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11-21-2008, 7:56 AM Blindstitch2002 Joined on 05-16-2007 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 5,000 Cleaning an igniton switch. Is it just as simple and popping off the bottom plastic piece and cleaning the inside of the connector. Not the plug in to the wiring harness but the part that directly points up at the key area. Anybody have any tips on how to do it? And the type of supplies to buy to do the job. 1978 Honda Cx500 Maggot 1979 Honda Cx500 Custom 1980 Cx500 Deluxe Buy HTTA Items Quick Reference Info    Report

11-21-2008, 11:20 AM Reg in Bristol Joined on 03-11-2006 Bristol UK Posts 782 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. I've had a couple apart, pics and info on my site under Tinkerin/Igniton switch electrical' the only snag is taking care the three lugs that grab into the switch body dont get so damaged as to not want to engage again when you reassemble. I can be hamfisted and impatient at times and I decided to use some hot melt glue to secure the lugs on my latest one as they looked a bit iffy. theres probably a tool to push the three lugs in or a better technique then stabbing at it with a small screwdrive, but I'm too cheap and impatient to bother Also: when you reassemble, I'd suggest you use a meter to check the switch functions and the wipers are correctly situated before connecting it to your bike. Switch in 'off' Green short  to black/white Switch in 'On' Red short to black green open to black/white and so on  The 'Mongrel' is on the road 78 frame, ZAB gubbins, 82 'TI' motor, Suzuki clocks, MZ screen and gaiters, Kawasaki master cylinder, BMW horns DIY wiring and all thrown together with a fanatical inattention to detail :-)    Report

11-21-2008, 2:40 PM RustyTec Joined on 08-26-2007 Dallas Tx. Posts 606 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. This is a GL switch. I coated the removable contacts with solder (not shown). Hold the white side down while prying off the black part, so you don't lose the small parts. RustyTec ’81 GL500. Dallas Texas. RustyVape Electronic Cigarettes Local NE Dallas, Texas    Report

11-22-2008, 3:42 PM LRCXed Joined on 05-15-2008 Sacramento, California Posts 1,670 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. Since your taking it apart to clean and rebuild it, place the switch into a pan of hot water to soften up the plastic clips. That way they won't break off as easy. Don't ask me how I know, I just do! I had to use hot glue too. As far as tools go, a fine wire brush, electric spray cleaner, some fine sand paper and some good dielectric grease will keep the contacts from corroding again. Boat wheel bearing grease that's water resistant will help in the area where the check balls ride to. I use Corrosion-X to spray out the tumblers and also use it on all electrical connections as well. Hope this helps Stitch. Larry If your going to do something, do it right, don't do it half as@*d. 78 CX500 Std, 79 CX500 project, 80 CX500C, 83 GL650I http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/    Report

12-07-2008, 8:47 AM Sidecar Bob Joined on 03-02-2006 Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Posts 1,899 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. DO NOT use sandpaper - particles of the grit will become imbedded into the contact's surface and cause all kinds of problems. If a contact is deeply pitted you can dress it with a POINTS FILE. DO NOT use a regular file. POINTS FILES are designed for dressing ignition points and have the their teeth cut at the proper angle &c so that they will leave a very smooth surface. If the contact is not deeply pitted you can probably clean it up sufficiently with a Scotchbrite pad and contact cleaner. You need to use real contact cleaner. WD40 is a fine product and has many uses, but it is not real contact cleaner. It leaves a sticky residue that will attract dust and you will have dirty contacts again before you know it. Mr. Honda ('83 GL1000/Dnepr) summer The Famous Eccles ('84 GX650EI/Velorex700) winter WHY I HAVEN"T BEEN AROUND MUCH LATELY    Report

12-07-2008, 9:21 AM Blindstitch2002 Joined on 05-16-2007 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 5,000 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. I used 400 or 600 grit sand paper and it worked fine. In the meantime I bought another one cheap ignition switch on ebay that tested out pretty good and the key stays in when you pull on it in the on position. This is only going to be a temp switch now since I need to figure out how easily it is to take the barrel off and clean in there without losing anything or destroying the switch.   Any tips or pictures. I wish I had a switch that was total crap without a key that I could dissect. 1978 Honda Cx500 Maggot 1979 Honda Cx500 Custom 1980 Cx500 Deluxe Buy HTTA Items Quick Reference Info    Report

