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Message started by HouTexS402009 on 08/13/12 at 15:41:25

Title: battery saver system
Post by HouTexS402009 on 08/13/12 at 15:41:25

I have a bad habit of leaving the key in the bike in the on position when I stop. I just hit the engine stop and get off. Of course, the battery is flat in an hour. Is there a battery saver kit for this bike? :-[

*** UPDATE ***

So...there is no battery saver kit to anyone's knowledge? ;)

I have learned a lot the hard way. For the moment, I put my key on a spring loaded clip. I clip it to my pants, then pull the key down to the ignition. When I get off, I have to turn off the key and take it with me or I get stuck. Very funny when it happens, but I haven't forgotten to take the key out. I am designing a transistor and relay system for cutting power when the kill switch is used. It will reset by keying to park then back to run.

Thanks to everyone. I will post my battery saver schematic when I have tested it. (not sure how soon that will be.)

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by LANCER on 08/13/12 at 15:58:50

607D676569610A0 wrote:

Yep, it's a thumb and forefinger after being thoughtfully activated ;D

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by bobert on 08/13/12 at 16:21:55

I never touch the kill switch. It is always in the on position. I always use the key switch to energize or de-energize the ignition system. Actually, I don't see any need to even have a kill switch, except that it might be a handy way to kill the bike in case of a wreck or some kind of engine runaway (stuck throttle?).

Is there any other good use for the kill switch?

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by rfw2003 on 08/13/12 at 16:39:49

202D20273036420 wrote:

re-wire it to use as an accessory on-off switch :)

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Cavi Mike on 08/13/12 at 17:07:22

That's exactly what the kill switch is for, safety. You can kill the engine without having to take your hands off the bars.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/13/12 at 17:13:41

Once youve inflicted sufficient pain on yourself by not remembering, youll remember.,.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by CalisOsin on 08/13/12 at 18:02:44

When I bobbed mine, I eliminated the kill switch, key on, hit the starter. You will never forget your key if you use it for the on/off. If you don't want to make any modifications, then stop using the kill switch when you're done riding.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/13/12 at 19:05:52

That sounds like real good advice..

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by ZAR on 08/13/12 at 19:08:29

7557405F7B5F5D53360 wrote:

That's exactly what the kill switch is for, safety. You can kill the engine without having to take your hands off the bars.

Spot-on Mike! The instructors at the MSF Rider Ed course I took last year pounded that into our brains constantly. There WILL be times when you have to react so quickly you'll fumble trying to get to the ignition key. Especially one that is under the seat or on the side of the frame neck. With the grip mounted kill switch you always have that safety easily at hand. If it saves your arse just once.............well,you get the picture.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by rfw2003 on 08/13/12 at 19:10:39

I've been thinking about eliminating the stock kill switch myself but, in the process adapting one of the ATV/Jet Ski type tethered kill switches to it at the same time for those just in case type situations.
Then use the stock kill switch as an accessory switch. Just Ideas I have floating around the grey matter. :)

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Boofer on 08/13/12 at 20:12:59

Since you should leave your bike in gear to avoid an accidental forward roll off the kickstand. I ALWAYS stop in first gear and let the kick switch kill it, then I reach down and take the key out. It's just habit. I drained the battery twice in the first couple of months until it got to be routine. That was in 2010.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by verslagen1 on 08/13/12 at 20:18:53

How about a piezo horn for when the key is on and no volts from the generator?

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by rfw2003 on 08/13/12 at 20:25:01

253621203F3234363D62530 wrote:

How about a piezo horn for when the key is on and no volts from the generator?

That would work as well, but unless you use a resistor network or some other means to get it set to a certain voltage level for the trigger point, you would have to use a High Voltage relay and put it on the generator side.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Boofer on 08/13/12 at 20:51:40

5B485F5E414C4A48431C2D0 wrote:

How about a piezo horn for when the key is on and no volts from the generator?

Or you could do it that way. :-[ Boofer

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Wolfman on 08/14/12 at 01:23:13

Key on, Key off. Thats what its for.
You never leave your key in the bike and you don't kill the battery. Leave the emergency switch for emergencies.

And i wouldn't kill it with the kick switch. Wear n tear on the gears you don't need.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by ToesNose on 08/14/12 at 04:38:33

370F0C060D010E600 wrote:

Key on, Key off. Thats what its for.
You never leave your key in the bike and you don't kill the battery. Leave the emergency switch for emergencies..

HouTexS402009 get yourself a key hook and get in the habbit of hanging the key up, make it part of your riding routine ;)

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Routy on 08/14/12 at 05:55:51

And i wouldn't kill it with the kick switch. Wear n tear on the gears you don't need
---------------------------------------------------------
How does that work ? ::)

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by HouTexS402009 on 08/14/12 at 08:14:41

So many different experiences. When I took the motorcycle safety course, the instructor told us to always hit the kill switch when we stop the bike and are getting off. That is now a habit.

IMHO, a battery saver isn't for the good days (99% of the time) when I do things right, it is for that one time that I don't, and it saves my bacon! ;D

See top, original post, for my temporary solution.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Charon on 08/14/12 at 08:27:57

The only real reason for routinely shutting the engine down using the kill switch is to verify it still works.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Cavi Mike on 08/14/12 at 08:38:20

I'm just trying to figure out why someone wouldn't turn off their ignition in the first place. That's complete n00b stuff if you ask me. It's like forgetting to put a car into park before getting out of it and it rolls down the driveway. It's not something I would even admit to let alone post it on a public forum.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Dave on 08/14/12 at 08:53:37

5D7F68775377757B1E0 wrote:

For me......it can just be from habit. I have owned and ridden off-road motorcycles for years and years and years. Every one of the them has a kill switch on the handlebars, no battery....and no key. The routine that has been my normal operational procedure has been to ride up to the stopping point, find neutral, hit the kill switch, turn off the petcock, put down the kickstand and lean the bike over.

