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[Dan_Lockwood]

I always squeeze the clutch when starting... whether in gear... or in neutral... doesn't matter to me.

FWIW, buddy who is a Harley mechanic says starting the bike while in gear is very hard on the starter motor even with the clutch squeezed. He suggested *always* starting the bike in neutral...

Even with the clutch disengaged, the clutch still has some residual drag, especially when the bike is cold.  On my old '76 FLH, if I try to start in gear it does crank slower than in neutral.  My new '08 SERK will start in gear, but when it's colder outside it will crank slower too.  Just the trans oil viscosity makes the starter work harder.  Not a good practice to get used to doing long term.

Unless you're in a situation that demands that it be in gear, I agree with your friend and I always try to start in neutral.

Even though either bike will start in neutral without the clutch disengaged, I never trust the fact that the trans detent will keep it in neutral after its started.  The last thing I want to see is my bike rolling away without me on it.

Hopefully they fixed your problem in the left hand control so it's back to normal again.

[DavidG]

My 07 SE Springer had a similar problem but with a nice twist. The clutch switch worked backwards. If I pulled the clutch in (while in gear) and tried to start it, nothing, not a sound. If I left it in gear, clutch OUT, it would try to start and jerk forward. I took it to the dealer to have the switch replaced and it still did the same thing. They eventually ordered two more switches and then found out HD was having some sort of supplier problem with the switches. So while they were getting that straight, I got used to starting in neutral. They finally got a switch that worked correctly but while it was in the shop I traded it in on a new SERK. At least the new owner can start in gear now.

[Zekester]

I usually start my 07 SERK neutral.. But, to answer the question about more load on the starter when starting it in gear - try this: With the engine off, put it in neutral and roll forward and back. Now, put it in 1st gear, squeeze the clutch and roll it. That extra stuff that is engaged puts additional load on the starter.

Zeke

[RickC]

My 07 SE Springer had a similar problem but with a nice twist. The clutch switch worked backwards. If I pulled the clutch in (while in gear) and tried to start it, nothing, not a sound. If I left it in gear, clutch OUT, it would try to start and jerk forward. I took it to the dealer to have the switch replaced and it still did the same thing. They eventually ordered two more switches and then found out HD was having some sort of supplier problem with the switches. So while they were getting that straight, I got used to starting in neutral. They finally got a switch that worked correctly but while it was in the shop I traded it in on a new SERK. At least the new owner can start in gear now.

WOW! Talk about timing! I found out today that I have the same exact problem!

I took my bike to this shop this morning to have the clutch safety switch fixed. I described the problem and they shook their heads. We all figured it had been damaged when the left hand control was dis-/re-assembled for the CB installation.

The service manager got on the bike to start it and pull it into the service bay. He forgot to squeeze the clutch and nearly dumped the bike when the starter turned the engine with the bike in gear.

The tech spent 3 hours tracing all the wiring. Couldn't find a problem. They finally ordered a new switch and sent me home.

I called the dealership after reading your post to tell them about it. Not sure what they'll do with the info, but I thought it might be useful to them. We'll see.

[DavidG]

I think my dealer had to call their "Tech Line" to get it figured out. It took over 6 months to finally get resolved mainly because I wasn't real pushy about it. I just shifted to neutral and forgot about it. The only thing that kept reminding me is I was always getting a B1154 code in the diagnostics (little key lit up on speedo showed up as clutch switch short to ground). Finally they got the part issue resolved and it now works from what I was told. Hope it goes faster for you.

[LarryB]

Rick, I told Donny all about this for some time and again on Monday afternoon. The switch is either damaged, which is ez to do, or they replaced it with and 08 or older one.
I saw a strange thing coming from cottonwood yesterday, thought someone stole my bike, but alas, it was RickC

[RickC]

Donny didn't want to talk to me about it yesterday. He handed me off to Steven. I actually talked to the mechanic (can't remember his name now). I wandered into the shop and struck up a convo with him.

According to the mechanic:

• No error code.
• The switch is working backwards (i.e., starter kicks when in gear without the clutch squeezed and won't kick when in gear with the clutch squeezed.
• The wiring all matches the factory wiring diagrams.
• The switch was not changed when the CB was installed.

The really odd thing about all of this is that the clutch switch worked properly before the CB was installed.

For now? Shift to neutral to start and wait for new switch to come in.

[LarryB]

Exactly, they probably broke the switch when they did the CB and replaced it with the older version and that will throw that code and work as you are describing

[RickC]

Yeah, maybe so, but the mechanic swears they didn't do anything to/with the switch when they installed the radio.

[LarryB]

Yeah, maybe so, but the mechanic swears they didn't do anything to/with the switch when they installed the radio.

They had to to get the PTT switch in.

[ultrafxr]

Yeah, maybe so, but the mechanic swears they didn't do anything to/with the switch when they installed the radio.

They all say that - I didn't do nuthin'. 

[RickC]

Fair enough. We'll see what happens when they get the new switch and replace this one.

Thanks!

[boerne free bird]

I,m dusting off an old thread here, but I am going through this same problem with a different twist.

I installed the CB radio on my 2009 SERG, and now the bike must be in neutral to start. However, my issue seems to be a self-inflicted wound. Unfortunately, not my first, and probably not the last. I remembered the clutch interlock switch, and I vaguely remembered this thread, which saved me a lot troubleshooting time.

As stated, the CB kit required getting into the left handlebar control housing for the squelch switch. I ordered a lower half chrome control switch only rather than used the black replacement switch in the kit. My tech installed what I requested. I think I got the part numbers off of this site, but it really doesn't matter because I specified the parts to be ordered.

It now works bass-ackwards. It starts fine in neutral. It will not start in gear with the clutch engaged, but it will attempt to start (like prior to 2006) in gear with the clutch out and launch the bike forward!

I'm guessing that the lower left switch unit came with one of the pre-2009 clutch switches. The good news it there is a lot less angst because I know I an start it in neutral and I have a good lead on how to fix it.

[PR3VS56]

Did you have the jiffy stand down??  With jiffy stand up, in gear and clutch in it should start, if not the dealer screwed something up.

You sure about that?

[1abastarsmda]

Did you have the jiffy stand down??  With jiffy stand up, in gear and clutch in it should start, if not the dealer screwed something up.

You sure about that?

I didn't think Harleys worked that way.  I know my bike would stall immediately with the kickstand down and shifting into gear on my Yamaha.  I'm pretty certain I can start my bike in gear with the jiffy stand up or down.  I would go check it out right now, but my bike is in the shop.