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There are 2 similar but unrelated failures in this thread.
The first is bflint's complaint about the indicator displaying gear position 4 all the time, which is likely a fault in the gear position switch causing it not to rotate.
The second is E11evenhunnit's complaint that the neutral light does not come on AND the gear position indicator show ( - ). Both are controlled by the rotation of the shift drum, through 2 different switches, doing 2 different functions, that occur intermittently but simultaneously.
This tells me the shift drum is not returning to the neutral position or to a positive gear position. This can be caused by an incomplete shift, or binding in the shift lever pivot bolt, a very easy thing to check.
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Pekingduck is correct of course.
Did I mix up threads? Someone mentioned the bike wouldn’t start unless the sidestand was up.
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Thinking a bit more about E11evenhunnit's complaint, it occurs on a cold start. Maybe he is encountering this scenario:
Comes to a stop and shuts off the engine in neutral, puts the kickstand down, and then puts it in gear so it won't roll. But when the engine is stopped, it's possible it doesn't snick fully into 1st gear, hence no neutral light, and a ( - ) to indicate it's in between gears.
If that's the case, shut the engine off in gear to avoid the problem.
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(02-26-2020, 11:13 AM)pekingduck_imp Wrote: Thinking a bit more about E11evenhunnit's complaint, it occurs on a cold start. Maybe he is encountering this scenario:
Comes to a stop and shuts off the engine in neutral, puts the kickstand down, and then puts it in gear so it won't roll. But when the engine is stopped, it's possible it doesn't snick fully into 1st gear, hence no neutral light, and a ( - ) to indicate it's in between gears.
If that's the case, shut the engine off in gear to avoid the problem.
Good thinking outside the box but not quite... As this happens with more and more frequency(happened an hr ago while leaving work) I have decided to take a video for reference... stay tuned folks 
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(02-26-2020, 01:21 PM)E11even_Hunnit_imp Wrote: (02-26-2020, 11:13 AM)pekingduck_imp Wrote: Thinking a bit more about E11evenhunnit's complaint, it occurs on a cold start. Maybe he is encountering this scenario:
Comes to a stop and shuts off the engine in neutral, puts the kickstand down, and then puts it in gear so it won't roll. But when the engine is stopped, it's possible it doesn't snick fully into 1st gear, hence no neutral light, and a ( - ) to indicate it's in between gears.
If that's the case, shut the engine off in gear to avoid the problem.
Good thinking outside the box but not quite... As this happens with more and more frequency(happened an hr ago while leaving work) I have decided to take a video for reference... stay tuned folks
Good thinking outside the box but not quite... As this happens with more and more frequency(happened an hr ago while leaving work) I have decided to take a video for reference... stay tuned folks
Can we assume that it would start with the clutch lever pulled in?
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(02-26-2020, 01:50 PM)pekingduck_imp Wrote: (02-26-2020, 01:21 PM)E11even_Hunnit_imp Wrote: (02-26-2020, 11:13 AM)pekingduck_imp Wrote: Thinking a bit more about E11evenhunnit's complaint, it occurs on a cold start. Maybe he is encountering this scenario:
Comes to a stop and shuts off the engine in neutral, puts the kickstand down, and then puts it in gear so it won't roll. But when the engine is stopped, it's possible it doesn't snick fully into 1st gear, hence no neutral light, and a ( - ) to indicate it's in between gears.
If that's the case, shut the engine off in gear to avoid the problem.
Good thinking outside the box but not quite... As this happens with more and more frequency(happened an hr ago while leaving work) I have decided to take a video for reference... stay tuned folks
Good thinking outside the box but not quite... As this happens with more and more frequency(happened an hr ago while leaving work) I have decided to take a video for reference... stay tuned folks
Can we assume that it would start with the clutch lever pulled in?
Good thinking outside the box but not quite... As this happens with more and more frequency(happened an hr ago while leaving work) I have decided to take a video for reference... stay tuned folks
Can we assume that it would start with the clutch lever pulled in?
Yes and no, I carefully cranked it without having the clutch lever pulled(kickstand down and then up) knowing there was a slight possibility that it was in gear and the bike would move forward
Kickstand goes up...starts right up and the second the engine is running the green N light on the tach comes on... or at least this happened after work today
I get that probably not every situation I've encountered has been the exact same.
For context, the very first time I encountered this irregularity went something like this:
7AM & 40° outside - I have a routine of turning the bike on as soon as I get to it before I put on my lid and gloves and find a music playlist on my phone before I clip on the bike and take off(all in efforts to give it at least some time to warm up)
1.) I pop the key in the ignition, wait a sec for tach needles(and fuel pump to cycle)
2.) then make sure green N light is on before I crank, by either finding it or because it's already there(all while the bike is still on the stand)
3.) Bike cranks, starts, then maybe 2 seconds into engine running it shuts off.
Initial thoughts are fuel, then I realize there's 1/2 tank left...then I think maybe battery is starting to act funny and on it's way out, but then when I got it on neutral and cranked it, It didn't seem sluggish...It left me thinking a bit but I just took off as I was running a bit late for work and didn't think much of it
Here I am 1 month later roughly, with this happening more frequently than I'd like, and even during not-so-cold temps.
I strongly believe this right here just about sums it up though
(02-26-2020, 07:15 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Got a PM from Doc which says in part
The switch 35759-MGC-N21 for 2014 model is suspect or the activating mechanism may have crud in it.
Glad to see popgun on it.
I have promised myself to not log onto any forum after this month.
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(02-26-2020, 07:15 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Got a PM from Doc which says in part
The switch 35759-MGC-N21 for 2014 model is suspect or the activating mechanism may have crud in it.
Glad to see popgun on it.
I have promised myself to not log onto any forum after this month.
I hope that doesn’t mean we will never see Sportster Doc again. 
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Agreed. His knowledge and experience would be missed.
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Re: E11evenhunnit's complaint:
7AM & 40° outside - I have a routine of turning the bike on as soon as I get to it before I put on my lid and gloves and find a music playlist on my phone before I clip on the bike and take off(all in efforts to give it at least some time to warm up)
1.) I pop the key in the ignition, wait a sec for tach needles (and fuel pump to cycle)
2.) then make sure green N light is on before I crank, by either finding it or because it's already there(all while the bike is still on the stand)
3.) Bike cranks, starts, then maybe 2 seconds into engine running it shuts off.
Initial thoughts are fuel, then I realize there's 1/2 tank left...then I think maybe battery is starting to act funny and on it's way out, but then when I got it on neutral and cranked it, It didn't seem sluggish...It left me thinking a bit but I just took off as I was running a bit late for work and didn't think much of it.
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This scenario is different from the no neutral light/gear display ( - ) described earlier. It is one where the engine starts willingly, but dies after a few seconds, but unrelated to what's happening on the dash.
I always suspect battery terminal tightness or the battery itself. If it's the original battery, it's 6 years old. The battery on my 2013 went bad in 4-1/2 years even though it lived on a Battery Tender. (Symptom on my battery was that it wouldn't crank/restart warm, but easily bump-started.)
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3.) Bike cranks, starts, then maybe 2 seconds into engine running it shuts off.
Initial thoughts are fuel, then I realize there's 1/2 tank left...then I think maybe battery is starting to act funny and on it's way out, but then when I got it on neutral and cranked it, It didn't seem sluggish...It left me thinking a bit but I just took off as I was running a bit late for work and didn't think much of it
.....................When the engine shuts off after 2 seconds is the green neutral light still on?
( You're doing a stellar job as usual PD ! )
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