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easy way to ad available starting volts?

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by MUTT, Feb 22, 2006.

  1. MUTT

    MUTT Member

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    Patience, please: IM a nitwit when it comes to computers.
    I note on my friends 81 Seca the starting circuit dosnt interrupt the headlight circuit, so, while the starter is drawing its load, the headlight is also drawing its 40 watts, leaving the marginal ignition system to get by on whats left. Im going to plumb a switch into the headlight ground, so you can crank bike w/o headlight on. if im right, itll fire up faster cold.....right now dead cold starts require a hell of a lot of cranking
     
  2. Altus

    Altus Active Member

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    I'd be willing to say that carb tuning, new plugs, and especially replacement aftermarket coils will go a lot farther than simply cutting off the headlight while starting.
    Our coils are notoriously underpowered - most have found that a set of Dyna's or Excel's have made a world of difference when starting.
     
  3. MUTT

    MUTT Member

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    to that, i'll heartily agree. And when the young lady who owns the bike gets fired up, an ignition upgrade & a yics tool ill be selling her. But a switch cost a couple bucks, takes 20 minutes, and saves 40 watts.....
     
  4. geebake

    geebake Member

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    The owner before me added an on\off switch for the headlight on my XJ650RJ. It really does make a difference, particularly when it's cold for some reason. Since it works, I've never examined exactly how he installed the switch. One nice feature though is that when the light is switched off, the high beam light comes on. It's an indication to me that the light is off when I'm riding.

    Greg
     
  5. Hired_Goon

    Hired_Goon Member

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    Are you guys implying that you can't turn the headlight off?

    Mine hates starting with the headlight on so I always make sure the switch is off.
     
  6. secaman

    secaman Member

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    implying? its a fact!

    the light is always on!
     
  7. Brian750R

    Brian750R Member

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    my seca 750 doesnt turn the light on until the bike cranks overon its own, sure the light stays on once that happens but if you need to restart just turn the key to off the back to on and it resets the relay
     
  8. Hired_Goon

    Hired_Goon Member

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    Well here in Aus, we have a light switch on the throttle controls. Every bike has them.

    Must remember not to buy any american versions of handlebar controls on ebay. 8O
     
  9. CTSommers

    CTSommers Member

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    To bad all motorcycles built after 1973 must have their headlights on during the day & night. I may look into finding the throttle controls from Europe or AUS
     
  10. Altus

    Altus Active Member

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    And come to think of it, my bike does the same as Brian750R's -- turn the switch on and the headlight is off, start the engine and after it kicks over and starts then the headlight comes on.
     
  11. Robert

    Robert Active Member

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    Well for you EU and AU folks, your lucky. I do like the idea of constant lights but have no ability to shut it off for start up on my Seca, or my Maxim come to think of it. Geebake, I would appreciate it if you could look into where your bike has the switch modifications to the wires. That sounds like a capitol idea and I would like to incorporate the mod on my machine! Is the conversion for my US bike to a UK clutch cluster/perch require any changes other than the cluster itself? It might be easier than moding for a switch, probably more astetically pleasing. Any of our UK, AZ, or AU buddies got a perch set laying around for a 750 Seca?
     
  12. woot

    woot Active Member

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    How about a picture of your control with the light switch on it? All I have is a hi/low selector on my clutch control side.
     
  13. MUTT

    MUTT Member

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    ive come across this "always on" nitwittery before. On some machines, the light is taken out of the circuit when the start button is pressed (81 XS650) on some, like HD & this 81 Seca, the headlamp is on while the starter is spinning. the EASIEST way to stick a switch in there is to simply switch the headlight earthing wire.....or in the case of older (80's, 90's) HD's, frinstance, snip the jumper wire between the two switched sides of the ignition switch. Any way you do it, it makes sense.... HDmutt
     
  14. MUTT

    MUTT Member

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    AHA! as I expected, by being able to cut the headlight out of the circuit, cold starts are instant. Vast improvement. When I put the light on, rpm drops on the cold engine from the load, & it runs unevenly.....light off, rpm picks up & it smooths out. For those of you here in Nitwitland, I recxommend this simple improvement.....
     
  15. Hired_Goon

    Hired_Goon Member

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    Here's a crappy phone pic of my XJ550. Don't know if the wiring would be the same. Worth checking if all the wires in the plug to the right hand perch are used. May have a universal wiring harness with a jumper keeping your lights on all the time.
     

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  16. jdrich48

    jdrich48 Member

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    I looked up the part#'s for a switch for a 81xj550rh, and my 82 xj650j maxim. And they are supposed to be the same.
    Part#(2H7-83975-01-00)
    So how did you end up with that switch? Did you replace it before?
    I understand that models made for different markets, don't have the same laws we have here in the US requiring that are lights be on at all times. But by his model designation RH, isn't that a US model?
    Confused in NC.
     
  17. Hired_Goon

    Hired_Goon Member

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    Switch is a standard item on all australasian bikes. Headlights on over here is optional, not required by law.

    I looked up a few parts diagrams and couldn't find one with the switch but they are all US sites. Will keep looking to see if I can find a part number.
     
  18. SECA9

    SECA9 New Member

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    Mutt, why don'y you just install a relay to automatically cut out the headlight during startup?

    Buy a good quality SPDT automotive relay. Open up the headlight housing.
    Run a wire from the starter relay positive trigger to pin 85 on the relay.
    Run a wire from pin 86 to ground.
    Cut the lowbeam feed wire to the headlight and put one cut end on pin 30 and the other cut end on pin 87a. DO NOT use pin 87! As they say....N/A.

    You're done!
    Instant headlight cutoff during start. Obviously, just mount the relay inside the headlight housing. If that's not possible, just extend all the wires to the remote location. Make sure you use larger gauge wire than the headlight wiring if you extend it.
     
  19. MUTT

    MUTT Member

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    Well, yeah.....but why not just switch the headlamp ground? Its easier, requires just a switch, and, if at some point you are in a situation where you arent charging, you can cut the headlight out & get home??
    Im all for relays- i use them for ignitions & headlights when I wire a bike, but here you have the option of turning the headlight on & off as you choose. Simpler, i think....
     
  20. jdrich48

    jdrich48 Member

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    Whats the center (PO) position on the switch for?
     
  21. Hired_Goon

    Hired_Goon Member

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    PO is a Park setting. Just turns the taillight on. Good if your stopped in a dark street.

    Can't find an Aussie part no online. Even looked in my manual at wiring diagrams and there is no switch on them either. Manual is published in California so I suppose it suits the US models more.
     

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