Accessory Power Connector Interference

While poking around inspecting things after today's ride, I noted something of concern. The accessory power connector on my 850 MKII sits above the rear of primary chaincase. Have seen other similar age bikes with it on the timing side.
The connector body has a lump broken off on its underside nearest the chaincase and one of the two little machine screws is partly exposed from the missing body area. A few yrs back I changed out the screws as they were corroded. Used a pair with larger diameter heads and thought nothing of it.
Today, with bike on CS, I was observing the gap around chaincase to Z plate when I noticed this:



The edge of that lower screw is very close to chaincase. Could not pass a 1/32" wire tween it and case.
I'm thinking this may be the cause of excess vibration, esp at left foot peg and not just mal-adjusted iso's. Also wondering if the fractured body was from previous impacts on chaincase in distant past.

Will try removing the whole connector as a test. Is there any problem moving it to timing side (do the connector leads reach)?

As you can see in my avatar I simply removed it forever entirely.
Unless in your case you actually use the thing. Great for shaving in the field or testing battery health , etc.

Tornado said:

While poking around inspecting things after today's ride, I noted something of concern. The accessory power connector on my 850 MKII sits above the rear of primary chaincase. Have seen other similar age bikes with it on the timing side.
The connector body has a lump broken off on its underside nearest the chaincase and one of the two little machine screws is partly exposed from the missing body area. A few yrs back I changed out the screws as they were corroded. Used a pair with larger diameter heads and thought nothing of it.
Today, with bike on CS, I was observing the gap around chaincase to Z plate when I noticed this:

View attachment 100583

The edge of that lower screw is very close to chaincase. Could not pass a 1/32" wire tween it and case.
I'm thinking this may be the cause of excess vibration, esp at left foot peg and not just mal-adjusted iso's. Also wondering if the fractured body was from previous impacts on chaincase in distant past.

Will try removing the whole connector as a test. Is there any problem moving it to timing side (do the connector leads reach)?

Click to expand...

AFAIK, it belongs on the timing side - never seen one on the drive side. I always eliminate them and unless you actually use it, I recommend that you do too.

Was hoping to one day make up a plug for it to run a phone charger, battery tender and even my heated jacket liner. This would let me do away with the SAE pigtail i've got there now for these items.

If you want to keep the plug, I'd definitely consider relocating it to the timing side location, both for originality and to negate potential damage to the primary case.

Tornado said:

Was hoping to one day make up a plug for it to run a phone charger, battery tender and even my heated jacket liner. This would let me do away with the SAE pigtail i've got there now for these items.

Click to expand...

I wired up a USB charger. Couldn't find a good place for it though

If you are going to use the accessory plug/socket for a phone charger lead follow the routine of plugging into the bike first before plugging the phone charger in. One time i plugged the phone charger into the lead i had made up and then went to plug into the accessory socket. The socket allows you to make contact, either way round, with the bikes 12volt system although the pins will only fit one way. Get it wrong and you kiss your charger goodbye, i found that out the hard way.
On a more light hearted note, the manual says the accessory socket is for the use of 12volt electric shavers. I've yet to find a 12volt shaver but i do have a 12 volt soldering iron complete with cigar light plug. maybe the factory was hedging there bets and wanted owners to have the facility to solder things anywhere they happen to end up!

Trouble lights were also popular back in the day. Not so much today with the excellent LED flashlights that are available. I used my plug for the battery charger before I went lithium. The Shorai uses a special charger and plugs into the battery.

dobba99 said:

If you are going to use the accessory plug/socket for a phone charger lead follow the routine of plugging into the bike first before plugging the phone charger in. One time i plugged the phone charger into the lead i had made up and then went to plug into the accessory socket. The socket allows you to make contact, either way round, with the bikes 12volt system although the pins will only fit one way. Get it wrong and you kiss your charger goodbye, i found that out the hard way.
On a more light hearted note, the manual says the accessory socket is for the use of 12volt electric shavers. I've yet to find a 12volt shaver but i do have a 12 volt soldering iron complete with cigar light plug. maybe the factory was hedging there bets and wanted owners to have the facility to solder things anywhere they happen to end up!

Click to expand...

I use my to charge my phone. I've found that if it's plugged in when I kick start my bike with a MkIII Boyer a voltage surge will blow the fuse in my charger. It's OK if the bike is running or off.

It's also handy for checking the battery voltage and charging it