PMA's and Starters. Idle Curiosity Here.

Just a simple question for all you guy's running a PMA on your XS, what are you doing about the starter safety (cutout) relay?
Call this covid 19 boredom...

Jim said:

Just a simple question for all you guy's running a PMA on your XS, what are you doing about the starter safety (cutout) relay?
Call this covid 19 boredom...

Click to expand...

Hi Jim,
just like on a car, don't push the starter button if the engine is running or when the transmission is in gear.
Note that an XS11 has no "yellow wire" so when my XS11 rig stalled out in a car park and I pushed the start button in 1st gear the thing fired up and lurched onward.

I had a PMA on my last 650 and just did the by-pass, i was and am still not in the habit of pressing the button when the motor is running

My Virago had all the wiring burnt out so when I rewired I did not include a safety mechanism based on a "XS650 Yellow Wire" system. I have put the start button, clutch switch and neutral light in series with the solenoid. This means in order for the solenoid to power up the bike must be in neutral with the clutch pulled in. It works fine and no accidents yet. Just release the button as soon as the bike kicks into life as you do with a car.

Also, I am not sure/convinced you can do a "XS650 Yellow Wire" trick with a PMA because the voltage on a PMA goes very high and is only close to 14.2V after the rectifier/regulator. On the XS650 with alternator the field winding is controlled which means the voltage output prior to the rectifier/regulator is lower so can be used to power a safety relay. I would see the PMA burning out a relay. I am happy to be wrong here because then I could modify my wiring.

Good question Jim

My 79 bobber uses a PMA and electric start. It does use a solenoid,key switch and a start button. Turn the key , push the button and it fires up. Like Paul Sutton said as soon as it starts let go of the button. I use no safety relay. Just make sure the bike is in neutral.

tim

In reality I have the Start Button, Neutral Switch and Clutch Switch wired in series to activate a relay which powers the solenoid. I used a relay to give a more direct flow of power to the solenoid:


I have fitted diodes across all my relays, including the solenoid, to prevent voltage spikes in the circuitry to protect other sensitive electronics e.g. ignition, voltmeter and fuel level sensor.

How about a change over relay and spliced into one of the phase wires? Would that be enough to switch?

Has anyone measured the AC voltage output from a PMA under starting conditions i.e. PMA being turned over by starter motor only?

I am using a Kawasaki clutch lever which is more substantial and has provision for a switch which I've wired in series with the start button, so starter motor will only work when clutch lever pulled in, happy with that arrangement