evening all Seems like the neutral indicator might be acting up. Engage 1st and the N light might stay on for a few seconds before going out. Likewise from 2nd to neutral, the light might not come on for a couple of seconds. Anyone had this before? Might try soaking the plunger bit in WD40 before forking out for a new one. The light doesn’t flicker so i’m thinking it’s more likely to be the switch then a wiring problem... Cheers, Ian
Ian, the early 748/916 two wire switch is a switch which works when the plunger is raised by a bump on the selector drum, the 998 is the single wire switch which works by earthing itself to the drum, the drum has a bakerlight type of material around the selector drum with a small amount of steel showing when in neutral allowing the plunger to contact earth, as you say the plunger might be sticking a little but if the light is on after you have moved out of neutral it shouldn't be getting an earth. That is how I understand it anyway.
no help to you but both my 748 and 900 do the same thing... on the 748 sometimes the light doesnt come on at all in neutral... my old ss was the same.. i just put it down to a ducati thing!! although im sure its something that could be fixed!!
Cheers lads. Think the best thing to do is unplug it and take it out to see what state it’s in. Only just started happening and haven’t done any work close to it...
Chiz if the 748 is a two wire switch, they are quite sensative to the distance a different size washer normally cures it.
be nice to have a reliable neutral light but after many many years of not on various bikes, im not sure id trust it any way!! i just let the clutch out a lil (standard stuff) to see if its in gear or not if im unsure..
On my to do list, 748 when in neutral light is bright select first and when riding light is on but dim then select neutral again then back to bright again, now and again it will go out, looking at the position of the switch it seems very tight to get a socket/spanner in there.
A flat ring spanner from the rear brake side of the bike to loosen it, then with fingers from the chain side to fully remove works for me. Steve
I think the single cable one might be different, Steve. Looks deep in there and probably need a long reach socket.
14mm long reach socket for future reference. Contacts were a bit corroded so cleaned them up a bit. Seems to have done the trick. If not, new switch needed.
Just popped in the garage and mine 99, 748 has a single red wire is that the same as yours Ian, looks like a spanner not socket as the wire is in the way.
After reading a few posts on here and google, I got a box spanner 13mm and had to shorten it so it would fit between the exhaust pipe and the switch and so it would leave room to unwind the switch, then cut a slot for the the single wire which is fixed to the switch a couple of more holes in the spanner so to help turning. At the moment neutral light goes out when in gear but if it reappears then I've got the tool ready (might help someone out in the future)
Mine wasn’t any better in the end. Ordered a new one from MR off eBay for £35 and looks like the problem is clear when comparing old and new. The tip on the old one had worn away and had become 2 or 3mm shorter. Fitted the new one and seems to have sorted the problem.
@Roadtrip, yours still looks different to mine even if it only has one wire. No way could you remove mine with a spanner. Cable pops off on mine and the main body is at least 20mm below the surface.
Yes both different, mine must be the early type single fixed wire, even if i took the exhaust off to get a bit more access to work with i still have the problem of the wire being in the way, Yours was most probably on the original one from new, i do like ordering from MR as parts arrive next day. This is mine NEW GENUINE DUCATI MONSTER ST4 916 748 VARIOUS NEUTRAL LIGHT SWITCH 53940201A
A flat ring spanner does it on the 748/916, push the wire through the ring and away you go, I think I remove the heal plate for better access.
I also removed the heel plate, i could just about fit the box spanner in there as its about 2mm thick.
