Over heated ignition switch? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

BudTheGrey · 08-21-2005, 08:59 PM

Lawdog started a thread here about a problem with his C50. Basically, the ignition switch went bad, and it appears that a likely culprit may be the switch getting overheated.

On my C50LE, I've noticed a few times that the key was kinda warm when I took it out. 6 weeks and 1800 miles, and lots of working of the switch, and I've not had any trouble, but I'm curious now.

Have other C50 owners seen this? Is it limited to the C50?

stp1971 · 08-21-2005, 09:06 PM

Where is the placement of the C50's switch??? I know the M50 is up on the front of the bike by the triple tree/neck fro what I've seen. I always notice that the key to my 1500LC is always warm also. Could it be that maybe it is just in close proximaity to the engine thus radiant heat is warming your switch???? Or is it a defect that maybe the switch has too much resistance in it causing an electrical heat buildup. Good question Bud!!!!!

BudTheGrey · 08-21-2005, 09:37 PM

Yep, the key on the C50 is up in front of the gas tank, on the right side near the fork neck / triple tree. lawdog made mention of removing the "neck covers", and the ingition switch was cooler. Not sure what piece that is, and my bike's been put up for the nite -- I'll take a look tomorrow. OTOH, I'm not convinced there's a problem yet, either.

IMHO, this location is also a PITA because you can't really keep the key on a key ring -- it flops around in the wind and scratches up the bike.

yel04gix · 08-21-2005, 10:14 PM

i burned my buddies arm with my key after i took it out of the ignition....i have yet to have any problems with it though...as far as the key chain situation goes i have it on one of those little cheapy dealer give away key chains...i dont keep any other keys on it but the one

92Notch · 08-21-2005, 11:11 PM

Mine gets pretty warm too. No problems w/ it though (about 400 miles on the bike)

stp1971 · 08-22-2005, 07:00 AM

Well that rules out radiant heat. Oh well,, so much for that theory. Must be too much amperage going through that switch.

**drgibson** · 08-22-2005, 07:38 AM

On the M95 it is on the Tank and once you turn it on you can remove the key so it doesn't rattle around and it will shut off without having to put the key back in. I love my M95.

tlwisner · 08-22-2005, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp1971

Where is the placement of the C50's switch??? I know the M50 is up on the front of the bike by the triple tree/neck from what I've seen.

Same place, next to the right ignition coil. I've noticed my C50 key become warm too, but nothing alarming. There's a lot of wiring jammed in there.

lawdog · 08-22-2005, 12:29 PM

The neck cover is that cheap plastic piece in front of the gas tank and what your ignition switch (where the key goes) is surrounded by. It is held in place by a rubber grommet and is easily removed. Here is what it looks like (right-hand side) without the cover.

The switch runs a lot cooler with both neck covers removed.

lawdog

BudTheGrey · 08-22-2005, 06:33 PM

Hmm.. I end up riding in the rain quite often. I'd rather keep the covers on if I can; I'm a little leery of exposing all that wiring to the elements quite so much. I rode my C50 through Glen's Falls, Albany, and Poughkeepsie on a 90+ degree day, lots of stop/start driving, radiator fan running a lot, and it didn't seem to effect the switch. Still, I think I'll pay better attention for the remainder of this season.

oldgeezer · 08-22-2005, 06:48 PM

If you think it is something other than radiant heat, check your battery cables and make sure they are tight. Loose connections may cause overheating.

ChicsterMG · 08-22-2005, 08:17 PM

This seems pretty common. My key always comes out hot after anything more than 15 miles or so.

I doubt it is the battery cables if we are all having the same problem. Hard to beleive the battery cables would be loose on all bike. Not all dealers can be that incompetant. Besides, I have already had my battery out to take out the battery pan and I know I tightened the cables.

this is definately worth keeping an eye on though.

oldgeezer · 08-23-2005, 05:32 AM

I suspect most everyone is just getting the heat from the engine. All I am saying is that if you feel it is excessive and isn't from the engine, check the cables.

Philly Rider · 08-23-2005, 05:36 PM

I have a C50. I have not really noticed the key being hot. However, the switch housing itself is a PITA. I find that I frequently have to jiggle the key to get it lined-up and properly set into the ignition. Any one else experience that? This may be a topic for a new post.

Pinhy · 08-23-2005, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicsterMG

This seems pretty common. My key always comes out hot after anything more than 15 miles or so.

i agree...my key is always hot....Florida + engine heat + black bike = everything on the bike is hot

.

BudTheGrey · 08-23-2005, 07:39 PM

Quote:

I find that I frequently have to jiggle the key to get it lined-up and properly set into the ignition

Same here. It seems to be getting better the longer I have the bike, but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Wild Bill · 08-23-2005, 08:02 PM

me too-- one time i just couldn't get it in and when I did, it just wouldn't turn (now what are we really talking about here?)

blackie1491 · 08-23-2005, 08:50 PM

Read your manual, lining up the key is a passive anti-theft factor. When you park your bike you have the option to move the key cover.

