Automotive style ignition switch?

pancakecircus

New Member
i'm looking to set up a automotive style ignition switch on my 81 cb750 so i can get rid of my starter button. I see that Dime City has one for $60, is this anything special or can i just get a marine/universal automotive switch? a black metal one that isn't so spendy would be cool.

thanks
 
You mean one with a starter switch? Didn't see one at DCC but a marine ignition switch should work if it's rated for the current.
 
yea, basically 3 position off-on-start, and it returns to on when you lt your hands off.

here's the DDC one:

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-electronic-ignition-parts-universal-automobile-style-key-ignition-los-ignit.html

i'd just get it except i've been blowing money like crazy.

any idea on how to wire it up?
 
If it didn't come with a wiring diagram, I'd be kinda surprised.

But the switched/start wire would go to the electric starter relay. Any other wires would probably wire up like a normal ignition switch.
 
El Martillo said:
You mean one with a starter switch? Didn't see one at DCC but a marine ignition switch should work if it's rated for the current.

I don't think the switch's amp rating matters. The starter button completes the ground, not the power.
 
i'm trying to get rid of the starter button.. basically starts just like a car, turn it to the right, start and release. trying to clean things up and get rid of some crap
 
Re: Automotive style ignition switch?

Here.
http://www.lossaengineering.com/shop/custom-ignition/

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
 
Just get a marine switch
If it's too complicated to wire, you probably shouldn't be messing with your electrics ;)
 
Thanks OpTiCz.. i'll check it out

i'm sure i could figure the wiring out but haven't looked at it yet... but i was hoping that someone has done this before and could offer up some useful instruction.
 
Was wiring up an engine for an airplane for my dad, and used a $5 dollar ignition switch to do it. They aren't that hard, get a cheap Ohm meter and you can figure it all out, when it beeps, you have a connection. Pretty easy to do.
 
i ended up buying a 4 pole marine style switch from amazon for $16 shipped;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FP886Q/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details

it should be here before the weekend so i think i'll put on my junior electrician suit and give it a shot.

Also i found a "bare bones" wiring diagram on one of these forums that i'll probably look at after i screw it all up. i attached the image if you need it
 

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so i put on my Junior electrician outfit and grabbed all the spaghetti (wires) and put this thing together over the weekend and almost got it working. it turns over but no spark. The spark was super weak before i started but now nothing. I put in new coils but that didn't change things.

the wiring looks exactly like the image of the simplified wiring diagram except that there is a neutral/clutch switch involved (i left out the lighting until i get the ignition going). seems like the neutral switch is working because it wont turn over if its in gear.

i checked the voltage to the coil (with switch on) and got nothing.

Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this thing?

thanks
 
Verify that when you have the key on the Ignition part, that it has power. Then verify that when you push the key to the "start" of the key switch that you still get power to the "ignition" part of the key switch, Lastly, verify your grounds on the coils, and make sure that they are getting power and ground.
 
i know for sure that i'm not getting power to the coils with ignition on. i'm pretty sure i checked that the ignition from the switch is getting power but not if it still gets it during start. i'll double check tonight. thanks for the tip
 
Not a problem. I hope you get it figured out. Many times, it's bad grounding. I had a ground strap that was held on by the coil (frame grounding) and it didn't work on the left side, so I put it on the right side and it grounded and worked...never did find out why it didn't on the left. Good luck with your search!
 
I checked the grounding last night and it seemed good. damn. And i got power from the ignition wire. could it be bad spark units? bad rectifier?
 
Easy way to find that out would be to give power right to the CDI units and coils. I suppose you could keep the switch the way it is, but then just hook up those STRAIGHT to the power. So you KNOW they have it. Then try again?
 
not to bring this back from the dead... but has anyone successfully done this? would be nice to eliminate a start button
 
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