12-07-2008, 10:25 AM Sidecar Bob Joined on 03-02-2006 Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Posts 1,899 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. If a particle of the grit from the sandpaper has imbedded itself into the copper of the contact surface it will scratch into the other contact each time you operate the switch. Since the moving contact sort of floats around in the holes in the plastic part that moves it, each time the key is turned it can make a new scratch and eventually the surface can become quite rough, When this happens the contact will only be made on the high areas between the scratches and, since there will be less contact area, there will eb a better chance of poor or no contact. You might be lucky enough to not have any grit imbedded, but for the price of a pack of Scotchbrite pads it's just not worth taking the chance. Mr. Honda ('83 GL1000/Dnepr) summer The Famous Eccles ('84 GX650EI/Velorex700) winter WHY I HAVEN"T BEEN AROUND MUCH LATELY    Report

12-07-2008, 10:33 AM Blindstitch2002 Joined on 05-16-2007 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 5,000 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. I use Scotchbrite pads too. It wasn't working as good as I wanted so I turned to the fine grit and hit it again with the scotch bright when finished to clean up the whole connector the plastic housing and inside of the bottom of the ignition switch. I broke off one of the floating hole pegs so I had to glue it back on. Wrapped the connector with ductape sticking up the height of the ball bearings and filled it with hot glue till just below the bottom off the ball bearing holders and beveled the top side of the glue so it didn't rub anywhere. 1978 Honda Cx500 Maggot 1979 Honda Cx500 Custom 1980 Cx500 Deluxe Buy HTTA Items Quick Reference Info    Report

12-08-2008, 6:19 AM wildhorses Joined on 12-04-2008 Crewe, England Posts 343 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. <BLOCKQUOTE><table width="85%"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/cs/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>Sidecar Bob wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4"><P>If a particle of the grit from the sandpaper has imbedded itself into the copper of the contact surface it will scratch into the other contact each time you operate the switch. </P></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE> Fair point & one I'd never really considered before, but I don't believe there's much chance of 600 grit getting embedded in there (especially if the whole lot gets a good squirt with contact cleaner as it should afterwards). Sensible advice nonetheless & another thing I'll be keeping in mind when I next mess around with switchgear (something that I find, for some reason, strangely satisfying & enjoyable to do whilst sat in front of the telly of a night...) Think maybe I just need to get out more... 1982 CX500EC - Daily ride now 1989 Mitsubishi Pajero (Dodge Raider in U.S.) SWB 2.5TD Saved from the crusher, near mint with 60k miles. 1992 Suzuki Cultus Convertible (Geo Metro/Chevy Sprint for U.S.), possibly only one in U.K. & only 36k miles.    Report

12-08-2008, 2:12 PM malcoops Joined on 03-23-2006 australia Posts 203 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. electronic contact cleaner with a good qulaity cotton bud which will have enough cleaning ability to remove the top layer of crap and give you good contact again. mal from Down under    Report

02-05-2009, 5:35 AM Graywolfs02 Joined on 09-08-2007 Coon Rapids Minnesota Posts 593 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. Hi Gang, I've come to this post via a link from a different post from BlindStitch, so that's why this post is so late in the game. Something my dad showed me to use for cleaning contacts is a regular pencil eraser. The red kind on the end of the pencil that would be new and still soft. I believe that the eraser would have a "grit" that is much finer and would not leave anything behind like sandpaper would. And instead of rubbing it back and forth as if your "erasing" something, spin the pencil on the contact as it your trying to use the eraser as a "drill". This has worked well for me And that is my 2 cents worth. Greg 1982 GL 500I "Red" (Wing) 1978 CX 500 Now at a new home Minnesota Ride Safe, Ride Fast, Ride Far    Report

02-05-2009, 4:21 PM marshallf3 Joined on 01-12-2009 Oklahoma City Posts 1,542 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. I've been using pencil erasers for years, ink erasers if you need more oomph. You've got to totally degrease the switch first or the grease will get into the eraser and it won't polish. An old typewriter eraser, if you can find one, is excellent for this. They were like a pencil with a brush on one end. 1979 CX500C ░░░░░░░ 96 & 98 GTP, 78 Chevy G30 400V8, 78 Gremlin 304V8, 65 Barracuda 273V8    Report

03-22-2010, 7:38 AM Blindstitch Joined on 03-14-2009 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 9,863 Re: Cleaning an igniton switch. RED - Supply from main fuse GREEN - Earth/Ground via loom BLACK - Supply out when ignition is switched on BLACK/WHITE - Connected to ground when ignition is switched off. Linked to killswitch which does the same job. Stopping engine BROWN and BROWN/WHITE -lights/parking lights 1979 CX500 Supertanker ATGATT makes riding a bike like a sled easier. Quick Reference    Report

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