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Need help with Honda ignition switch

2K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  Bill Kapaun 
#1 ·
Okay so my mowers schematic has the 5 prongs on its ignition switch labeled: BAT, E, Lo, IG, ST
that switch is long gone so I have a new universal 5 prong switch that is labeled: G,S,M,L,B

My mowers schematic shows me that when the key is turned all the way (Start): BAT,Lo,ST are connected
My universal schematic shows that when the key is turned all the way: B,L,S are connected.

Logic ensued and I connected my BAT wire to the "b" my Lo wire to the "L" and my ST wire to the "S" on my new switch. that left me with two wires: E and IG according to the mower schematic.

Im assuming IG stands for ignition so E must be the ground? My schematic tells me the off position connects IG and E that corresponds to the new switchs schematic that says off connects M and G so....I connected the E wire to "G" and the IG wire to "M" on my new switch.

I connected the battery and there was no smoke so that was good, I turned the key one click and hear the fuel pump kick on...nice. I turned the key all the way and the starter motor just clicked or made half a revolution like it wasnt getting enough juice. I took off the wires on the B,L,S tabs and manually stuck them together and the engine turned over fine. SO do I have a bad switch? Does the way I connected everything sound right??
Another thing...I had a 4 prong switch lying around i connected the three wires that and turned the key and it worked, only problem is I am left with a ground wire not connected to anything when I hook up this switch. Surely I do not have to buy an oem honda switch because that $70 this universal 5 prong has to work the same way right? Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
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#2 · (Edited)
I'm not going to try to confuse the matter, but generally there are many different key switches, that have a multitude of internal connection-combinations, also some have 3 or even 4 key positions, as well as various mounting specifications, and various terminals.

So will a $12 generic lawnmower key switch save you a bunch of money by simply changing the wiring...probably not. The manuf. don't configure their switches & wiring scheme to be dodged around easily as there are safety & performance concerns.

But just for fun, the switch you describe, if it is a 3 position switch [off, on, start] then the significations would be: B -battery, M -magneto, G -ground, L -lights, S -solenoid. Also it is generally assumed that the metal key switch body is fastened & therefore electrically grounded to the metal dash board, sometimes a ground strap is utilized if mounted in plastic.

So as you might imagine, the S terminal, is really only capable of handling a low amperage [15 amps maximum] and therefore the solenoid that it connects to, controls & handles the higher amperage of [150 amp] that supply the starter, typically that higher amperage is connected with heavy cables, not small wires. You cannot expect good results if you simply connect the S terminal directly to the starter, unless your starter is solenoid equipped [and should be connected to the 'small/low amperage terminal' thereof]. A solenoid generally must be used with this type key switch, because of the low capacity of the switch itself.

Evidently your trying to fix your honda, but your reference site is for 'fog lights'--not a $70 key switch.

Generally speaking...fork over the $70 and get the correct part to fix the problem, anything less than that is tempting safety & performance.

wwxx

I think there is a Honda catagory here at MTF, and looking thru there you might find some ign. switch repair threads.
 
#3 ·
Re: Need help from the ignition switch gods

Okay so my mowers schematic has the 5 prongs on its ignition switch labeled: BAT, E, Lo, IG, ST
that switch is long gone so I have a new universal 5 prong switch that is labeled: G,S,M,L,B

My mowers schematic shows me that when the key is turned all the way (Start): BAT,Lo,ST are connected
My universal schematic shows that when the key is turned all the way: B,L,S are connected.........Snip!
And what does the schematic show with the key OFF. That might be just as important.

I expect E is Earth (British), aka Ground.
What's important is the M/IG terminal.
M will be grounded when OFF and no connection otherwise.
It grounds the "kill wire" on most mowers.
I'm totally ignorant about Hondas, but if IG is grounded to E in the OFF position ONLY, you can interchange M & IG.

The reason I'm a bit wary is on old battery/points ignition system, I was the 12V supply feeding the coil. Putting 12V to most newer coils will destroy them. You have to make sure the Honda uses a kill wire like most other lawn tractors built in the last 30 years
 
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