What have you done to your Himalayan today (or yesterday, or this week ...)

[JSP]

I replaced the original starter relay with a Yamaha starter relay and replaced the power/ground cables with 8 gauge cables. I did this because my starter was struggling while turning the engine over after installing a performance cam without the decompression feature. The 8 gauge cables ensure that there isn’t any power loss going to the starter which I could tell was happening because the original cables would get warm while cranking it over. After doing this and running the ground directly to the starter relay solenoid I don’t have issues with the motor starter.
View attachment 9166

Very Nice - What year and model for the Yamaha starter relay?

 

[Old Man Himmie]

Very Nice - What year and model for the Yamaha starter relay?

I got this one from Amazon. It’s for a V-Star although it looks like Yamaha uses this relay on a lot of their motorcycles and four wheelers. You will also need the four pin plug.

New Starter Relay Compatible With/Replacement For YAMAHA V-Star 1300 Deluxe XVS13BG 15 16 3D8-81940-00-00 12V https://a.co/d/96DQr0x

Starter Solenoid Relay Plug... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085NL656T?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[tangorider]

I didn't add an extension but cut off the OEM foot and welded a larger piece for the following two reasons: 1) OEM foot keep sinking into the ground to much for my liking 2) Also wanted to shorten the OEM stand in order to make the bike lean over a bit more - Went from OEM 15 degree's to now at 17 degree lean angle. Bike is a 2022 model.

Thank you for your response, JSP

 

[tangorider]

I put one on from eBay. Was cheapie for 20.00. Decently made but the screws weren’t flush on the bottom so when it’s on concrete your bike is basically sitting on 4 screw heads. Didn’t like it. Took it off. I wouldn’t get one unless your off road quite a bit I don’t think it’s needed

Thank you for your response, Gusable!

 

[Dool2]

That Red Cable looks like it will start a tractor,,,,,,,,, or a Himalayan with a performance Cam even

There is just now become available, Cams with decompressor fitted to overcome some of the high compression starter failures, I plan to test one in the coming weeks.

 

[Old Man Himmie]

That Red Cable looks like it will start a tractor,,,,,,,,, or a Himalayan with a performance Cam even

There is just now become available, Cams with decompressor fitted to overcome some of the high compression starter failures, I plan to test one in the coming weeks.

That Red Cable looks like it will start a tractor,,,,,,,,, or a Himalayan with a performance Cam even

There is just now become available, Cams with decompressor fitted to overcome some of the high compression starter failures, I plan to test one in the coming weeks.

Yes it does look like it could start a tractor
I’m anxious to see how the new cam works. Even though my starting issues have all but disappeared I’m sure over the long run it’s going to take a toll on the starter and battery.

 

[Roy Gavin]

Good looking mod !
On Nicole's Electra the spragg clutch suffered as well as the solenoid, if you didn't pull the decompression lever when starting- DAHIK!
My solenoid only has five wires, SW feed and earth and live feed off the red power in, where does the other wire go?
How much of the gear indicator and clutch Interlock still works with the direct earth from the solenoid ?
Just replaced stock solenoid to keep me starting , but planning a similar upgrade in the future!
Probably cheaper than replacing stock !

 

[Old Man Himmie]

Thanks Roy. Good questions.
Since I grew up without clutch switches and side stand switches I completely bypassed and removed the switches. Not everyone feels comfortable doing so but in all my years of riding I think I may have rode off with my kickstand down once. Same goes for the clutch switch, I’ve never had a negative experience without the clutch switch. My gear indicator still works after bypassing and running a ground directly to the starter relay solenoid.
Hopefully the marked up picture below will help understand how I hooked the new starter relay. I cut the connectors on the old starter relay as close to the relay as possible so I could use the original connectors and not cut into the bikes main wiring. This way I can always go back to the OEM relay if need be.

Wire description

GR - Ground wire for relay solenoid

SW - starter switch (brown wire with green stripe from OEM relay)

FB - Power to OEM fuse block (smaller red wire from OEM relay

B - Power from battery (upgraded to AWG 8 gauge wire)

M - Starter motor power (upgraded to AWG 8 gauge wire)

SF - Spare fuse (included with starter relay)

F - Accessory fuse (included with starter relay)

Acc - Fused accessory feeds (these two tabs are tied together internally)
This is a nice feature to add a couple of accessories to the bike.


Also not shown is I ran a new AWG 8 gauge ground wire to the starter motor replacing the OEM wire.

