I have a 98 scram 500. When i turn the key off it will stay running. If i uesd the on off switch on the left hand side, it still remains running. With both off, same thing. I use the choke to kill it. Any ideas why its doing this?

 

I am not a mechanic, but I have installed a safety tether switch on a Scrambler. This install gave me some clues to how the ignition switch works. When the switch turns off it sends the circuit for the ignition to ground...killing the engine. I would check to see if your ground wire for the ignition got weathered and broke. I wouldn't think the ground for just the key switch is broke because the handlebar switch don't work either. I would look for a main ground wire broken or disconnected. Pop the plastic off in front of the handle bars. You will see the ground wires that go to the ground bar. Just start tracing any wires that are on that ground bar to see if they are broke or eaten through by a mouse. Snoop around the machine a little bit. You just might find something. Good luck.

--Bob

 

I've had the same problem what causes this is the ring that goes around the key hole on the dash.

 

Had the same problem last week with 2000 trailboss 325. Had to do with a little collision to the headlight. On/Off swith would not shut off ATC. When I turned the headlight on it killed the motor (?????). I found two problems, gound wire to headlight was broken and connectors on headlight were shorted togethor.

 

I will check the grounds tommorrow. I can also start the machine with the switch off and no key.

 

Does your tail light stay on and your head light work without a key also? If yes, then I would lean towards some problem with the key switch itself, but what don't make sense is the handlebar switch doesn't work either. That is why I think there is a grounding problem somewhere. Or possibly a switch problem and a ground problem. Like I said before. I am not a mechanic. Just giving you my two cents. Good luck.

 

No, my headlights shut off when i turn the key off or flip the switch off.

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]We had this happen on a 1998 sportsman 500..the black wire on the cdi came unplugged..When this wire is diconnected none of the kill switches will work.you may want to check this wire...