Then when I bought the Savage I had to learn about a key......and unlearn the need to shut the automatic petcock off.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by HouTexS402009 on 08/14/12 at 10:42:28

597B6C735773717F1A0 wrote:

Gee...I wonder why there is an interlock on the key and the park position on the transmission on new cars? Must have happened more than once with tragic consequences. Just because its embarassing and a mistake, doesn't mean it shouldn't be discussed and a fix invented. ;)

And I still would like to have a battery saver, its just smart to have a backup if your primary plan fails. ::)

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Wolfman on 08/14/12 at 12:14:34

For some reason routy i was thinking he was dumping the clutch while in gear. Not useing the kickstand. It was 1:30 in the morning....bite me...lol

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Foxman276 on 08/14/12 at 12:24:46

Kill Switch is the only way I know of to stop the engine and look cool coasting into a parking space at the Tim Hortons! (national coffee chain in Canada and home to bikers across the country).

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by youzguyz on 08/14/12 at 12:28:52

597067727E712D28291F0 wrote:

Kill Switch is the only way I know of to stop the engine and look cool coasting into a parking space at the Tim Hortons! (national coffee chain in Canada and home to bikers across the country).

And then you look really cool when all the bikers yell "EH.. Ya left your LIGHTS ON" ;D

If you want to sound really cool, you flip the kill switch to kill then back to run as you make your approach. Ka POW.. nice after fire.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Boofer on 08/14/12 at 19:30:56

5A62616B606C630D0 wrote:

For some reason routy i was thinking he was dumping the clutch while in gear. Not useing the kickstand. It was 1:30 in the morning....bite me...lol

Wolf, haven't had to dump the clutch to make an engine stop since the early 80s. The younger kids won't get that, but you probably will. Embarrassing to pull up in a new car and have to hit it with a hammer to make it stop trying to run. ;D

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Wolfman on 08/15/12 at 04:43:40

Yeah Boofer, been there done that...lol
'Back then' your buds didn't think to much about it. Ya had wheels.
Now days you'd get all kinds of grief about it.
He!!, if it had wheels and run 'back then' you was the popular one of the bunch. Didn't have to be the newest or shiniest, it just had to RUN!...lol
Rattle...chug...rattle...chug chug...rattle rattle...chug...wheeezzzee! :D

Didn't have to have speakers half the size of the car to fill up the trunk or back seat either.
Or some dinky lil 4 cyl with a SPOILER for gods sake on the rear...roflmao
Gripeing about gas getting high at 55 cents a gal. :o

D@mn, Now im feeling OLD! :'(

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Routy on 08/15/12 at 04:54:33

Quote:
He!!, if it had wheels and run 'back then' you was the popular one of the bunch. Didn't have to be the newest or shiniest, it just had to RUN!...lol
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back then you were the popular one of the bunch if you had a dollars worth of gas for the nite's cruzin !

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Wolfman on 08/17/12 at 02:53:14

Dollars worth of gas would get you two gallons, about 90 miles or so. What ever happened with that? New cars are supposed to be so superior to our old clunkers of yesteryear. Yet we ran around 40 mpg.
They act like 22 mpg is spectacular now days. With lighter more efficient cars???...lol

Cruzin down the strip or around the square. Least wise till the cops ran you off...lol
Checkin out the local drive-in dinner for chicks or hitting a drive-in movie.
For you youngsters that was a place you could go to watch a movie and never leave your car. Except for treats, the bathroom or to check out your buddies car when the windows fogged up...lol
Had more money then sense from working the hay fields back then. So that wasn't much of a problem. Money went a LOT farther back then to!
Now days its more sense then money. :'(

ANNDDD it was EASY to work on your own vehicles back then. Didn't need a super computer or truckload of special tools like now days...lol

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Routy on 08/17/12 at 05:06:52

40 mpg ??
In '78 I had a little Civic that would do that.

In '59, my first car....'55 Ford got maybe 15 mpg ?
And in 1959 a dollars worth of gas really would go about 90 miles.
But in '59, gas was .25 gal (gas war days) in central CA.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Bock on 08/17/12 at 07:29:42

If the battery dies, can't you put the bike in 1st gear; pull in the clutch; run down a hill; jump on the bike; release the clutch; roll on the throttle to start 'er up?

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by verslagen1 on 08/17/12 at 08:09:18

If your battery is dead... no. gotta have at least 10v to energize the ig system.

next, if it stopped on compression stock... all your gonna get is a skid to a stop. My technique is to bump the bike forward (not backward) until you can operate the decomp lever by hand. If you go backward on a pre'95... you'll bust out the starter gear.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by Wolfman on 08/17/12 at 21:14:23

Yes 40 mpg...lol
It wasn't for all the EPA crap we got on our vehicles now we would get better gas mileage. That or get em to cut loose some of them high mileage carbs the auto/oil industry bought the patents up on over the years.

Title: Re: battery saver system
Post by tizzyfit on 08/21/12 at 09:35:24

4062756A4E6A6866030 wrote:

Gee, I don't seem to be able to find "Park" anywhere in with my 5 speed gear box in the truck. ;D ;D ;D