GEAR Indicator

Delpel · 08-17-2004, 10:19 AM

Anybody fitted a Gear Indicator. I'm fed up with trying to find that 7th gear.

Found this site but not sure about the switch.

http://www.ledgear.co.uk/

A R1100S rider in the UK says a GS switch will fit and may work.

What do you think?

Regards

Derek

Anton · 08-17-2004, 10:29 AM

I too have a habit of trying to find 7th. Two pieces of advice: Watch the tach, try and compare engine speed and road speed in 6th. On my bike in 6th 1000rpms is just under 20mph. So, 60mph = a little over 3 grand, 100mph = ~5500. Also when in 6th, the shift lever has a little upwards play in it. If I think there may be a gear left, I give the lever a little feel with the boot, if there is resistance, I pull in the clutch and shift, no resistance, I'm already in 6th.

repoe3 · 08-17-2004, 10:36 AM

here are simple easy ways to remember:

6th gear=4500 rpms at 80-85mph
5th gear=4500 rpms at 70ish mph

repoe3

Moybin · 08-17-2004, 11:18 AM

I still had the habit of looking for the gear indicator, a left over from my K100C.

I don't get out on the open roads enough to worry about the 6th gear computations, I'm always trying to figure out if I'm in 3rd or 4th. I just remember that at 45 in 4th the tach and speedo needles are almost parallel. Monkey no need numbers, just pointy thingies, red mean NO.

[But I AM interested in retrofitting a gear indicator, particularly if the sensor for a GS will fit our Xmissions. A BCD converter circuit would be a piece of cake to gin-up]

Delpel · 08-17-2004, 11:18 PM

Moybin,

Check out this link. He has used a gear position encoder from a K1200RS which apparently fits directly inplace of the S neutral switch.

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/captainstempynet/r1100s.html

Follow the link and there is a truth table for the outputs of this switch.

What do you reckon.

Regards

Derek

shovelstrokeed · 08-18-2004, 02:11 AM

I'm confused, is this really an issue?
Try to modify your riding habits.
Mine make it simple.
Speed < 70, I'm in 5th, speed > 70 I'm in 6th.
'Course this only applies to trolling along. If I'm hustling, I'm in whatever gear keeps the motor above 6K RPM.

Ed

dsl · 04:45 AM

This worked for me:

I'm pretty sure that on all BMWs, the shift lever will always move freely up when your in top gear (6th) and freely down in bottom gear (1st) when you put the slightest pressure on the lever (clutch lever out) so can always check when your in 1st and 6th.

As Moybin mentions above, I think you'll find that only in 4th gear the tach and speedo needles move in near perfect parrellel throughout the entire rev range.

Knowing this, if the tach needle is on a steeper angle than the speedo, you're in 3rd. If the speedo needle is on a steeper angle than the tach, you're in 5th.

Assume you can easily guess when you're in 2nd.

Try it... it works at an easy glance and no calculations.

Moybin · 08-18-2004, 08:41 AM

Thanks Derek, I will certainly check into it. My frustration comes with keeping track of gears in urban low speed operations. Yeah, I ought to just listen to the engine, but what the heck, I like gizmos!!!!

Delpel · 08-18-2004, 10:53 AM

Moybin, I'm with you there dude. I rarely look down at the gauges when I'm giving her some stick out on the twisties, just listen to the engine and feel for that floating theres nothing there feeling when in 6th.
But I do love my gadgets. Hell I'm even thinking of an oil temperature meter!!!!!

Moybin · 08-18-2004, 12:33 PM

I'm napkin-engineering the logic tree right now from that UK rider. I scoured his website and couldn't find an email address. If I could email him I've got a couple of questions to ask, but it's nothing I can't figure out here with an ohmmeter and the K1200RS switch in my hands.

I think I will go over to IBMWR.org and post a "Wanted" for such a switch, no sense buying a brand new one if I can find one off a wrecked K bike.

ejfbmw · 08-18-2004, 01:21 PM

My old K spoiled/ruined me with its' gear indicator. If it were easy enough to add one to my SBX I'd do it right now.

Moybin · 06:26 PM

Okay, I went to the website listed in Delpel's post above, and found a data table for the K1200RS switch. Only trouble is, I can't decide if his "X" means the switch is closed or open, same for his "0". Is that "open" or "ON"? I need to have a switch in hand, obviously.

Either way, the switch is set up to output straight binary numbers. If "X" means "ON" then the outputs of the switch (just wires 2, 3 & 4) need to be inverted, otherwise they can be sent directly to a BCD converter/driver chip like the SN74LS47N by Texas Instruments (DigiKey part 296-3712-5-ND) a freaking $1.20 each, runs on DC up to 15 volts! A Quad Inverter chip is about $0.40! Wow, break the bank. I figure the switch is going to be $50+ new from the dealer (any wagers?)

So from the look of it, we need a male & female automotive electrical socket with 5 pins, some 18 ga. wire, 2 chips, an etched printed circuit board (if we want to be fancy), a 7-segment LED display (a nice one @ 1.3" tall in red or green is $3.08 from DigiKey), and the switch. Way less than $75 if I don't miss the mark.

So I guess I need to find a switch and start tinkering. Sounds like a perfect nights & evenings project.

ps: I think I could even preserve the freaking Neutral light if I wanted to (but why?).

The output would read "0 1 2 3 4 5 6" where "0" is Neutral.

pps: I think I found Cap't Stimpy's email address, and have sent him a request to clarify the logic table.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Indicator on my Commando uses no electricity. (You'd need a flashlight at night though)

Jim

markjenn · 08-18-2004, 09:09 PM

I use the "nudge the lever and see if it is free" trick all the time to check 6th. It is super easy and can be done without looking down at some gizmo on the dash. Most Japanese bikes are differnent - the lever feels the same in 5th as 6th, so this is a nice feature on our BMWs.

- Mark

Delpel · 08-18-2004, 10:02 PM

Moybin, If you want Capt Stempy you can usualy find him at the UK Boxertrix site.

http://cgi.blackbriard.force9.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php?sid=2d7940af32c41e518f6333747510b7f4

Sounds like you got a handle on this. Will be interested in the outcome. God I hate clever people ;o)

Regards

Derek

Moybin · 05:39 AM

I have heard back from Capt Stempy with useful info. Thanks Delpel for your support. It appears that the "X" means the switch is connected to Wire #1. If Wire #1 is provided with positive voltage (made "hot"), then the switch outputs the proper binary signal for the Binary-to-7 segment chip to convert and display.

I've got a Want Ad up on IBMWR looking for a used switch right now. So far no contacts have been made.

ps: perhaps I'm clever, but I will admit to being dangerous (mostly to myself)