Ignition cabling and Magneto killswitch

I have two questions, the second of which was caused by my own attempts at answering the first.
So, I'm VERY new to motorcycles, and I'm a total, frustrating idiot when it comes to mechanical aptitude in general.
I purchased a beautiful 1974 Commando 850, which had been equipped with a Joe Hunt Magneto. It's not pretty, but it works as advertised. I bought the bike as I'd hoped it would have enough "issues" that I'd have to learn, and yet have enough user-serviceable parts that I'd eventually be able to start fixing / tinkering myself. I don't mean that disrespectfully, I simply figured, perhaps incorrectly, that something from this era, other than being beautiful, would have fewer computer-controlled and "sealed" parts.

Since purchasing the bike, I haven't been happy with the engine killswitch, which is essentially a loose wire hanging from the magneto that I press agains the upper part of the engine when I want to kill it. Being new, this scared the shit out of me, but I've been told by a couple of mechanics now that it would cause no damage to the bike or its engine (and that if the wire was long enough, I could touch it to any "ground").

I tried using the wiring diagrams from my shop manual, along with a graphic somebody on this forum supplied (L.A.B - perhaps not the original poster of the graphic - from this forum topic: ignition-switch-wiring-t5743.html)

I thought I may be able to connect the killswitch cable to one of the terminal posts, but I've not had luck - attaching the cable to any of the terminals causes a short, as I guess should be expected.

So, after that wall of text, my questions are:

1. Is there a way to do this, and if there is, could somebody explain it in <total idiot> layperson terms?
2. I feel even sillier asking this - but on the ignition switch has 2 terminal posts for #1, #2, and #3, while number 4 is a single post. Does it matter to which of the two posts I connect the cables to?
For example, if I want to connect NG (Brown/Green wire) to terminal 3, does it matter if I connect the wire to the left post or the right post?

I appreciate any responses to this question, folks - I know there have been a few ignition related discussions in the past - I hope this question is different enough to warrant responses.

Thanks!

Most Britbike suppliers can sell you a simple pushbutton switch that mounts to the handlebars for a kill button. Simplest way out. If the terminals have two connections both going to the same post on the switch can't see why ut would matter which you hook to.
FWIW
MIkeG

gardenzombie said:

I tried using the wiring diagrams from my shop manual, along with a graphic somebody on this forum supplied (L.A.B - perhaps not the original poster of the graphic - from this forum topic: ignition-switch-wiring-t5743.html)

I thought I may be able to connect the killswitch cable to one of the terminal posts, but I've not had luck - attaching the cable to any of the terminals causes a short, as I guess should be expected.

Click to expand...

In order to "kill" a magneto, the switch is normally one that connects the magneto wire to ground and none of the terminals of the existing ignition switch are suitable for that purpose.

gardenzombie said:

1. Is there a way to do this, and if there is, could somebody explain it in <total idiot> layperson terms?

Click to expand...

You need a simple ground switch.

gardenzombie said:

2. I feel even sillier asking this - but on the ignition switch has 2 terminal posts for #1, #2, and #3, while number 4 is a single post. Does it matter to which of the two posts I connect the cables to?
For example, if I want to connect NG (Brown/Green wire) to terminal 3, does it matter if I connect the wire to the left post or the right post?

Click to expand...

Double terminals are "common" therefore it doesn't matter which one is used.

All you need to do is hide a toggle switch somewhere that is easy to reach when sitting on the bike, the kill wire from the maggie to the toggle switch and another wire from the toggle switch to ground on the frame close to the toggle switch, this is how I run my Joe Hunt on my 850, the switch is hidden under the seat.

This is the only ignition switch I have on my Norton, I run my lights off the alt. and don't have a battery another toggle switch for the lights.

Hope this helps

Ashley

Thanks for all the replies - sounds like a switch / toggle is the way to go.

Solder it to a bit of old hacksaw blade a few inches long . Tape the bar a few turns then that over the tape . Thumb Pressure will GROUND to the BAR .
This is the High Tech Works Daytona F-750 Triumph Fitting. Very Expensive . :lol: 8)

Cant remember if I had two lh or rh or one of ea or both opposite :wink: but the RH switch block , or was it the left , Id ' bridged ' a short wire ,
maybe centre to outer contact. Gave OFF - ON - OFF , up centre down . Quite Basic . Earth I presume as 2MC capacitor & no battery . just a 1 in. wire .
COULD have been in ign. circuit though I doubt it . Had a Red top button ( std square one ) a' push 'kill switch too . & opposite one as ' headlamp flasher '.