Because I'm not already doing enough on my bike, I also decided to relocate the ignition switch. I'm doing the "fat bob" switch on the instrument panel, right below the fuel tank opening. Wish me luck!
ibified
what did you use for a wiring harness to connect everything together? I'm having trouble finding anything suitable. I want to add a plug near the 2 plugs for the instrument panel lights.
I just did mine last summer Gary (gpr) helped me do this and took a bunch of photos. (I just found out recently that he passed away). It was not difficult just time consuming is all.
Did you guys know that Jeremy Gohene (Gohenes Garage) is making a pretty nice kit to do this with. It's on my list to do this summer..
I've always used the drill trick to wind multiple wires together - it's a great life hack. I just decided to cut off the connector that's under the seat and solder in my wires there. Then I tucked them into a wire loom and wrapped it in tape. Finally, I routed wires up along backbone and will solder the plug back in tomorrow.
I have done three of these installs. On the first one I used a hole saw sized to just fit the switch, I then used JB Weld to coat the backside of the instrument cluster where the switch was going to contact it and after that dried I built up a JB Weld stiffener over the top of the lugs on the switch. Works like a charm and has never moved!! On the last two I got smart and bought the JB Weld 5 minute stuff. Works just as well if not better and much faster. Kicks off in 5 to 10 minutes, give it 30 minutes and you can assemble everything back together (but don't put too much pressure on it during assembly), eight hours and it is a rock and no ugly holes and screws on the front side!!! All three are working great.
I spent around $25.00 +/- a few dollars. I tried the JB Weld route, however, I in all likelihood did not use enough of it and ended up using 2 small screws to secure the switch.
I have about $40 invested in it right now, including buying the switch and wire. I cant see the whole thing costing me over $50, even when you factor in solder, wire loom, and plug in connectors.
That sounds about right, my friend provided the switches since two of the bikes were his, wire was a couple of dollars if the for the amount I needed. Biggest expense was the hole saw, it takes a 1 7/8" for a perfect fit, Kind of an unusual size so I didn't have one and had to buy it, about 10 to 15 dollars as I remember but I have always considered tools an investment for the future so I don't count that. Don't know if the kit has that hole saw in it so it might end up costing you that much on top of the kit price or not! Other than that, 3 connectors for attaching the wire to the switch, so that I can unplug them if I want to remove the cluster panel for some reason.
I bought the hole saw with the arbor and pilot bit from Menards for $3.99. It's for old school doors.
Ran into a small issue on my install - the screws I have are hitting the brackets that hold the instrument panel to the tank. Good thing for me I am not afraid to use a grinder, and that those brackets are a lot wider than they need to be in order to hold an instrument panel in place. =D
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