Engine starts and kills battery operated light / computer

B

Billy Thunder

New Member
My friend bought a speedometer / bike computer for his MB, but found it works only until the engine starts. He has a cheap AAA battery operated headlight that does the same thing. The light works fine until the engine starts, then it goes out. What is going on?
 
Billy Thunder said:
My friend bought a speedometer / bike computer for his MB, but found it works only until the engine starts. He has a cheap AAA battery operated headlight that does the same thing. The light works fine until the engine starts, then it goes out. What is going on?
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Had that problem engine off device works, engine on, devise dead.

Electrical interference.

Never had that problem with a battery operated light. My son had both front and rear battery operated lights on his bike as he got off of work at times at 3AM
 
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Vibration could be messing around with the batteries in the headlight. Knocking them out of place.
 
NormO said:
Vibration could be messing around with the batteries in the headlight. Knocking them out of place.
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I concur. I don't believe that the RF from the ignition can interfer with a lighting circuit.

I just recently purchased a Schwinn 12 function speedo from Wally World. I've used them on other bikes and had only occasional problems with resets that I could eliminate by keeping the wire from the speedometer away from the clutch and throttle cables and kill switch wires. But, this new speedo is/looks different from the ones I've used before.
And, it will not work with the engine running. They've changed something in the circuitry and the new version of the Schwinn speedo apparently isn't compatible with our bikes.
Just my experience, so far.
Tom
 
2 door...as far as the interference with RF on a battery operated light, I agree. Long before we has ANY type of resistors (ignition) installed in cars, the lights worked fine. Like mentioned...I feel that vibration is the likely cause. Remove (from solid mount) the light, hold in hand while the engine is running to test.
 
2door said:
I just recently purchased a Schwinn 12 function speedo from Wally World. I've used them on other bikes and had only occasional problems with resets that I could eliminate by keeping the wire from the speedometer away from the clutch and throttle cables and kill switch wires. But, this new speedo is/looks different from the ones I've used before.
And, it will not work with the engine running. They've changed something in the circuitry and the new version of the Schwinn speedo apparently isn't compatible with our bikes.
Just my experience, so far.
Tom
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Had a similar problem with the Schwinn wireless speedo. Only it went hyperactive and showed 99mph and the odometer started gaining mileage really quickly. I wasn't going anywhere just sitting at idle. I tossed it and bought a wired speedo. Solved the problem for good.
 
NormO said:
Had a similar problem with the Schwinn wireless speedo. Only it went hyperactive and showed 99mph and the odometer started gaining mileage really quickly. I wasn't going anywhere just sitting at idle. I tossed it and bought a wired speedo. Solved the problem for good.
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Which one are you using...I had one of those wireless ones and had the same problem.
 
It's a Supercycle speedo. Canadian Tire special, but looks exactly like the Schwinn speedos. The model # says KY13-P3-FR. Price is $19.99
 
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NormO said:
It's a Supercycle speedo. Canadian Tire special, but looks exactly like the Schwinn speedos. The model # says KY13-P3-FR. Price is $19.99
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Checked Canadian Tire's web page, for both (spedo and KY13-P3-FR) and the only thing that came up was a wireless and a cable. Maybe they don't sell them any more??
 
That wouldn't surprise me if they don't sell them anymore. The one i have was made in May 2009. Very old stock. I will check my local store this Saturday and see if they still have any left. If they do i'll pick one up and put your name on it. and go from there.
 
NormO said:
That wouldn't surprise me if they don't sell them anymore. The one i have was made in May 2009. Very old stock. I will check my local store this Saturday and see if they still have any left. If they do i'll pick one up and put your name on it. and go from there.
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Thank you, sounds like a winner.
 
NormO said:
Had a similar problem with the Schwinn wireless speedo. Only it went hyperactive and showed 99mph and the odometer started gaining mileage really quickly. I wasn't going anywhere just sitting at idle. I tossed it and bought a wired speedo. Solved the problem for good.
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You should've taken a picture of that 99mph and posted it the next time someone starts a "Speed" thread. :)



Hey, I was mistaken. This new speedo, the one that I can't keep from reseting isn't a Schwinn; it's a Bell. The Wally World near me apparently doesn't carry the Schwinn anymore, only Bell which I've heard is a Wally World controlled company. I'll probably end up putting it on my wife's pedal bike and swapping out a Schwinn from another bike to the chopper.
Tom
 
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2door said:
You should've taken a picture of that 99mph and posted it the next time someone starts a "Speed" thread. :)
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laff I never thought of that. Would have been a new benchmark for people to shoot for. Probably would have started arguments, name calling, accusations of photo tampering etc.
 
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