I'm needing to buy a new ignition switch with key for my linhai. I'm not sure which I'm needing to get. It has a four pin female plug, but the AC/DC is what's confusing me. I've seen something about a 3 wire male plug but again, it mentions direct current. Can anyone help?

 

sorry, i'm not the electrical expert for the forum, LYNNEDWARDS is the expert, but here's a couple of websites for LINHAI parts/service that can help you out. it's worth a call or browse anyways.

ATV Sales and Service in Maryland and surrounding areas! Scootertronics Offers Service and Sales for ATVs

Key Lock Set - 4-Wire ATV Dirt Bike

some pics may be worth comparing what you actually have, then a phone call to determine part compatibility.
just trying to help.........

 

thanks a bunch, i'll look into these sites.

 

Somehow I missed this post until now.

On your wiring harness side, how many wires in the connector? What are their colors?

A four wire ignition switch has two switches inside ganged together on a common shaft. The two switches have independent functions:

1) Switching the battery power on and off to 12 volt DC powered accessories and to the starter interlock circuitry.

2) Switching the kill switch pin on the CDI to ground when the switch is turned off.

Switch (2) above is neccessary on CDI's which run from AC power generated in the stator. Since the ignition power is self contained you need to actively "kill" the engine spark to shut it down. Just removing 12 volt battery power does nothing since nothing in the ignition system runs on 12 volts.

On 12 volt DC powered CDI's the CDI needs 12 volts to run, so if you switch off the battery power it will kill the spark. So the second switch (#2 above) is unnecessary.

I think that is what you meant by the AC versus DC confusion.

I would find a switch that matches the connector in your wiring harness and buy it. Chances are good that it will work since most chinese manufacturers use the same generic parts to build their machines.

So out of curiousity, what is wrong with the old ignition switch?

 

Supplier problems when I bought it. I didn't receive a switch or switch harness and trying to get in touch with the supplier has been difficult. My son is itching to ride and I'm trying to find a way. Therefore, making sure that I get the right switch that won't cause havoc on the electrical system is important, lol. Thanks for your information, it's a big help. I will add, the plug that's on my atv is a female 4 prong, but it only has 2 wire, (red and black/red). Could you tell me why the 4 prong female with only 2 wires?

 

Having only two wires makes it really simple. "Off" is when those two wires are not connected together, and "on" is when they are connected.

Two wires in the harness also means you have a DC powered CDI.

By having a 4 pin connector it allows the wiring harness mate up with the 4 wire / 2 section ignition switches which are very common, cheap and available all over. The two wires for the kill switch part of the ignition switch aren't needed on your machine, and indeed they won't hook up to anything when you plug it in. But the other ignition switch section will hook up to your two harness wires and switch the battery power on and off.

 

Thanks LynnEdward...

You know your way around atv stuff. I went out on a limb and bought a switch off ebay. (here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ignition-Key-4-wires-Full-Size-ATVs-Chinese-Parts-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ad9c28972QQitemZ39020 0461682QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories). I'm hoping it's the right one. Can you tell by looking at it?

 

That's the generic chinese switch. The issue as to whether or not it will work are just mechanical. Will the switch fit in the hole where it is mounted without modification, do the two connectors mate up, etc. You could always cut off the connectors and solder the wires up if you have to.

The green and the black/white wires are the unnecessary wires on the switch BTW. The Red and Black wires on the switch should mate up with your Red and Black/Red wires in the harness.

 

Thank you so much. I wasn't sure about the extra wires. I'm due to get it in the mail today and will update later on whether it works right or not. Thanks again!!!