I have a 1974 550-4 that I have been bringing back to life.
It was a "curbside find" that was in pretty rough shape.
I replaced the handelbars, and rebuilt all of the switches as well...
but now the only way to use the starter motor is to disengage the clutch...(pull lever in)
I must have something cross wired...any ideas where to look ?
Those bikes have a 'Safety Circuit' that requires EITHER: clutch be pulled in OR bike be in Neutral, before the Start Solenoid low side receives Ground when the button is pressed.
Often, the O-ring around the neutral switch has shrunk from age, which lets the switch slide in slightly more than it should. When this happens, they both leak a little and the ball detent does not lift up far enough at Neutral to turn on the Neutral switch.
This 'Safety Circuit' was started in 1973 on the 550 and 750. If you want, you can bypass it entirely, making it like the 1972 and earlier bikes, where the Start button works anytime the key is ON.