Ignition vs kill switch
Banned
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,820
Likes: 6,615
From: Northern California
The kill switch seems like a bad switch to wear out with unneeded use.
You are going to have to turn off the ignition switch anyway. Why add another switch (the kill switch) operation to achieve what just one switch will do ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
Actually, they are not redundant at all. The ignition controls the electrical system of the bike, the kill switch controls just the motor. So when you use the kill switch, you are leaving the ECM to continue to process what's going on, and leaving the lights and radio on, and allowing yourself a minute to see if a code throws or anything else before you completely power down the bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 60
From: Los Angeles
I know you guys won't care, because you are all old school rebels. 
But from the HD manual:
*To shut the engine off, push the top of the OFF/RUN switch to the OFF position.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position to turn the electric power completely OFF.
Now, when you want to start your bike again:
*Put the engine OFF/RUN switch (6) in the RUN position and the transmission in neutral. Neutral (green) indicator lamp should be illuminated.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to IGN and push the START switch to operate starter motor.
Seems simple to me to go by the book. But whatevs.
But from the HD manual:*To shut the engine off, push the top of the OFF/RUN switch to the OFF position.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position to turn the electric power completely OFF.
Now, when you want to start your bike again:
*Put the engine OFF/RUN switch (6) in the RUN position and the transmission in neutral. Neutral (green) indicator lamp should be illuminated.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to IGN and push the START switch to operate starter motor.
Seems simple to me to go by the book. But whatevs.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 597
Likes: 451
I know you guys won't care, because you are all old school rebels. But from the HD manual:
*To shut the engine off, push the top of the OFF/RUN switch to the OFF position.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position to turn the electric power completely OFF.
Now, when you want to start your bike again:
*Put the engine OFF/RUN switch (6) in the RUN position and the transmission in neutral. Neutral (green) indicator lamp should be illuminated.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to IGN and push the START switch to operate starter motor.
Seems simple to me to go by the book. But whatevs.
But from the HD manual:*To shut the engine off, push the top of the OFF/RUN switch to the OFF position.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position to turn the electric power completely OFF.
Now, when you want to start your bike again:
*Put the engine OFF/RUN switch (6) in the RUN position and the transmission in neutral. Neutral (green) indicator lamp should be illuminated.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to IGN and push the START switch to operate starter motor.
Seems simple to me to go by the book. But whatevs.
guys.... and the old school guys. 
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,351
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
I know you guys won't care, because you are all old school rebels. But from the HD manual:
*To shut the engine off, push the top of the OFF/RUN switch to the OFF position.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position to turn the electric power completely OFF.
Now, when you want to start your bike again:
*Put the engine OFF/RUN switch (6) in the RUN position and the transmission in neutral. Neutral (green) indicator lamp should be illuminated.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to IGN and push the START switch to operate starter motor.
Seems simple to me to go by the book. But whatevs.
But from the HD manual:*To shut the engine off, push the top of the OFF/RUN switch to the OFF position.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position to turn the electric power completely OFF.
Now, when you want to start your bike again:
*Put the engine OFF/RUN switch (6) in the RUN position and the transmission in neutral. Neutral (green) indicator lamp should be illuminated.
*See Ignition Switch. Turn the ignition switch to IGN and push the START switch to operate starter motor.
Seems simple to me to go by the book. But whatevs.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,066
Likes: 1
From: West by God Texas
First of all I have been riding bikes longer than all of you because I started out with a stone wheel with a wooden shaft running through it. Back then we wore loin cloths and clubbed our food. So the rest of you need to use my "old school" start up routine.
- First I dance around the bike in my *** less chaps swinging a dead snake over my head. I can't believe the rest of you do not do that as it wards off the evil pirate spirits.
- Then I cuss out the Ol's cat for allowing his fur to float around the shop.
- Then I remember I will get arrested if I do not go back in the house and put my pants on under the chaps.
- Then I go back in the house an get the flippen key fob I forgot again. I know this because my turn signals are flashing for the five thousandth time as I push the bike out of the shop.
- Before one of you smart azz know it all types tell me I should start the bike in the shop I cant. It frightens the aforementioned cat. When the aforementioned cat has been frightened I am cut off by the aforementioned cat's owner. That is sad and unfortunate.
- Then I look back for the oil leak on the shop floor to judge if the size of it has increased enough for me to add oil. I guess that is a hangover from the AMF days and I just cant shake it.
- Then I use my kick start. That means I kick the hunk of crap in the tire and tell it if it gives me any back talk I will run over it with my tractor and collect the insurance money.
- Then I turn the little thingy to the right and click the little thingy down and push the other little thingy. Sometimes if I preformed the snake over my head thing correctly a loud noise occurs.
- Then I get ready to throw my leg over the beast.
- Then the OL comes around the corner of the shop and asks if I am going riding before I finished whatever the buzz kill project of the day is.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,487
Likes: 154
From: Southern Ontario, Canada...EH!
No, the "kill" switch is there to enable you to shut off the motor when the bike is lying on its side after going down, and you can't reach the ignition switch, because it's somewhere between the bike and the ground.
I haven't used the kill switch since I started riding street bikes in '81. On my dirt bikes, I had to, because they had no ignition switch.
I haven't used the kill switch since I started riding street bikes in '81. On my dirt bikes, I had to, because they had no ignition switch.
