K11 Owners Group

HenryJonesJr

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:41 pm Post subject: Rostra Cruise Control VSS Connection
I am replacing a failed Audiovox vacuum-powered cruise control with a Rostra electric cruise control (model 250-1223).

What isn't completely clear to me is how to get the VSS input from my bike. I've seen elsewhere here in the forum that one can simply connect to the speedometer sensor under the right side cover and have it just work.

I haven't road-tested my installation yet, but when I tie into either of the wires coming from the speedo sensor (yellow or brown), I don't see the expected flashing LED from the Rostra when in diagnostic mode. All other diagnostic tests pass, so I think I've got the rest of it connected correctly.

So, my questions:
Can you just connect the speedo sensor to the grey (VSS) wire on the Rostra?
Also, should the LED flash when the rear wheel is spun by hand? (ignition on, Rostra in diagnostic mode)
_________________
1993 K1100LT / 1996 EML GT2000 Sidecar
2001 R1150GS

Riddle me this:
Two motorcycles are being ridden down a two-lane road. They are followed by a long line of cars.

What brand are the motorcycles?

drikko · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject:

That's correct, either wire from the sensor is ok, and dip switch 10 has to be set to Sine Wave input to work ie off. I could never see the diagnostic led but the Cruise Control worked anyway.

BTW there's an online manual here:-

http://www.rostra.com/manuals/250-1223Form4565G.pdf
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

HenryJonesJr · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:02 pm Post subject:

Ah, great news Drikko, thank you. (yours was the post that came closest to answering my two questions

I'll put the bike back together and test-ride it.

I used relays for the clutch lever switch, brake light and power supply from the battery.

Maybe I should post a detailed write-up of the installation so others could benefit, eh?

Cheers,

Hank
_________________
1993 K1100LT / 1996 EML GT2000 Sidecar
2001 R1150GS

Riddle me this:
Two motorcycles are being ridden down a two-lane road. They are followed by a long line of cars.

What brand are the motorcycles?

drikko · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:36 pm Post subject:

HenryJonesJr · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your switch settings.

The only thing is.... "actuating arm" - don't think I have one of those. Are you talking about the mechanical connection to the throttle body set?

Cheers,

Hank
_________________
1993 K1100LT / 1996 EML GT2000 Sidecar
2001 R1150GS

Riddle me this:
Two motorcycles are being ridden down a two-lane road. They are followed by a long line of cars.

What brand are the motorcycles?

drikko · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:27 pm Post subject:

yep, although there's any number of ways to attach it. Mines not on the Beemer any more, so I can't show you how I did it sorry.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

Number 6 · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 2:55 am Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 6:29 am Post subject:

HenryJonesJr · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:14 pm Post subject:

HenryJonesJr · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:19 pm Post subject:

drikko · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:29 pm Post subject:

I can understand why you did the clutch relay sort of but I didn't add relays to the brake or power, they just wired straight in no problems. No need for relays that I could see?

The clutch would need one as it's wired the wrong way around so the relay swaps it to suit the CC I suspect. Mind you I never connected the clutch, was just careful not to pull it in when the CC was on!
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

HenryJonesJr · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:45 pm Post subject:

drikko · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:04 am Post subject:

Totally agree, it can only be better, I just didn't worry about it and it worked fine Smile

BTW after about a year of use the 2 bolts that hold the actuating motor in place inside the CC unit itself vibrated out stopping it from working as the motor was rolling about inside the case. I had to pull the unit apart and loctite these bolts back in place, all good now, might be worth doing up front.

In case you are wondering how when you touch the brakes or clutch it disconnects the throttle so quickly, the actuating motor is connected to the actuating cable by an electro-magnet which is only activated when the CC is working. If you touch the brakes or clutch it turns the electro-magnet off to release the throttle instantly, in the meantime while you are avoiding the moron in front of you, the actuating motor winds back out to pick up the cable next time you activate it. Pretty smart and I assume all CCs work like this.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

Number 6 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:44 am Post subject:

OK, so as far as I understand you need one relay for the bakes and one for the clutch.
I was wondering how to do it with only one relay but I guess using directly the brake wiring and adding a relay operated by the clutch would mess with the brake light...
_________________
I am not a number, I am a free man.

94 K1100LT

HenryJonesJr · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 am Post subject:

Number 6 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:54 am Post subject:

drikko · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:02 am Post subject:

The clutch relay is needed to change which way around it works. Yes you could wire this relay into the brake light input as well so it pretends to be a 3rd brake switch which would work just as well but still only one relay strictly needed.

edit: Thinking about this is troubling me, as this will switch the brake light on when you pull the clutch in, reading up on the clutch option switch for cars you would put this relay for the clutch in series with the active brake light switch. See the manual which is rather badly worded/drawn here http://www.rostra.com/manuals/250-4206_Form2391A.pdf

So I'm not too sure what you would do for the clutch switch now, except don't have one.....

Edit edit: OK figured it out. The red brake positive wire or C in figure 34 of the CC diagram goes to the side of the brake light switch that is always positive. the Violet wire or D in fig 34 goes through the clutch switch relay which is normally closed if the clutch isn't actuated ie hand off the clutch then to the switched side of the brake light switch. This way the clutch will disengage the the CC by disconnecting the violet (D) wire while the clutch is pulled in and activating the relay. but it won't switch the brake light on.

Note this uses the filament of the brake light bulb to pull it to ground while the CC is active. So for the violet wire when it is grounded through the bulb the CC can operate, either disconnecting it with the clutch relay or pulling it to 12V with the brake light switch will shut the CC off letting the throttle off.

Makes sense to me now Smile

I'll draw it up tonight.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

HenryJonesJr · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject: