Cruise control "on" switch...or switches?

[On a Voyager 12]

I have been doing some repairs and maintenance on this new to us Voyager and finally had a moment between rain showers to take it out again. I just replaced the speedo cable so wanted to sheck that out for sure, along with the AVC and self cancel t/s.
All that is working fine, but, when I started it up I pushed the main cruise on switch on the tank and no ON light. Cruise does not work in OD and above 50mph.
Earlier while I checked the air filter I took a look around there and looked at the battery terminals, checked all fuses with key on and off, etc...you know just nosed around. It's all good and I specifically checked the red wire in the cruise main connector and it has power going to that console.
Question. Bike running at idle, neutral, push cruise on switch is it supposed to light up?

[krasmu]

your question got me thinking that I didn't know the answer to that one. However my cruise works great, so I just ran out and started the bike and hit the "on" button. Yes my light came on.

[Avidrider62]

Those cruise buttons do fail, I had mine fail and replaced it. Ebay or Carl Leo

[SgtSlag]

A better option would be to troubleshoot the circuit, to locate/verify the failed component. It might be something other than the switch, which would mean a lot of wasted time, effort, and money. It should be fairly simple to troubleshoot, as it sounds like you just need to trace the voltage, to see where it drops out.

For bike electric's, this is my favorite book, as it explains things very well: Motorcycle Electrical Systems: Troubleshooting and Repair, ISBN-10: 0760327165. Check your local library to see if they have a copy, or if they can get you a copy through their inter-library loan program. Cheers!

[On a Voyager 12]

Thanks everyone, And that is a good tip on that book too! I was a professional technician since 79 so I'm fairly confident. Just gathering information sometimes can save steps.
Today I retested and I can hear a relay clicking inside the fairing behind the radio area when I push the button. I can hear the two clicks from front brake switch. Took off clutch lever and switch, cleaned and lubed both. Rear brake switch appears to be ok. Not sure about that clutch switch, it's pretty quite so I'll have to test it.
So next I'll check that out and that relay behind the radio and also study the schematic.

I just could not find (owners manual or shop manual) anything that says under what conditions that ON light lights up - and after all it could still be just a bulb! LOL!

Thanks again and I'll let everyone know what I find.

[VoyKimmer]

I would swap cruise relay with accessory relay to check it. My light would not come on and it was a bad relay. Even if it clicks the contacts to the cruise cuicuit could be bad.

[On a Voyager 12]

Excellent. I was just about to look at the diagrams to determine if that was a good idea. I know on cars many relays are interchangeable, and can "get you home" in a fix.
Thanks! I'll try that today and post the results.

PS: I have not found anything about troubleshooting the cruise, in the manuals or online. Is there such a link or post or manual supplement?

[carl leo]

in the electrical section of the supplement manual is the trouble shooting of the cruise control. i have repaired countless numbers of voyagers with cruise issues, call me if you get stumped.....carl

[On a Voyager 12]

Thanks Carl! I'll look in there again.

PS: Found the troubleshooting section. I guess I had just scrolled right past that. a quick read makes it look like standard component testing but I'll be sure to ask if I have any questions!

[On a Voyager 12]

Ok I had about an hour and the center cover was still off. I checked the ON bulb and it is good. I cleaned and inspected the console connector under the the cover and then the light would come on but go back out after a few seconds. Heard the click ON and then clicked when it went off by itself.
So accessed the relays, did swap connectors with adjacent one, light stayed on. Swapped back, light stayed on.
Reassembled, test drive, CRUISE WORKS! well 9 out of ten times anyway. For one it needs the adjustment, and I feel it try to engage then cut off, or it will just go ahead and work...and light stays on either way.
So, it'll get a new relay and the cable adjustment and a retest.
I know on cars if the cable is adjusted too loose it can try to engage but then fail and that is what it feels like when it doesn't work. Also when it does work, it's slow to respond and drops about 8 mph before it sets itself. Loose cable for sure, relay is suspect.
Fix both and retest then! Thanks guys!