Note I originally ran the fuse block power wire thru the new relay and upped the fuse to 25 amps to protect the fuse block but I figured it is just redundant protection for the fuse block and I think the best way is to do it like I show in the drawing below.

Let me know if anything is confusing to you. I struggle at times being clear and skipping important details.

 

[Roy Gavin]

So you now have two new fused power take off points , and the fuse box is fed by the same terminal as the battery input.
Safety switches are a personal thing- when I changed my BMW GS stand from a fly up mounted on the front crash bar to a non fly up behind the footpeg i added a side stand switch, simply plugged into the neutral switch line.
Probably wont miss the clutch switch as long as the neutral light still works!
Thanks for that!

 

[grasscutter]

Removed the beak. May put it back, but I'm liking the look so far.

 

[tom_d]

I replaced the original starter relay with a Yamaha starter relay and replaced the power/ground cables with 8 gauge cables. I did this because my starter was struggling while turning the engine over after installing a performance cam without the decompression feature.

Just curious, which brand cam did you have this problem with? I haven't heard or seen this reported for the English made cams which have been out for the last couple of years.

 

[Old Man Himmie]

Just curious, which brand cam did you have this problem with? I haven't heard or seen this reported for the English made cams which have been out for the last couple of years.

That’s interesting tom_d. I figured all aftermarket cams without the decompression feature would act the same. Mine is an H-T cam which I’m very happy with other than the starting issue I was having when the piston was in the compression stroke. It would be interesting to hear what others experience has been that have installed a performance cam. Maybe my starter was borderline bad needing more current to turn the bike over than normal and with the new cam it was too much.
I know by making these modifications to the starting circuit my bike has never turned over so well even before adding the performance cam. It always seemed to labor when starting.

 

[wachuko]

That’s interesting tom_d. I figured all aftermarket cams without the decompression feature would act the same. Mine is an H-T cam which I’m very happy with other than the starting issue I was having when the piston was in the compression stroke when the starter button was pushed. It would be interesting to hear what others experience has been that have installed a performance cam. Maybe my starter was borderline bad needing more current to turn the bike over than normal and with the new cam it was too much.
I know by making these modifications to the starting circuit my bike has never turned over so well even before adding the performance cam. It always seemed to labor when starting.

The reported results from your change alone is reason enough for me to make this change when I get my bike... Adding to my list of mods. Thank you for sharing.

 

[grymsr]

ordered a Beaver Power PC-8 block. can't wait to hook it up.

 

[grasscutter]

Here's what it looks like without the beak.

 

[Dool2]

https://youtube.com/shorts/ttJIwZySU0c?feature=share

This what I completed this Morning, Oil cooler from Ali cost about $40 Australian is 40% larger in Fin area.
New Hoses with Banjo hose ends .

 

[JSP]

Completed a few items on the check list
• Shorten and made a bigger foot for the side stand.
• Fab'ed up some light mount tabs on the front rack/bars
• Since I had the side bars off whet ahead and welded in some reinforcements on the MGT bracket to support my GPS mount.
• Got all the electrical completed. I didn't want any additional switches added to the bike so I used a mix of solid state relays and mechanical relays to control the add on lights, tank bag and GPS power. System works as follows - key off all is disconnected - key on all is disconnected until the brake is pressed/pulled then after 5 seconds the yellow DRL, Tank bag and GPS are powered and stay in that state until the bike is turned off. The white driving lights are triggered by the high beam via a relay.
• Polished the OEM exhaust
• Relocated the plate. That was one the things I always disliked - mainly because I keep running into it when walking around the bike in the garage - the darn thing just hung down too low and too far out.

 

[Old Man Himmie]

Completed a few items on the check list
• Shorten and made a bigger foot for the side stand.
• Fab'ed up some light mount tabs on the front rack/bars
• Since I had the side bars off whet ahead and welded in some reinforcements on the MGT bracket to support my GPS mount.
• Got all the electrical completed. I didn't want any additional switches added to the bike so I used a mix of solid state relays and mechanical relays to control the add on lights, tank bag and GPS power. System works as follows - key off all is disconnected - key on all is disconnected until the brake is pressed/pulled then after 5 seconds the yellow DRL, Tank bag and GPS are powered and stay in that state until the bike is turned off. The white driving lights are triggered by the high beam via a relay.
• Polished the OEM exhaust
• Relocated the plate. That was one the things I always disliked - mainly because I keep running into it when walking around the bike in the garage - the darn thing just hung down too low and too far out.
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Nice work JSP

 

[JSP]

Nice work JSP

Thank you

 

[Dool2]

Love the Lights, good position.
The Look under the Seat is impressive.