Good day everyone,
My 1932 M9 currently has no anti-theft device — in fact, anyone who knows how can start it and ride away unless I have the heavy chain fitted. I have a few questions:
- Was an anti-theft device fitted originally, and could it be missing from my bike?
- Is there an easy way to install a keyed ignition switch that works with the original ignition?
My Sunbeam has a kind of "connector switch" that isn't connected. The black part in the middle can be removed. Is this original, and what is its intended function?
As far as I can tell, I have a Lucas MO1 magdyno fitted. That means I could install a magneto cut-out (for example from the Magneto Guys). That would offer two improvements:
- a small theft deterrent, and
- the ability to stop the engine with the ignition instead of using the valve lifter.
Does anyone have experience with this setup or suggestions?
Cheers,
Dani
not sure I can help but an Anti Theft device seems like a novel concept especially for 1933 I've never seen one but that doesn't mean they didn't exist.....you are correct though anyone who knows how to start it can do so and ride away the best anti theft device is to not leave the bike unattended these days if they want to steak your bike they will they'll just pick it up and put it in the back of a van locks demobilisers etc. and all or more usually these days they'll have some oik on a scooter waiting while his mate jumps on it scooter boy sticks his foot out onto the rear of the bike and they ride away freewheel pushing stylee.....if you intend to leave the bike unattended and I was overly concerned for it being pinched I'd pop the Spark plug out and stick a Padlock and chain on it.....as for your plastic turn switch it doesn't seem like much of an anti theft device if it's permanently inplace and you just switch it on or off...I'll hazzard a guess....could it be a Lucas switch between the battery for some sort of accessory or maybe something on a Sidecar.....ooh maybe at some point previous to your ownership someone fitted an electric anti sump valve.....https://www.themagnetoguys.co.uk/oil-tap-with-cut-out-switch......hahaha now I want to know what it is
Hi Russ,
It's true – if someone wants to steal a motorcycle, he'll do it.
The little thing on the LH side is not a switch. It's more like a connector that can be removed from the socket. No idea what it's really for. Maybe my grandpa installed it to prevent someone from switching the light on and draining the battery. That's actually the only explanation that makes sense to me. I also have a catalogue from the 1930s with various accessories for motorcycles and cars. I'll take a look to see if there's something similar advertised.
stick some more photos up pull the switch plug thing out and get some photos especially of any numbers....it may be a plug the cable has been removed from it that looks a s though it comes out of the hole and went to some kind of accessory such as an inspection lamp.....with regard to it being a switch for the lights I'm sure there's a switch on the back of the headlight or on the top of the tank for turning the lights on or off?
I'll take a better picture this weekend. It's definitely not the light switch – that one is installed on the handlebar. I thought maybe it could be:
- a master connector to easily disconnect the battery and avoid leakage current, or
- a protection against battery drain, since anyone could just turn on the light when the motorcycle is parked unattended somewhere.
Find below some better pictures of the connector device. Im really wondering, what the idea behind was.
Hi Dani, where does the central hole in the plug goes? Is there a connection to the two pins? Do the two holes match with a regular power plug (diameters and separation)?
Cheers, Thomas
Hi Thomas
In the midle hole of the connector is a screw. The two pins are internal connected. The distance between the pins is around 10 mm. I asked KI too, result was ,,Lucas Plug Type Switch". Not sure if true or a hallucination.
Sorry Dani, I have no idea... :(
the hole in the top of the 2 pin plug I'd say is for a cable.....is the socket it plugs into that's bolted to the frame wired into the electrical loom? it looks as though it's a power supply for an accessory did the bike ever have a side car fitted
The socket used to be wired into the wiringloom (rest of the wires visible), but before I took over the Sunbeam. The plug itself has no holes to install wires. The hole in the middle is with a screw to keep the pins fix. The pins are connected inside of the plug. No, definitiv never a sidecar installed.
The wiring diagram does not show a connection to the ignition system (as expected). Therefore, I suspect that this is not an anti-theft device, but at most some kind of battery cut-off switch. However, this is done automatically by the regulator's cut-out. In addition, there is no such device printed in the respective catalogue image (attached). If the machine would be mine I would simply unscrew the piece, store it and wait for a solution of the mystery.
Hi Thomas,
I dug out some old photos, and it's clear the device was never hooked up to the ignition. It's a bit fuzzy in the pics, but I'm pretty sure my granddad just used it as a battery cut-off switch—which actually makes perfect sense.
I could yank it out... but honestly, it's been sitting there for decades, so maybe it's earned its spot :)
You're right! Just leave it in place for the historical benefit. :)