Still using the 'Kill Switch'?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 17
From: Mid West
Still using the 'Kill Switch'?
As we rode our new ride thru CO last month I stopped my ride at a Indy shop where I used the thumb switch to shut the engine off as I had done for the majority of the last rides I have owned; a tech close to me saw me do that and stepped over to offer some advice, DON"T use the kill switch as a routine shut off.
His reasoning for the info was at MoCo school he was informed this has a potential to damage the ECM if done as a routine, it has to do with power flows into and out of the module and can not only be damaging to the module it can during regular use reset the logic to base parameters leaving the engine in a poor run mode until it can re-learn the parameters for clean operation.
I have stopped the use of the switch, fuel mileage is up, engine is more responsive and as to date seems to be quite correct in the advice. Anyone else hear this??
His reasoning for the info was at MoCo school he was informed this has a potential to damage the ECM if done as a routine, it has to do with power flows into and out of the module and can not only be damaging to the module it can during regular use reset the logic to base parameters leaving the engine in a poor run mode until it can re-learn the parameters for clean operation.
I have stopped the use of the switch, fuel mileage is up, engine is more responsive and as to date seems to be quite correct in the advice. Anyone else hear this??
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,020
Likes: 69
From: Twin Cities, MN
Nope haven't heard of it but interesting.
But the primary reason is so you don't look like a fool trying to start your bike and it doesn't, because you forget to turn the kill switch back on.
But the primary reason is so you don't look like a fool trying to start your bike and it doesn't, because you forget to turn the kill switch back on.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
This is the ONLY reason I'd ever be reluctant to use it, bit me in the *** one time. But I still use the switch, every time.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 17
From: Mid West
Fuel mileage came down a we left altitude, was almost to 49mpg at Estes Park, bike just seems to require less throttle to achieve the same results as two weeks ago. Fuel mileage had been as low as 39mpg until stopped using the switch, engine pinging was noted every time at fuel ups regardless of fuel grade when I was using the kill switch and was looking fora stealer for a warranty claim, not doing that now.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: Montreal, Qc
I was also told this by 2 separate techs, neither from HD. I'm not 100% sure I've seen better MPG, but the bike is running much better since I stopped using the kill switch
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 710
Likes: 7
From: Colorado
Fuel mileage came down a we left altitude, was almost to 49mpg at Estes Park, bike just seems to require less throttle to achieve the same results as two weeks ago. Fuel mileage had been as low as 39mpg until stopped using the switch, engine pinging was noted every time at fuel ups regardless of fuel grade when I was using the kill switch and was looking fora stealer for a warranty claim, not doing that now.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
So are you saying by not using the kill switch, power is still going to ECM and it is not constantly resetting? Makes sense. Might be a hard habit to break, but I am going to try it for awhile and see what happens. I put a supercharger on my Toyota truck (which loves Colorado altitude by the way), and I occasionally have to pull the fuse to the ECM to reset it when I make some tweaks. Thanks for the heads up.
