Keyed Ignition Switch Install

[graucho]

Well, when I hear of a keyed ignition on a motored bicycle I smile and have to laugh. Keyed ignition? what for? If someone wants my bike their going to ride off with it, or throw it in the back of their truck, etc.etc. Ive always thought my toggle switch by my throttle was good enough. But then my wife says....since when, is "good enough", "good enough" for you?
Then I thought, ya! And what about the "hey man thats cool" factor that been with me since a kid. Well forget if it makes sense or not, I had to do it anyways.

First, It had to be slim. It had to be "out if the way". It had to match the bike. And, I had to keep my "toggled kill switch" by the throttle. Lastly It had to be cheap.

Next I had to find the proper keyed switch. I used the top one. I re-soldered thicker 18 ga wires to the switch posts.
Scooter Key Switch and Keyswitches from ElectricScooterParts.com

Then, I had to find the correct mounting devise. Hum, what do I use?
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/01.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/03.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/04.jpg

Where do I put it?
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/02.jpg

What color do I make It?
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/08.jpg

How do I mount it?
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/09.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/10.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/13.jpg

How do i wire it, and how will the wires fit?
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/keyed_wire_diagram.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/11.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/12.jpg

How does it look?
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/16.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/15.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/13.jpg

I hope this sparks a few ideas for people. Feel free to swipe my design, or show me yours. graucho

 

[Cookie]

Thank you sooooooooo much I have a bum leg and some times have a hard time starting my bike......now I need a new engin after 2 accadents and 5,000 miles the engin died the other day so time to get a new one although that one I had was a hot little ma ma

Cookie

 

[Bikeguy Joe]

I make my bikes fool proof- I eliminate the ignition options altogether. That way if a ner-do-well wants the bike, they will spend a few minutes looking for a way to "hot wire" it...and I'll come over to help them.

Nice job!

 

[fernando66cc]

Nice! Great job at explaining things. Will the stock kill switch still work for the set up?

 

[cnodie1]

Nice! Great job at explaining things. Will the stock kill switch still work for the set up?

I am also interested in knowing if the kill switch will still work on the bike...

Thanks,
Clark

 

[KCvale]

A simple ignition keyswitch is great in a lot of ways.
They are pretty useless if they are easily defeat however, for example trying to keep my smart teenage son from taking it for a ride at home, or those quick trips to the convenience store.

My Real Business is computers and electronics so this was pretty easy to figure out.
The switch needs to mounted right on the CDI and sealed in.

I looked around my parts boxes and sure enough, I had an old Keyboard Lock keyswitch from an old beige desktop PC. If you have been around awhile you know the one, it was next to the "Turbo" button.

Perfect size, small key, and the key comes out in both off and on positions.

The object here is to leave no way to get to the CDI wire before the switch and bypass it.
I choose the black ground wire to splice the switch into right at the CDI because it has no voltage.

I could have just covered the whole thing in epoxy and that would work, but why just make it work when you can make it look pretty and inconspicuous?

It need some sort of little box and I found just the thing in my old projects box.
It's a 1 x 1.5 x 2" Radio Shack project box.
I cut it in half, drilled a hole for the keyswitch, then epoxied it to the CDI.
Perfect fit over the CDI

No sense in doing all that and using the always too short colored wires either, so I used a nice black shielded pair of wires that reaches clear down to the pedal crank so I could hide the motor connection under the motor.

I don't bother to lock the bike when I go on quick store runs.
I turn off the ignition switch and release the clutch lock.

I secretly what to catch someone trying to steal it from the store.
If you don't know you need pull in the clutch you won't get anywhere.
If you do, then you will keep popping the clutch to try and start it slowing you down.
Either way, I can walk up and ruin your day for trying ;-}

 

[cnodie1]

A simple ignition keyswitch is great in a lot of ways.
They are pretty useless if they are easily defeat however, for example trying to keep my smart teenage son from taking it for a ride at home, or those quick trips to the convenience store.

My Real Business is computers and electronics so this was pretty easy to figure out.
The switch needs to mounted right on the CDI and sealed in.

I looked around my parts boxes and sure enough, I had an old Keyboard Lock keyswitch from an old beige desktop PC. If you have been around awhile you know the one, it was next to the "Turbo" button.

Perfect size, small key, and the key comes out in both off and on positions.

The object here is to leave no way to get to the CDI wire before the switch and bypass it.
I choose the black ground wire to splice the switch into right at the CDI because it has no voltage.

I could have just covered the whole thing in epoxy and that would work, but why just make it work when you can make it look pretty and inconspicuous?

It need some sort of little box and I found just the thing in my old projects box.
It's a 1 x 1.5 x 2" Radio Shack project box.
I cut it in half, drilled a hole for the keyswitch, then epoxied it to the CDI.
Perfect fit over the CDI

No sense in doing all that and using the always too short colored wires either, so I used a nice black shielded pair of wires that reaches clear down to the pedal crank so I could hide the motor connection under the motor.

I don't bother to lock the bike when I go on quick store runs.
I turn off the ignition switch and release the clutch lock.

