Build off submission

[toystory_4wd]

Fair- either way, you agree with the concept, right? To recap, Raposak wants to be able to use a starter motor to give reverse. A safety feature is required to make sure the starter can only engage in neutral. The bike tranny's neutral indicator light uses a switched (-). He needs to use a switched (-) to switch the (+) on the starter. SO- relay coil trigger (potential) polarity issues aside, this will do it, yes? Works perfectly in my mind...

[fowler]

Yes splicing into the neutral switch will work as a safety switch

[r97]

Actually you can do this without an additional relay, LOL. First get yourself a momentary push button switch, some assorted wire, and a starter solenoid that is NOT self grounding.

1. Splice wire into neutral indicator light wire.
2. Then connect that wire to the push button switch, and connect a second wire from the other terminal on the switch to one of the small terminals on the starter solenoid.
3. After that, route a second wire from the other small terminal on the solenoid to the positive battery terminal.
4. Next run a heavy wire from the battery's positive terminal to one of the large terminals on the solenoid.
5. Finally use another heavy gauge wire to go from the remaining large terminal on the solenoid to the positive terminal on the starter motor.

[toystory_4wd]

Okay- so to suss this out further-

The trigger coil in the relay is, in actuality, an electromagnet. Feeding it power at both terminals energizes the electromagnet, pulling the high current contacts into place. Agreed so far? Great.

Now- it's a magnet. Magnets attract ferrous metals (the high current contact arm). When do magnets ever repel? Only when directed at the same pole of another magnet. Agreed? Have you ever seen a single magnet repel ferrous metal? I have not. So why would polarity matter on the relay coil terminals? Discuss...

(Sorry Raposak- but this might be important)

Originally Posted by r97

Actually you can do this without an additional relay, LOL. First get yourself a momentary push button switch, some assorted wire, and a starter solenoid that is NOT self grounding.

1. Splice wire into neutral indicator light wire.
2. Then connect that wire to the push button switch, and connect a second wire from the other terminal on the switch to one of the small terminals on the starter solenoid.
3. After that, route a second wire from the other small terminal on the solenoid to the positive battery terminal.
4. Next run a heavy wire from the battery's positive terminal to one of the large terminals on the solenoid.
5. Finally use another heavy gauge wire to go from the remaining large terminal on the solenoid to the positive terminal on the starter motor.

This working, would depend on whether the OP's starter has a built-in solenoid. In which case, it's cheaper and easier to go get a $2 relay.

[raposak]

Well I followed Toys directions to a T and it works perfectly. Only works when the trans is in neutral. I'll get some video up when I clean up the wiring. Thanks for all the information.

[toystory_4wd]

Excellent! Sorry to run slightly off topic debating the polarity thing, but if there was something I didn't know, well- I wanted to know it!

[fowler]

Well it's just what I was told

Good to see u got it working

[raposak]

OK, well that didn't work out too well. It engaged the starter like it was suppose to, but it also burnt my ground wires. I think i'm going to scrap the neutral switch idea and just run a normal relay.

[toystory_4wd]

Wow- that should not have happened! Perhaps the wire gauge was not heavy enough?

[raposak]

I would agree with the little ground wires, but it burnt my main ground which is a heavy gauge.

[toystory_4wd]

That's bizzarre! Loose connection, maybe? A bit of corrosion? Something had to cause that!

[fowler]

Yep that's not right

Got pics of the wireing?

That sounds like a short to ground

I'd be checking your insulation and anything that might be rubbing

What's the condition of the starter?

[raposak]

Its' a new starter. The ground is connected to the relay as Toy had specified. All wires are good and of sufficient size to handle the load.

[toystory_4wd]

Gonna need a labelled pic or wiring diagram- seriously- that should NOT have happened!

[rpdust3]

Very nice kart I love it. I'm working on one also. I have a ? If you don't mind what starter are you using for your rev?

[MikeM101]

Hell might as well give your self a datum up front and calculate a Cg add some wings and make this baby fly. Good job man looks awesome