

If it does not start with the clutch pulled in and foot on the brake you may have a bad clutch switch. That switch is in the LS switch half on the handle bars. Before you replace it, remove the clutch lever and spray some contact cleaner on the micro switch and then reinstall the lever. If that does not work you will need to replace the switch half ( the clutch switch is not replaceable as a single switch) on newer HD Trikes

What year Trike is this?

2016

 

[Al Corr]

2016

2016 and it's at the HD Dealer now and I was told it was not made to start when pulling in the clutch.

 

[Jack Klarich]

2016

Al, your 16 model has the ill fated micro clutch switch. If it turns out this is the problem the entire LS switch pak will need to be replaced. Do you have and hand grip modifications on this trike? Too big diameter grips will change the throw of the clutch lever and cause this to be a no start with the clutch pulled in. If you remove the clutch lever and do a good cleaning inside the switch half you will see the micro switch, if cleaning does not help I wish I had a better answer for you. Good Luck and let us know how it goes

 

[Al Corr]

Al, your 16 model has the ill fated micro clutch switch. If it turns out this is the problem the entire LS switch pak will need to be replaced. Do you have and hand grip modifications on this trike? Too big diameter grips will change the throw of the clutch lever and cause this to be a no start with the clutch pulled in. If you remove the clutch lever and do a good cleaning inside the switch half you will see the micro switch, if cleaning does not help I wish I had a better answer for you. Good Luck and let us know how it goes

Thank You, I'll try cleaning the switch.

But I can't believe the HD Dealer said that!

 

[Jack Klarich]

Thank You, I'll try cleaning the switch.

But I can't believe the HD Dealer said that!

Yeah, they say a lot of stupid things that are in the manual, they need to up their training IMO. Do you have an owners manual? It is covered in there on how to start in neutral and in gear. Do you know if your clutch lever is stock or chromed after market? This may be the problem also. Some levers are not made with enuff of a nub to fully engage the switch

 

[rhino 2]

Page # 101 in the 2019 Manual ;

Starting the engine in neutral...Apply front or rear brake to prevent movement ,

Squeeze the clutch lever in against hand grip, Trans in neutral, Don't not role the throttle, Press the start switch.....

Starting in Gear;..You MUST apply the front or rear brake , You must squeeze the clutch lever against the hand grip, Do not roll the throttle, Press the start switch ....

My 17 Tri-Glide was the same, With the exception that i found out you really had to squeeze the clutch lever ''Hard'' against the grips....With the 19 it's not that sensitive they must have improved the lever after many complaints ..:Shrug:..

 

[Al Corr]

If it does not start with the clutch pulled in and foot on the brake you may have a bad clutch switch. That switch is in the LS switch half on the handle bars. Before you replace it, remove the clutch lever and spray some contact cleaner on the micro switch and then reinstall the lever. If that does not work you will need to replace the switch half ( the clutch switch is not replaceable as a single switch) on newer HD Trikes

What year Trike is this?

I wanted to say Thank You again. I cleaned the clutch switch with contact cleaner, works fine.



Thank you everyone for all your help.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I wanted to say Thank You again. I cleaned the clutch switch with contact cleaner, works fine.



Thank you everyone for all your help.

Good deal Al. This has worked on my 17 Freewheeler for 2 years now

 

[1dn5up]

Page # 101 in the 2019 Manual ;

Starting the engine in neutral...Apply front or rear brake to prevent movement ,

Squeeze the clutch lever in against hand grip, Trans in neutral, Don't not role the throttle, Press the start switch.....

Starting in Gear;..You MUST apply the front or rear brake , You must squeeze the clutch lever against the hand grip, Do not roll the throttle, Press the start switch ....

My 17 Tri-Glide was the same, With the exception that i found out you really had to squeeze the clutch lever ''Hard'' against the grips....With the 19 it's not that sensitive they must have improved the lever after many complaints ..:Shrug:..

Since putting beefeater grips on , I must squeeze real tight to activate the switch.

 

[hardwickbv]

Thank You, I'll try cleaning the switch.

But I can't believe the HD Dealer said that!

I literally had to call Harley corporate to verify that is should start with the clutch pulled in and a brake activated.

Corporate then gave me a case number and asked me to have the dealer give them a call.

Literally had the Service manager and Sales manager insist that it would be a safety issue if it did start, and they told me they checked another new bike on the floor that didn't start.

When they called corporate and found different they told me that the had a meeting will all the techs and sales people about the situation.

They did not have the switch pack in stock and I had ridden 160 miles round trip twice to attempt to get it fixed.

They ended up driving to my house when the part came in to install it in my garage plus gave me a $100 gift card.

Over a 2 year period they insisted on questioning my thoughts on what should be done to my trike.

The 3rd time it happened I told them I wouldn't be back and found a dealer that treats me like a paying customer should be.

Bob

 

[rhino 2]

Since putting beefeater grips on , I must squeeze real tight to activate the switch.

I put a adjustable clutch lever in my 17 Tri-Glide...8 # positions with # 8 the furthest from the grip.....If i used #1 it would not start in gear...From #2 to #8 it would start every time in gear....

 

[Jack Klarich]

I literally had to call Harley corporate to verify that is should start with the clutch pulled in and a brake activated.

Corporate then gave me a case number and asked me to have the dealer give them a call.

Literally had the Service manager and Sales manager insist that it would be a safety issue if it did start, and they told me they checked another new bike on the floor that didn't start.

When they called corporate and found different they told me that the had a meeting will all the techs and sales people about the situation.

They did not have the switch pack in stock and I had ridden 160 miles round trip twice to attempt to get it fixed.

They ended up driving to my house when the part came in to install it in my garage plus gave me a $100 gift card.

Over a 2 year period they insisted on questioning my thoughts on what should be done to my trike.

The 3rd time it happened I told them I wouldn't be back and found a dealer that treats me like a paying customer should be.

Bob

That is crazy they treated you like a fool. I guess they did not bother to check the owner/ operator manual where it clearly states the staring procedure.