I am on my 3rd summer riding my 2002 Road King. Every once in a while, maybe every 75 starts or so, it just does not start, nothing fires or anything. If I cycle the kill switch, it starts right off the bat.

Last weekend I was on a ride and downshifting while approaching a corner, and the engine died as engaged the clutch. While I coasted to a stop I tried to start it a couple of times and nothing. After I came to a stop, I cycled the kill switch and again - started right off!

Has anyone experienced this? I'm a little worried that some day cycling the switch might not do it. If I squirt into the switch housing with contact cleaner, would that help?

 

Uh... replace the switch?

 

Uh, maybe someone has had this issue and has resolved it by cleaning it?

I'd rather avoid throwing money at it if a simple spritz of DeOxit fixes the problem.

But thanks for the advice, you've been a great help.

 

So...

Have you tried cleaning it?

 

Not yet, I'm traveling this week and won't have access to the bike until Sunday.

So apparently this isn't a common problem.

 

Yes. I don't even use the kill switch on the bar--just the on/off switch. But were I you, I'd pull it t apart and see what I find. That's a good start

Then, if there is nothing obvious other than maybe some minor corrosion, a quick clean-up, a squirt of WD40, followed up with some dielectric grease...

 

Thank you Rhino-1, I'll do that.

I was hoping to hear that this is something common but I guess my bike's a little older than the typical ride here.

 

I wouldn't use WD-40.

Your local auto parts store should have a can of "Electronics Cleaner", designed for the task.

And ALWAYS use the kill on the handlebars.... for a couple of reasons.

 

I believe electrical contact cleaner would work better...

I would also try rubbing a dollar bill across the contact, after using the cleaner. Dollar bill is like a mild abrasive. Used to use em to clean points in distributors, especially if the contacts had to be scraped to get all the carbon off them.

Never had the kill switch apart, but had identical problem with my ignition switch. It comes apart pretty easily. I ended up having to switch the accessory contact with the ignition contact, inside the switch, to get it to work well. Accessory contact was clean, while the ignition contact was burnt pretty good. Four years later, still using same ignition switch. I'm not cheap, I'm frugal...

 

'10 RK , Same problem...Spray into the switch with contact cleaner available at Radio Shack.