[bugawug61]

Great stuff. I'm fighting the same problem so now I know what to check first!

[On a Voyager 12]

Ok, I had a chance yesterday to go for a nice ride, about 180 miles round trip with a stop in the middle. So of course I went!

I found that the cruise is much more reliable if I engage and then wait about 5 seconds for it to take over before releasing the throttle. In so doing it worked just fine the whole day, of course I still need to do the cable adjustment, which I would have except I went riding instead!
That is, it worked fine until I had to cross an intersection that was being repaved. There was a 4-6" edge I had to cross 4 times.
After that it would not even come on at all. The on light would not light up.
So I think I'm back to the relay.
I'm going to try that on switch again this morning, it was in the high 30's here last night, I'm wondering if the relay just happened to quit from being used and some amount of heat.

Question: Does any one have the part number for the cruise relay? The same local shop that couldn't find a listing for the Elite 3's can find the number for the relay assembly, but not the individual relay and when I gave them the number from the supplement I think it is, they couldn't confirm it. Sheesh.

RANT: back in my day I would have offered to call Kawasaki and ask them! END RANT.

Also..any ideas on anything else to check? Switches are fine.

By the way, it was a pretty windy day and I still averaged almost 46 MPG!

[bugawug61]

Fixed mine yesterday......it was a faulty switch. Green light on now, relay clicks

[carl leo]

relay part number is 27002-1051 about $37 or i can send you a used one....carl

[On a Voyager 12]

Thanks Carl, pm the price please. I'm just a little leary of anything electrical that's used. No offense intended.

Bugawump thats great you got it fixed!

[Highway Rider]

When you talk about setting the cruise and wait 5 sec., before you release the throttle--- give this a try and see if this works. But some times I will set the cruise and right after I set the cruise I will slide it over to resumes, and it takes a hold right a way. Now this is what I would do before I made the adjustment to the cruise control cable at the cruise control box. Now it is instantaneous on the initial setting of the cruise when you slide the switch to the set cruise.

[On a Voyager 12]

Thanks for the tip!

[On a Voyager 12]

Carl, I received the relay package today in the mail. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
I think I might have time tomorrow to try it out again, but it could be a couple days.

[ready2ride]

Apologies for the hi-jack, but I have a question somewhat related to this subject.
I've been wondering if anyone has relocated or even removed the switch console from atop the "tank" to allow use of a traditional tank bag?
I'm thinking of maybe putting together a couple of miniature switches with led indicators and mounting this to the handlebars or other convenient spot to take the place of the existing console.

[On a Voyager 12]

So it's been a very busy time for me and tonight I just shoved everything out of the way and went out to the shop and started looking at this cruise problem again. Here is the latest. Basically I started from scratch again and progressed with the basics.
Retest: no ON light.
Remove faux tank and check all fuses and for power in/out of cruise panel switch at connector: good.
Unplug clutch switch (suspion only) inspect plug, replug: nope.
Pop headlight cover and unplug relay even though it clicks, plug in "new" one from Carl: ON LIGHT WORKED ABOUT 8 SECONDS.
Wondered about starting it up and trying again: NO START, nothing from START BUTTON switch !!??
Indulged brief fantasy about squishing a gremlin between my thumb and finger: did not help.
Test battery, check terminals, etc: nothing not even any ugly solenoid clickkkkkiiiinnnggg!
Grab terminals on solenoid with long needle nosed pliers, they seem tight, EXCEPT THE WHITE TWO PRONGED PLUG WAS JUST BARELY ON!
Reinstalled that plug to the solenoid, starter works, started right up.
Conclusion: when it gets too cold to ride for a few days, remove all the fairing, locate and inspect every connection and or ground and fuse and clean and etc. Perform complete Cruise diag and repair/adjust at that time.

So I buttoned everything back up.
Tomorrow I'm going on a couple hundred mile morning ride (35 degrees at 8am going to 60's by the end of the ride!) with about 25 other buddies. It's an annual event. So the cruise wont work. Sheesh. I'm killing myself over here.