If your Valk won't start in gear with the clutch in

[Thunderbolt]

then your bushing might be worn and the contacts on the clutch switch might be dirty.
I found this on a friends bike.  His bike is pretty high mileage and the bushing was pretty well worn.  Once I replaced it, the bike would still not start in gear.  The contacts on the switch are underneath in the open and get dirty pretty easy.  Take a small piece of fine sandpaper and clean them up.  I used a meter to test for continuity through the contacts when the button is pressed.  When they were cleaned up it works as it should.  I looked the part up on MR Cycles microfiche and took it to my local dealer and he matched the price. $8.83
Clutch lever bushing

The Honda part Number 2285-MBO-006 is $10

The Suzuki part number 59892-08A00 is $3 and exactly the same part.


Courtesy of NC_Rob

I

[PAVALKER]

Also, from what I recall, I don't think it will start in gear, regardless of the clutch position, if the kickstand is down.  I usually don't try to do that on purpose of course, but I think I found that out on one of those Awwww crap moments.

[glenh]

How do you get at the clutch switch?

[Ricky-D]

It's very easy to see the switch on the clutch lever assembly. It is mounted on the bottom of the assembly.

If you pull off the little connectors and then run a continuity test between the two contacts on the switch, you will see if indeed the switch is working by simply pulling the clutch lever.

There cant by anything much simpler that this test!

This is absolutely the first thing to do in your situation.

***

[Thunderbolt]

and the switch is held on by just one screw.  There are two wires attached with spade lugs.  Just pull them off if you are removing the switch.  You can check the switch with a Volt Ohmeter in the ohms position.  When you press the button, or if it is still mounted, when you depress the clutch lever you should have continuity or a short.  If mounted and the clutch is out or not depressed it will be open.  You can use a test light if you don't have a meter.  Ground one of the two lugs on the switch.  Put you test light clip on 12V, and the other on the opposite lug on the switch.  When you operate the switch, the light should come on.
If the bushing is worn, the switch won't be depressed enough to close it.  If the contacts are dirty too like my friends bike, it still won't work even if the bushing is new.  Clean it up with fine sandpaper or very fine file.  NO, not your wife's emery board.  She WILL know that it has been used for a purpose other than that which it was designed!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tundra]

Thanks for posting the part numbers Terry  I have been needing to change mine for some time now. I'm leaving @ 9:00am for my local dealer (who's now open on Sunday) Trying to increase sales, which are slumping. I am looking at the ST-1300. I'm taking Andrea for her final
"comfort approval rating" I am leaning towards this bike over the Kawasaki Concours. I would prefer the Yamaha FJ, but much more dollars.

[gordonv]

Thanks for posting the part numbers Terry   I have been needing to change mine for some time now. I'm leaving @ 9:00am for my local dealer (who's now open on Sunday) Trying to increase sales, which are slumping.

I'm a big believer in having a day off, like Sunday (only open 5 days a week). However, I'm even a bigger believer that there are some business that NEED to be open during both days of the weekend, like parts/wreckers, home improvement, and sales (MC & Cars) stores, which are the usuall days that people are repairing those items that need the itmes the other days of the week. I'm always frustrated that MC stores around here are closed Sun & Mon. We have one MC wrecker who is closed Wed-Thur, love it.

My rant.

[BigM]

Bushing seems to be fine. Looks as if the plastic plunger tip is wore or broke off. and not going in far enough.I did cross the two plug ins and it starts so is switch. Bike is a 01 and never has started in gear. Orig. owner may have nipped the end on purpose. I'll replace it now. Never thought of it before this thread. Thanks

[Thunderbolt]

It might work if you clean it up.

[Cattman]

If you're getting up over 50K in miles pull the entire lever off and look and see if it has worn to an oblong shape at the pivot point. I had replaced bushing,switch and still had problems. Lever was worn to thepoint of not depressing the contact switch far enough to engage.

[Gryphon Rider]

The solution to my problem with the same symptoms was to replace only the lever.  The pivot hole in the lever was worn oblong, so the lever couldn't fully depress the switch.

[gordonv]

The solution to my problem with the same symptoms was to replace only the lever.  The pivot hole in the lever was worn oblong, so the lever couldn't fully depress the switch.

How about a dab of epoxey to build it back up?

[GOOSE]

the honda part number for the clutch bushing is: 22885-mbo-006 not 2285-mbo-006.

[Ricky-D]

Actually the part number is:  22885-mb0-006      Note: the numeral zero, there is no letter "O"

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[glenh]

I have the leather clutch, brake streamers on my Valk, they are just thick enough so that when I depress the clutch lever, it won't go down far enough to be able to start the bike in gear. I have to slide the streamer back, exposing about 1/4 of the front part of the clutch lever, than depressing it will enable me to start the bike while in gear. Just something for yous to consider. I thought there was something wrong at first too.