08-21-2005, 08:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
BudTheGrey Third gear and cruising Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2005 Suzuki C50 LE Location: Keeseville NY Posts: 468	Over heated ignition switch? Lawdog started a thread here about a problem with his C50. Basically, the ignition switch went bad, and it appears that a likely culprit may be the switch getting overheated. On my C50LE, I've noticed a few times that the key was kinda warm when I took it out. 6 weeks and 1800 miles, and lots of working of the switch, and I've not had any trouble, but I'm curious now. Have other C50 owners seen this? Is it limited to the C50? __________________ If you can't stand behind our folks in the military, feel free to stand in front of them

08-21-2005, 09:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,773	Where is the placement of the C50's switch??? I know the M50 is up on the front of the bike by the triple tree/neck fro what I've seen. I always notice that the key to my 1500LC is always warm also. Could it be that maybe it is just in close proximaity to the engine thus radiant heat is warming your switch???? Or is it a defect that maybe the switch has too much resistance in it causing an electrical heat buildup. Good question Bud!!!!! __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

08-21-2005, 09:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
BudTheGrey Third gear and cruising Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2005 Suzuki C50 LE Location: Keeseville NY Posts: 468	Yep, the key on the C50 is up in front of the gas tank, on the right side near the fork neck / triple tree. lawdog made mention of removing the "neck covers", and the ingition switch was cooler. Not sure what piece that is, and my bike's been put up for the nite -- I'll take a look tomorrow. OTOH, I'm not convinced there's a problem yet, either. IMHO, this location is also a PITA because you can't really keep the key on a key ring -- it flops around in the wind and scratches up the bike. __________________ If you can't stand behind our folks in the military, feel free to stand in front of them

08-21-2005, 11:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
92Notch Birthday Boy Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: '05½ C50 Limited Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 860	Mine gets pretty warm too. No problems w/ it though (about 400 miles on the bike) __________________

08-22-2005, 07:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,773	Well that rules out radiant heat. Oh well,, so much for that theory. Must be too much amperage going through that switch. __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

08-21-2005, 10:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
yel04gix Banned Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 04 gixxer 600 and an 05 C50blk Location: dallas, tx Posts: 32	i burned my buddies arm with my key after i took it out of the ignition....i have yet to have any problems with it though...as far as the key chain situation goes i have it on one of those little cheapy dealer give away key chains...i dont keep any other keys on it but the one

08-22-2005, 07:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
drgibson Thumper Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,453	On the M95 it is on the Tank and once you turn it on you can remove the key so it doesn't rattle around and it will shut off without having to put the key back in. I love my M95. __________________ I have been diagnosed with Electial Disfunction, I just can't get excited about any of our candidates!

08-22-2005, 12:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
lawdog Banned Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 18	Neck covers The neck cover is that cheap plastic piece in front of the gas tank and what your ignition switch (where the key goes) is surrounded by. It is held in place by a rubber grommet and is easily removed. Here is what it looks like (right-hand side) without the cover. The switch runs a lot cooler with both neck covers removed. lawdog

08-22-2005, 06:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
BudTheGrey Third gear and cruising Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2005 Suzuki C50 LE Location: Keeseville NY Posts: 468	Hmm.. I end up riding in the rain quite often. I'd rather keep the covers on if I can; I'm a little leery of exposing all that wiring to the elements quite so much. I rode my C50 through Glen's Falls, Albany, and Poughkeepsie on a 90+ degree day, lots of stop/start driving, radiator fan running a lot, and it didn't seem to effect the switch. Still, I think I'll pay better attention for the remainder of this season. __________________ If you can't stand behind our folks in the military, feel free to stand in front of them

08-22-2005, 06:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
oldgeezer Handlebar Consultant Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 646	If you think it is something other than radiant heat, check your battery cables and make sure they are tight. Loose connections may cause overheating. __________________ Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, d!ckheads--they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

08-22-2005, 08:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
ChicsterMG Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer Joined: May 2005 Bike: Boulevard C50 Location: Afghanistan Posts: 3,475	This seems pretty common. My key always comes out hot after anything more than 15 miles or so. I doubt it is the battery cables if we are all having the same problem. Hard to beleive the battery cables would be loose on all bike. Not all dealers can be that incompetant. Besides, I have already had my battery out to take out the battery pan and I know I tightened the cables. this is definately worth keeping an eye on though. __________________ Sometimes you need to ask yourself, "WWGD?"...Just be awesome, that's all! GUT-CUT 2007: 177 LBS. 160 LBS.

08-23-2005, 05:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
oldgeezer Handlebar Consultant Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 646	I suspect most everyone is just getting the heat from the engine. All I am saying is that if you feel it is excessive and isn't from the engine, check the cables. __________________ Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, d!ckheads--they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

08-23-2005, 05:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
Philly Rider Ditch Magnet Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2005 Boulevard C50 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 163	I have a C50. I have not really noticed the key being hot. However, the switch housing itself is a PITA. I find that I frequently have to jiggle the key to get it lined-up and properly set into the ignition. Any one else experience that? This may be a topic for a new post.

08-23-2005, 08:02 PM	#17 (permalink)
Wild Bill Where Am I ? Joined: May 2005 Bike: M50 Black Location: Midwest Posts: 36	me too-- one time i just couldn't get it in and when I did, it just wouldn't turn (now what are we really talking about here?)

08-23-2005, 08:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,202	Read your manual, lining up the key is a passive anti-theft factor. When you park your bike you have the option to move the key cover.

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