Adding lights to harbor freight barstool?

[project_evolution75]

I have the 6.5 hp ohv motor from harbor freight, and would like to add a headlight taillight and a few small runner lights. Is there any way to power all this off the motor without adding abunch of stuff to my ride? if so exactly how would i wire it up?

[dtb69]

you will need a battery, to power lights etc,,, dtb,,,,,,,

[chris insull]

I added these bike lites from Bell to mine. Works great!
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5799305

[mudboger07]

I added the same style of lights as chris did on mine and they work great, Ive had them on now for about 2 months and havent had to change batteries yet.

[project_evolution75]

would i have to install a generator/alternator to charge the battery, or can i get around that? only reason i ask is i dont really have room for one and i would like something like a motorcycle headlight.

[chris insull]

There would need to be some kind of battery charging system on the BSR. I didn't do it because it was so simple to just add the Bell units... low to zero maintenance was the key for me!

[camaro67]

If you use led lights they wont pull as much amps as a regular bulb so you wouldnt have to charge the battery very often.

[mudboger07]

If you want the motor to charge the battery and its a harbor frieght Honda clone that is pull start you will have to visit a local lawn mower shop and get a flywheel, stator assembly, and wiring required to connect to the battery. The idea is ok but the cost and weight is kinda pricey unless you can find honda parts used. Most shops will charge 1/2 of what the part cost new for used parts. I'm guessing around $200 or so to make the lights work. Only other downfall this has is it make it harder to pull start due to the heavy flywheel. good luck on your choice.:cheers:

[speeddemon0308]

OR you can just put a little 12V battery and keep it charged.. if you use LED's they dont draw much power...

[mudboger07]

i like speeddemon's idea much better......:cheers:

[project_evolution75]

thx guys, i may just do the battery thing......

[Frank McGrath]

Or get a small generator and run it off the axle with belt drive.

[speeddemon0308]

be carful doin that.. will eaither fryy the generator.. OR over charge the abtery.. and KABOOM!

[Snakester]

I installed a headlight, rear lights and some accent lights under the frame of a Racer that I built for a friend of mine . I used a bicycle generator that was turned by the rear tire. The total cost was less than $75 and worked great! Snakester:cool_dude: I will post some pic's if I can find them.

[project_evolution75]

i was just looking at those, they are 6v3w generators, i would assume they would work well in conjunction with a square lantern battery as they are 6v as well. that would stop your lights from going out every time you stop, and youd be able to run them longer,brighter all that, youd just want the correct voltage lights to match.

[speeddemon0308]

its hard to fin some good 6V lights.. you can get small 12V sealed batteryis from a 4-wheeler or even a booster pack.. and then just throw it on a trickle charger when your not using it.. or just charge it when you notice the lights getting dim..

[BFORTNER]

mine is electric start and i added these. front hologen (got them off ebay)
rear are led running lights from Lowes. and in the coors light sixpack is the battery and all the electronics (horn relay, garage door opener actuated by a button on the bars, etc.)

[project_evolution75]

would a 12v generator for a bicycle charge a small 12v motorcycle battery, or do you think it wouldnt charge enough? i have both ill try that out and see what happens

[BFORTNER]

would a 12v generator for a bicycle charge a small 12v motorcycle battery, or do you think it wouldnt charge enough? i have both ill try that out and see what happens

IT WOULD BUT I'M PRETTY SURE YOU NEED SOME SORT OF REGULATOR TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM OVERCHARGING.

[speeddemon0308]

i dont think it will charge it enought...

if you use LED lights.. you can leave them on over night and they should still be good!!

[bowersboatworks38]

Bfortner where did you come up with the sixpack battery case. Great idea and looks pretty good also. Beer cooler in background is nice also. Thanks Lynn

[BFORTNER]

Bfortner where did you come up with the sixpack battery case. Great idea and looks pretty good also. Beer cooler in background is nice also. Thanks Lynn

hey Lynn (thats my dads name also)
thanks
the battery case is a tin box that was a promo from coors light, it's the actual size of a six pack. i stumbled upon it on ebay one day.
as far as the beer cooler in the back it's a early 70's coke machine that dispences bottles only and it holds 99 of them:cheers:

on the other side of the garage is my hot water heater painted up like a huge coors light can with a beer tap handle for the drain.

[bowersboatworks38]

Yes for the reply. Soninlaw and I been wondering about that sixpack. We've used lights on three of ours, but we're using the electric start. He's got a small ice chest for battery box on the dully. Hope everybody has a great weekend. It's time for NASCAR again, shops been rather dull withou the races on.

[Cerveja]

If you really hade a lot of time on your hands and the engine was optioned to accept an electric start, you could remove the protective shield for the electric start option and fabricate a small generator to power any accessories. If you shop around you may be able to find an old school bicycle generator which has a friction wheel. The friction wheel rubs against the tire and could power a bicycle headlight or small what not. You could remove the friction wheel and replace it with a gear and run it off the engine flywheel. Or leave the firction wheel and simply run if off one of the tires. Of course you would have to make sure the maximum RPM does not exceed the limits of the generator.

On a different note, who knows much about the ignition system on these little motors? To turn them off, you basically ground out the low voltage side of the coil for the spark plug. That leads me to believe that there must be a postive voltage on the engine side of the switch when the switch is in the on position. If that is the case, prviding you keep the resistance of the lighting to a minimum (such is the case with LED's) then you may be able to power limited amount of wattage. If you increase the resistance too much (such as a automotive headlamp) it will basically read as a direct short and cause the ignition system to short out effectiuvely turning off your engine. Using LED (Light Emitting DIODES) would not draw much electricity and the natural "Diode" nature of the device should go a long way towards avoiding backfeeding the ground into the ignition coil and causing the engine to shut off.

I've got some spare bulbs and some spare time tomorrow. By coincidence I have the kill switch removed from the snowblower which will be perfect to sample some lighting options while I am replacing the switch. I'll try a couple different watages and bulbs and see if anything works. Worse comes to worse I set the snowblower on fire. Not supposed to snow for a few days so that shouldn't be a problem.

[Cerveja]

Question - Answered! Spent a little time in the garage this morning messing with the snowblower and the future BSR motor. I put a multimeter across the terminals of the switch in the ON Position. Not knowing if I was dealing with an AC or DC system, I tried both. Both engines are 3.5 hp 2 Strokes of different vintages. One is a Briggs & Stratton, the other I don't recall. The are putting about .121 mVollts DC (not very stable) or 1.2 to 1.4 Volts AC depending engine rpm. I didn't bother putting an LED or incandescent across the terminals to see what happened. I figured at that low of a voltage output, it wouldn't be worth it. Maybe an experiment for tomorrow if the weather stays warm.