1988 Yamaha Radian-Can't start or engage neutral after stall

[jmstel]

Hello,

I bought an 88 Radian yesterday and was puttering around for about an hour this morning on its maiden voyage.

I stalled it out a couple of times (my fault) and every time it started right back up. Then I stalled out at stop sign and couldn't get it started again. The first two or three times I hit the starter, it tried to start, but wouldn't fire.

I pulled to the side of the road and tried to put it in neutral but the neutral light never came on. I tried probably 20 times to get the bike into neutral to no avail.

At one point, I hit the starter with the clutch in and the gauges came to life, but the engine didn't crank, there was some sort of noise, but not like a starter. Every time I tried to start it after that, there was nothing. No gauges moved, no sound, but the headlight still comes on.

While I was going through the gears with the bike off, I also noticed that, in addition to not being able to find neutral, I could only up-shift about 3 times from what I assumed was first, and this bike should have 6 gears.

I had to leave the bike on the side of the road and get to work, and haven't been back to it yet and probably won't get to try starting it again until morning. I'm hoping that the starting problem is heat related and that it will start up in the morning, but I don't know what is preventing me from getting into neutral.

Any ideas?

[Johnj]

Did you check the OFF/RUN/OFF switch, that's on the right handlebar, is in the RUN position?

[jmstel]

Did you check the OFF/RUN/OFF switch, that's on the right handlebar, is in the RUN position?

I never use it. It's always in run. I doubt I hit it on accident but I'll double check when I get there tomorrow. That really wouldn't explain why the bike tried to start twice and can't get into neutral though.

[Johnj]

OK, when you get to you bike try rocking it back and forth, pushing it forward as far as you can, then backward. then try shifting down. Repeat until your in first then try to hit neutral. Now turn the ignition on and try to start the bike.

[jmstel]

I just got back from the bike. It was in run and won't start after rocking it. Checked the gears again and it will not up shift more then 3 times. I don't think I have any problem getting into first.

[Johnj]

Did the starter motor engage the engine and turn it?

[jmstel]

No but I didn't expect it to since it's not in neutral. The starter doesn't engage when the clutch is in either. It doesn't make any noise at all. Lights come on when I turn it on, and that's all that happens.

I'm leading towards this being an expensive transmission problem instead of a relatively inexpensive starter or electrical problem. It acts like a bike that is stuck in gear.

I hope I'm wrong though.

[jmstel]

Good news. After more rocking back and forth I managed to free up the gears and can get it into neutral now.

The bad news is that the starter just spins now and doesn't crank the engine.

[Johnj]

Have you got the bike home yet?

[jmstel]

Not yet. fortunately it is in a safe location.

It's only about a 10 minute walk, I could push it if I had to but I will probably pick it up tomorrow.

not that i know what to do with it than...