Kill Switch Connection

[lmroberts36]

Can someone clarify the apparent controversy on where to best connect a kill switch in a Motoplat system? A search of the forum, and very old postings, suggests that it is not a good idea to use the black wire for that purpose. Is that the current "corporate" opinion on this topic? Tnx!

Larry Roberts, Mont Alto, PA
1973 Penton 125 Six-days
1991 Mazda RX-7 Turbo track car

[Keith Meatyard]

On my 73 JP's, the kill switch is connected through the junction terminal block under the fuel tank to the blue lead at the coil.  There are two blue wires coming out of the female spade connector at the coil.  One goes back to the stator, the other goes to the rectangular junction terminal.  The wire coming from your kill switch is connected opposite on the terminal.  The Penton manual shows this in the wiring diagram, but it does not show the lead from the kill switch to the junction terminal.

Keith Meatyard

[lmroberts36]

Thanks Keith. Guess I should have RTFM before posting.

Actually, the wire tapped into the blue wire going to the coil was so dirty it appeared black, so I was a bit confused. Cleaned off the wire and wala, it was blue. So I will use that wire.

Larry Roberts, Mont Alto, PA
1973 Penton 125 Six-days
1991 Mazda RX-7 Turbo track car

[SouthRider]

The old magura kill buttons were notorious for not working just when you needed them the most. Sometimes it was because the internal spring acted up, but mostly it was due to a bad ground either from the kill button to the handlebars, or because in order to ground it had to go back through the steering head bearings to the frame and then the ignition. It always seemed worse in mud runs.....

I would suggest that you consider a modern kill switch that comes with a dedicated ground wire which you can run alongside the blue wire back to the coil mount on the frame.

Another nicety is if you can find a piece of cable insulation or shrink wrap tubing to run those 2 wires in.

I also add quick connect connectors to both lines, and locate them so they can be tucked just inside of the top of the gas tank (with a little slack in the wire). That way if you are out in the woods and the bike won't start you can quickly disconnect the kill switch to eliminate one possible problem source.

And please remember - NEVER EVER use cable ties on the electrical leads on your motorcycle - it can damage the wires (and rub the paint off the frame too) just simply use black electrical tape on all wires on the bike. It does less damage to both the wires and the paint.

[brian kirby]

I use Honda style aftermarket kill switches from Moose Racing on all my vintage bikes. They have a ground wire that you can run back to the frame instead of relying on the switch to ground through the bars like the Magura. They are reliable and cheap.

Brian

[lmroberts36]

Thanks for the info and ideas. I'll keep them in mind.

Larry Roberts, Mont Alto, PA
1973 Penton 125 Six-days
1991 Mazda RX-7 Turbo track car