I secretly what to catch someone trying to steal it from the store.
If you don't know you need pull in the clutch you won't get anywhere.
If you do, then you will keep popping the clutch to try and start it slowing you down.
Either way, I can walk up and ruin your day for trying ;-}

I really like the fact that you can remove the key while it is in the on position because any other way the key would most likely be in the way...

I have checked ebay and couldnt find any keyboards with that type of switch, do you recommend any certain place where i can find something like that?

 

[KCvale]

The switch I used was not from a keyboard, it mounted in the PC case by the reset and turbo buttons, it was just called the "keyboard lock" switch because when you turned it off, your keyboard wouldn't work.

You would have to find an old desktop PC case to get one.
I will be soon making these into kits, with the switch in the black box and a longer shielded wire pair attached. You just need to solder the CDI wires to it and epoxy it on for ~$20.

Here are some of the switches like I will be using you can choose from.
Keylock | Digi-Key

Note the U in the number, that is what indicates the key will come out in both on and off position.

 

[cnodie1]

The switch I used was not from a keyboard, it mounted in the PC case by the reset and turbo buttons, it was just called the "keyboard lock" switch because when you turned it off, your keyboard wouldn't work.

You would have to find an old desktop PC case to get one.
I will be soon making these into kits, with the switch in the black box and a longer shielded wire pair attached. You just need to solder the CDI wires to it and epoxy it on for ~$20.

Here are some of the switches like I will be using you can choose from.
Keylock | Digi-Key

Note the U in the number, that is what indicates the key will come out in both on and off position.

OHHH now I know what key you are talking about haha! I would definitely be interested in purchasing one of your kits when it is available so put me on "the list" and as soon as they come out send me a PM.

Just one thing about the idea is that the CDI does go bad sometimes (water getting in it would be my #1 problem) and if the switch is soldered to it you will be in trouble when you go to replace the cdi. just a thought...

 

[Vistaman73]

Bump, well kinda. It's too late today but I have similar key switch from an electric bike, it has 2 prongs next to each other and a third one away from the other 2. I want to hook it up like yours and will have plenty of questions. Thanks a bunch.

 

[mbuna420]

me too I want one send me a pm when ready

 

[wheelbender6]

I don't the key switch will prevent theft, but it sure makes your build look more professional. I think I'll be adding a key switch.

 

[CJ5]

Couldn't you just Move the CDI and the switch to a Dash Board Box on the stering wheel to eliminate the whole "easy to steal" thing?

 

[KCvale]

No, it doesn't make it any harder to steal like a lock or alarm would, but they won't be able to ride it away with power and will need to buy a new CDI to make it go.

I have a 21 year old son and frequent guests. Just being able to easily disable it from starting is worth it to me.

Couldn't you just Move the CDI and the switch to a Dash Board Box on the stering wheel to eliminate the whole "easy to steal" thing?

The CDI is the 'Ignition Coil' the 6" spark plug wire comes from.
I suppose you could run the motor ignition wires all the way to handlebars, mount it there, and then a run long spark wire back down to the motor but you night want to think about that...

Ever touch a running motors spark plug wire?
Besides all the extra wire length you don't want want high voltage on your handlebars hehehe.

 

[captianroger]

lol... a key switch so funny... i padlock my bike to the nearest pole or sign, cut 1 wire to the key switch and i drive away, when padlocked you need a bolt cutter...

 

[Genisisonyx29]

i know this is an old thread. but take a look at this, could i hook this up to my kill switch wires? http://speeddemon.ca/motorsports-parts/ignition-switch-key-start.html

 

[KCvale]

i know this is an old thread. but take a look at this, could i hook this up to my kill switch wires? http://speeddemon.ca/motorsports-parts/ignition-switch-key-start.html

Old topic alright, talk about a blast from the past, my ignition key switches have evolved a lot since then.

I don't include the keyswitch as a standard item anymore. I have it available as an extra on a build but I bought another 50 of those plastic hobby boxes as I replace the cheesy kit Magneto to CDI wire with good stuff and like to cap it off nice.

That's a good price for a switch but it has no wiring diagram or explanation of why it has 4 wires... An Aux position, electric start position, or both plus off maybe?

The switch I use is linked a page back from the digiKey site, it is a 4 tumbler cash register switch you could remove the key from in on or off mode that fit nice in the box and then epoxied on to the CDI making it virtually hot wire proof.

As far as wiring goes however it is pretty simple with 2 wire 'Open Closed' switch of any kind.

You either put it across the CDI's hot and ground wires and when the switch is Closed it shorts out the ignition the same way your kill button does.

Or, put it in line with the CDI's hot wire and with the switch closed it will run but not if it is open.

Either way it comes down where the switch is in relation to where the Mag hot wire enters the CDI, if a thief can get to that it can be hot wired and why I put mine right there.

The drawback of course is if you loose your keys you need to replace the CDI because trying to remove that epoxyed on cover will toast the CDI's input wire rendering it useless.

But to answer your question, Yes you can tie a switch be it a key switch or some other one with your kill button ;-}