Will These Key Switches Fill A Stock Key Switch Hole?

[DasUberKraut]

Lifan key switch partially installed. No modifications required to mount the switch to the dash plate. Still have to do the wiring. Hoping it just plugs into factory harness. Have to go back out and pull headlight to get at the harness. Figured while I was inside for a few minutes I would post some pics for you that may be interested.

Close-up of switch in dash plate.


Backside of switch. Tight squeeze but it just barely makes it.


Dash plate back on the Trike.


I think I may want to fill in the lettering with jb weld or something and paint it up. Then I can line it up with the stock ignition lables on the dash plate which could use fresh paint as well. Is there a better way to fill indented lettering on a chrome or stainless (guessing it's chrome) surface???

So this is where I'm at...

After messing with different wire positions by guessing, I got it to start fine but no lights would come on. I came inside and searched for about half an hour before I found something to go on by a similar switch on a site called Hooper Imports. Color codes are as follows respictively.

Hooper Imports product listing info for similar Lifan Switch -

Continuity for OFF is GREEN to BLACK / WHITE STRIPE
Continuity for ON is RED to BLACK

'84 Honda 125m Manual Wiring Diagram -

Continuity for OFF is GREEN to BLACK
Continuity for ON is RED to YELLOW / RED STRIPE

I wired it this way -

Switch GREEN to 125M GREEN
Switch BLACK / WHITE STRIPE to 125m BLACK

Switch RED to 125m RED
Switch BLACK to YELLOW / RED STRIPE

With this configuration...It starts with the key siwitch in the OFF position. Turns it off when switch to ON but the Neutral light now works and goes off when shifted. It almost seems like the headlight hi / lo is reversed. I can't tell for sure though. Any electrical gurus know which wires I may have crossed? I'm just happy to have made some progress.


Update again -

So I went back out late last night when the wife went to bed. Tried a few more configurations.

I basically switched the solid colors off each other in their respective continuity groups first with OFF, then with both at same time then with ON only. I lost lights on two of them again. And one switch in wiring seemed to do nothing.

I'm almost thinking the Lifan Continuity info is reversed? You wouldn't think wiring a simpre 4 wire / 2 position switch would be this hard. Throw in the Honda wiring schematic and it's a nightmare. LOL.

[DasUberKraut]

Is it possible I got the one switch that was wired backwards and not caught at QA by some drunk after lunch?

[Jon Boy]

hey that switch doesnt look bad at all on there, guess now to find out it's longevity. you could be right and the wires might be backwards in the switch, those things can happen. will dig into my manual in a bit and try and help figure it out. should be easier than mine since yours is an 84. mines an 85, but my manual goes up to 84. made figuring out my switch fun.

[DasUberKraut]

They could label stuff better in the manual.
What is "E"?

Thanks for all the help.

[Jon Boy]

been reading up on things when i could and not sure where your getting the E from. closest thing i could find was a referance to an E-clip.
i hear what your saying, i feel fairly competent usually when it comes to wiring (even rewired my truck, everything correct), but my 125 threw me for a loop when i was figuring out my key switch after i got it back from the impound. got it straightened out now, it's just waiting for me to get the key and switch.

can't say i'm 100% sure, but i think the color codes might be differant between the 84 and 85. i know the diagram i have in my book (Clymer 70-84 atc70-125) shows a differant color code than what my 125 has. here's the diagram i have from my book. hopefully it's clear enough to make out.

[DasUberKraut]

That looks right to me. I didn't use that layout thought. I just went with the keyswitch diagram itself. That's where the "E" came from. I didn't think to trace it all the way back with the actual wiring diagram on the next page. How logical would that have been? LOL. Anyways. I almost think it's just one wire messed up that's reversing the polarity. I think that's the proper term to use in this instance.

This is where I got my continuity from for the keyswitch. This is very similar to the one I bought off ebay. The picture on ebay didn't match what was in the box. I suspect it to be the same with this one. The wire colors match and it's a 4 wire / 2 position switch made by Lifan.
http://www.hooperimports.com/product..._id=IgnSwtch01

[Jon Boy]

i have to say the E must stand for Neg. funny how those kind of typos slip through.
i've been running it through my head and want to say you have it right the first time. IDK, you could've gotten a bad one. i did get curious and kept doing ok today when messing with mine (used the switch off my snowthrower/4wire 2position). :

[DasUberKraut]

My only other thought is that it's got to be cross wired for proper continuity? I think I'm gonna google it here in a minute after I finish my post. Otherwise I just have to blindly start trying random wires again and hope I hit it. If anything, get the switch to work properly again so I have some degree of theft protection. Then just wire the lights to a separate switch until I can afford a stock switch and key. I'm half tempted to order another for the whole $13 it is just to see if I got the one in the batch.

[DasUberKraut]

Haven't had a chance to tinker in the garage for a few days. Hopefully Monday.

[DasUberKraut]

UPDATE!!!

So I was out in the garage for a few minutes and decided to try a different wiring configuration. First one I tried I had success!!! What dumb luck.
Anyways... For anyone that is thinking of buying one of these Lifan aftermarket switches, here is the correct way to wire it to to a Honda (with similar wire colors).

Lifan GREEN to Honda RED
Lifan BLACK to Honda BLACK
Lifan RED to Honda GREEN
Lifan BLACK / WHITE STRIPE to Honda YELLOW / RED STRIPE.

Part of me thinks I was right and got an assbackwards switch though. I'm thinking the Red's should match up and the Greens. That's what was confusing me so much I'm guessing.

Thanks to everyone that chipped in.

[DasUberKraut]

So I bought another Lifan switch from the same seller on ebay. Used the same link as last time from my watch list. Got a different switch this time. LOL.



The lettering is different. It has a hex nut to mount it. (I don't like this, mine has an o-ring I had to tighten down with channel locks. This looks too easy to take out and hot wire). The body is round, not square. Not sure if it will mount securely into the dash plate. or not. Probably won't mess with it until the weekend.

[Jon Boy]

cool you got it figured out, so basicly the wiring on that first switch is backwards then? i must have missed it when you posted that.

this second one for the wife's 125 then? might try to "sandwich" a couple washers in there. one on top and bottom of the dash. threading might not have the stack height for 2 though.
also you might want to keep an eye out for a couple suspension forks for you both. at the very least she'll be happier and more comfortable.

[DasUberKraut]

I think the switch will fit but it's gonna be close. I may pick up some washers just in case though. I'm only 5 minutes from the hardware store so I usually just wing it and if I need something I make 2 or 3 trips to finish the project. I forgot to mention... as you can see in the pic for the new switch..they left the blue film from tooling on the face plate and the adhesive is still there. Also one tiny piece ripped off up by the F's in OFF...it's stuck inside a bit. Acetone will take care of the adhesive right quick though.


I just won a set of 86 185s 200s forks from ebay. They are only an hour away just south west of the Twin Cities. Those are mine though. I'm looking for a set for her. I gotta find out if I can use the 82 185s hub I have from a part out or if the125m stuff will fit. Of all the pics I've seen they all look the same until you get into the Big Red style of shocks with the disc brakes. The 125m headlight brackets and bucket also look like they will fit too. I just have to order a set of bearings. If I'm taking it apart I might as well treat it to some fresh grease and bearings ya know?