Gear indicator display intermittent

[CollingsBob]

Today my ‘17ES gear indicator display started going blank intermittently while in 6th gear.
Is this something that needs adjusting or cleaning?

[escapefjrtist]

You can try cleaning the accumulated gunk from the sensor. Lightly scotch brite the contacts and see if that restores function. Been fighting the same on my '15 for a few years...cleaned several times with limited success. Mine works better / more consistently once it's hot.

~G

[John d]

The sensor would be the "neutral switch assembly". I bought a new one this year from Partzilla when my neutral light became intermittent, but then I also had 122000 miles on it. No problems since.

[danh600]

5th gear number has been going off and on for years on my 2013. All other numbers are fine.

The 5 displays as I go through gears. Then often goes off as I am cruising.

[BkerChuck]

My 2014 this started happening and eventually became a near every time thing at only 20k miles. Removed and cleaned a few times but issue kept coming back so I replaced it. Over 23k on the replacement and working perfectly.

[Toter]

My 15 does the same thing. Once cruising, the 5 will drop out. I cleaned it once with limited succes. Don't worry about it anymore. I know when I'm in 5th, plus a glance at a blank space confirms it. Never happens in other gears.

[raYzerman]

What if one cleaned the contacts and gave them a rub with Scotchbrite..... then the brass plunger..... then took the spring out and stretched it a tad.....

[FJRoss]

What if one cleaned the contacts and gave them a rub with Scotchbrite..... then the brass plunger..... then took the spring out and stretched it a tad.....

I'm not sure if the switch is the same design on Gen III+ as it was with Gen II but when I had the neutral indicator working intermittently on my '07 and then not working at all, cleaning the contacts had no effect. I measured continuity from the plug to each of the pads and the line corresponding to neutral was open. The break was within the potted wires at the pad and couldn't be easily fixed.

[escapefjrtist]

What if one cleaned the contacts and gave them a rub with Scotchbrite..... then the brass plunger..... then took the spring out and stretched it a tad.....

BTDT, didn't do squat. Twist, turn in every direction...works fine out of the engine. Reinstall, same behavior.

~G

[John d]

The good news is that the gen3 sensor costs less than a gen2 sensor.

[raYzerman]

Just an update, the real cause has been identified, essentially weak/broken solder joints of the wires to the contacts..... instead of buying an expensive new switch (~$85), you can fix the existing one.........

[CollingsBob]

I simply replaced the switch…and forgot to transfer the O ring over…luckily it’s dead simple to pull the switch out of the bike..

[FJRoss]

Just an update, the real cause has been identified, essentially weak/broken solder joints of the wires to the contacts..... instead of buying an expensive new switch (~$85), you can fix the existing one.........

Looks like a reasonable fix. When it happened on my '07 (just the neutral), I traced it down to a discontinuity within the potted contact pad and didn't go any further. The switch was cheaper then (2011).
Having the neutral indication not working was more problematic than a random gear. IIRC, the bike couldn't be started in neutral without the clutch pulled and couldn't idle in neutral on the sidestand.

[natehawk750]

This just started happening on my 2015. I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet.

[BkerChuck]

The 2013 I bought last year this has started happening with 5th gear periodically.

[Intech]

my '15 is intermittent on 1st gear indication. As long as neutral works, Ill live with it.

[natehawk750]

my '15 is intermittent on 1st gear indication. As long as neutral works, Ill live with it.

Same, first and neutral are intermittent. Bike will die if I put the side stand down when the bike is obviously in neutral.

[raYzerman]

My OCD would kick in, and I'd go get my soldering iron......

[Bounce]

Makes me glad I ha(d) a 2003. Less things to go wrong.

[fontanaman]

I replaced the Neutral Switch Assy on my FJR recently. I choose to go with a new one rather than fix the old one. I got it from Rocky Mt ATV for $50. The part schematic says B88-82540-01-00 (replaces part #B88-82540-00-00) so hopefully I have an improved part.