Author Topic: LED gear display (Read 8451 times)

Sannox · « **on:** 18 February 2015, 07:44:20 pm »

Has anyone tried fitting a gear indicator to a Fazer? Yes, I can count to 5, er 6 but was thinking of a blue LED one fitted into the fairing, behind and between the clocks, so can see at a glance. I know it's gimmicky etc but hey :-)

Fazafou · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 February 2015, 08:12:30 pm »

Haven't previously, but I'm thinking of making an Arduino one, there's some nice setups where people have fitted LEDs behind the rev counter so the gear is shown by the rev number if you see what I mean.

I agree it's a gimmick, but look good and when I had one as standard on a Tiger 800 surprisingly useful when you're looking for 7th gear.

Ruby Racing · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 February 2015, 08:13:11 pm »

They are gimmicky, but I still find them very useful. Haven't got one on the Fazer though.

Ruby Racing · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 February 2015, 08:14:08 pm »

Quote from: Fazafou on 18 February 2015, 08:12:30 pm

there's some nice setups where people have fitted LEDs behind the rev counter so the gear is shown by the rev number if you see what I mean.

That sounds well cool and very clever. I like it. A lot.

darrsi · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 February 2015, 08:14:17 pm »

If it screams, wheelies, or conks out, you're in the wrong gear.

fazersharp · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 February 2015, 12:11:24 am »

Just need one for 6th that says "thats it Thats your lot"

Paulfzs · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 February 2015, 02:15:58 am »

gimmicky but ive found times they have been useful like thinking im in 3rd but im in second and dropping to 1st or coming up to a big hill and realising im in 50th gear and about to stall.

Andy FZS · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 February 2015, 06:44:17 am »

I will admit on occasions I've looked for a mysterious 7th gear

Sannox · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 February 2015, 06:28:04 pm »

Ah, the mythical 7th gear all Fazer riders will look for, even if they never admit it in public, or maybe in some support group, My name is John and I ride a Fazer and I look for 7th :-)

I like the Ardrino idea but also the LED behing the rev counter to indicate the gears, the usual 7 seg LED display tends to be expensive for what it is, might dig through my components and see what I can build :-)

stevierst · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 February 2015, 08:23:05 pm »

Can a '6th gear light' be made. This'd be my only need.

Fazafou · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 February 2015, 07:19:42 am »

Quote from: Sannox on 20 February 2015, 06:28:04 pm

I like the Ardrino idea but also the LED behing the rev counter to indicate the gears, the usual 7 seg LED display tends to be expensive for what it is, might dig through my components and see what I can build :-)

Got my arduino version working on the bench last night.

Couple of hall sensors detect a magnet which will be fitted on the gear selector.

Works nicely and shifts the 7 segment through the gears. Just need to code the neutral light into it to 'calibrate' it.

rhinoeli · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 February 2015, 09:25:21 am »

Quote from: Fazafou on 22 February 2015, 07:19:42 am

Couple of hall sensors detect a magnet which will be fitted on the gear selector.

How many sensors are you using? Theoretically you could use only 2 of them.

It can work until you miss a gear. Then you have to go back to Neutral or up to 6th in order to "reset" the indicator. Gear calculation based on the speed and RPM signals would be a bit cleaner and easier to install I think. (Of course it also has a drawback: miscalculations when using the clutch.)

Fazafou · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 February 2015, 10:32:47 am »

Yeah I use 2 sensors to detect up or down shift then the neutral light to show an 'n' on the display.

The whole thing is a bit of a novelty and just a project for me to play with arduino and coding, so the odd missed gear messing it up until I reach 6th or neutral isn't a big deal to me.

The cleanest method I've seen was on the TDMs as they use a nylon disc on the spindle which you can wire contacts to, so the actual gear location can be truly indicated. I'm not sure of the fazer has the same fitting so will be looking for one as my next project if it does.

rhinoeli · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 February 2015, 05:32:06 pm »

Sadly it does not.

Sannox · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 March 2015, 10:33:08 pm »

Got me a cheap counter/7 seg display kit from Maplin, uses a switch to count with an onboard up/down selection, I ordered a blue 7 seg display to replace the green one that comes with the kit, the circuit alone won't count gear changes, going to have a play around with long reach microswitches and an additional circuit for switching, I did think about putting a disk onto the gear shaft, it is possible but a lot of faffing about, will see what I can come up with :-)

Sannox · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 May 2015, 12:35:23 am »

I went and bought one of these instead

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281606101693?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

What a tw@t to set up but got it going.

Sannox · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 May 2015, 12:45:17 am »

Display on a mount

Fazerider · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 May 2015, 06:24:33 am »

Hadn't seen that type of indicator before, I'd be interested to see how the sensors look.

Sannox · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 May 2015, 01:50:44 pm »

Will take a pic, 2 hall effect sensors and a small but powerful magnet that goes onto the gear lever.

crickleymal · « **Reply #19 on:** 06 May 2015, 10:00:54 am »

Quote from: darrsi on 18 February 2015, 08:14:17 pm

If it screams, wheelies, or conks out, you're in the wrong gear.

That's the way I do it too.

Although I have to confess I have looked for the mythical 7th gear on several bikes

stevierst · « **Reply #20 on:** 06 May 2015, 03:37:24 pm »

Aaaah, the mystical 7th gear!!!

I think everyone who searches for this holy grail should have a go on a Cagiva mito evo just to see how it feels.

Jules-C · « **Reply #21 on:** 06 May 2015, 04:21:41 pm »

I've found 7th gear on the Fazer a couple of times but most of the time it isn't there. There must be something in the gearbox design that only makes it available in some secret special circumstances

easym5 · « **Reply #22 on:** 09 May 2015, 01:04:55 pm »

I fitted the same one Sannox as you say pain to get magnet set just right but ok once set,handy for round town and no looking for 7th

Mike01 · « **Reply #23 on:** 09 May 2015, 06:26:49 pm »

I went for the Datatool option, easy to fit and set up

Yas1 · « **Reply #24 on:** 03 June 2015, 06:12:48 pm »

I got this one from ebay years ago, it's driven from a set of contacts on a plastic bung fitted in place of the original neutral switch. I have found it really useful when I've been pottering round town and then need to nail it as I hit the open road. And, of course, it's blue, mmmmm blue!