That makes it an '81 or newer. I'm gonna assume an '81 here....
Pull the plug off the clutch relay and jump the two red/white wires in the connector. Now try the starter?
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80 Special Revival problem
- Thread starter 46th Georgia
- Start date
Pull the plug off the clutch relay and jump the two red/white wires in the connector. Now try the starter?
Just curious, does the neutral light still work?
No, shouldn't have caused it to shut off. Maybe just a fluke? Dunno.. I'd stay close to home until you're sure it's not yet another problem.
Not unheard of for a 6th month model to be the next year's. 6/80 an 81.
I'm gonna' go and get a tag for it tomorrow. Grandson graduates college Friday and hopefully we ride a little on Monday. I may well have stalled it when it shut off as I WAS pulling onto the road, at least that's what I'm trying to convince myself of.
Just so we're clear, you don't have the clutch/starter lockout anymore. That means if you're on the sidestand, in gear and you hit the starter, it'll jerk forward and dump you on your ass. Don't ask how I know... 
On a few occasions... on various bikes, I've gotten home with a snapped clutch cable or broke clutch lever. Turn the bike on, put it in first, push forward like you're trying to roll forward and hit the starter at the same time. Bike will jerk and shudder, engine will come to life and off you go.
Stop at a light... downshift, try and hit neutral on the way down. Hit the kill switch and stop at the light. Kill switch back to run, pop into/verify first and push off/hit the starter again. It ain't elegant by any means, but it will get you home.
You can't do that with a clutch/starter lockout.
On a few occasions... on various bikes, I've gotten home with a snapped clutch cable or broke clutch lever. Turn the bike on, put it in first, push forward like you're trying to roll forward and hit the starter at the same time. Bike will jerk and shudder, engine will come to life and off you go.
Stop at a light... downshift, try and hit neutral on the way down. Hit the kill switch and stop at the light. Kill switch back to run, pop into/verify first and push off/hit the starter again. It ain't elegant by any means, but it will get you home.
You can't do that with a clutch/starter lockout.
You can remove that switch from the clutch lever as well. No need to have that there since you've removed the relay and jumpered the harness plug.
Thanks again.Just so we're clear, you don't have the clutch/starter lockout anymore. That means if you're on the sidestand, in gear and you hit the starter, it'll jerk forward and dump you on your ass. Don't ask how I know...
On a few occasions... on various bikes, I've gotten home with a snapped clutch cable or broke clutch lever. Turn the bike on, put it in first, push forward like you're trying to roll forward and hit the starter at the same time. Bike will jerk and shudder, engine will come to life and off you go.
Stop at a light... downshift, try and hit neutral on the way down. Hit the kill switch and stop at the light. Kill switch back to run, pop into/verify first and push off/hit the starter again. It ain't elegant by any means, but it will get you home.
You can't do that with a clutch/starter lockout.
I like the '81 model. It has the "updated" BS34 carb set with the plastic floats but still has the pull knob choke. I prefer that to the cable operated choke that came on the later models because I subscribe to the "KISS" principle, lol. And also, the carbs are natural finish, not painted black. I also like the one-year-only rear drum mag. I have spoke wheels on all mine but would run mags if I stumbled upon an '81 set (again, the "KISS" principle, lol). You've already eliminated the one added "safety" feature, that clutch switch and it's relay, so ditch the RLU and all that's left to do is "fix" the auto-on headlight feature. Here's a write-up I did on that .....
https://www.xs650.com/threads/retrofitting-headlight-on-off-switch-to-81-83-model.58167/
https://www.xs650.com/threads/retrofitting-headlight-on-off-switch-to-81-83-model.58167/
Thanks for the tip. BTW, eventually I will be changing out the alloys and I'll let you know.
