Here is a question I have wanted to ask on this forum for quite a long time.
Have you heard a recommendation to turn your kill switch off when your scooter is not being used - like parked for several hours, or sitting overnight?
I got my scooter - a used one - end of June 08. It was going perfectly every day, until about a month later it failed to start. I suspected a dead battery.
I went to my local scooter repair place and described the symptoms. They confirmed the battery problem. They asked me to bring the battery over, they would charge it, and then test if it works properly.
The next day the battery was fully re-charged, and they said it was good. I paid $6 .
Before I left, the mechanic told me that many people didn't know that in some scooters the kill switch DEPLETES the battery fast, if not turned off when engine is off.
Ever since then I dutifully turn the switch on and off.
However, whenever I see a scooter parked (quite many in my area) I always check their kill switch.
I haven't seen a single one, since July08, with kill switch off. Everyone has it ON.
I would be interested to hear some opinions.

I always kill my kill switch after I turn the key to shut off my scooter. I've (knock on wood) never had any battery problems with my vespa or my piaggio.

_________________
Jess
PIAGGIO BV500 for sale!!!!

I alway hit the kill switch then turn the key. Either way will work

_________________
Beers, Buds, Bikes and BBQ - Life is good!

Never heard of it but if it works for you I'd go with it.
I don't use my kill switch, no dead battery.

I've never intentionally used my kill switch. Now unintentionally, yes
Never had battery issues.

I always turn my scooter off by using the kill switch, so it's always in the off position when parked. I had trouble with my battery a month or two after buying mine too. Just a bad battery, probably had sat in storage for a while or something. I also ride very short distances for commuting which is hard on a battery. Now I try and make sure I go for longer rides once a week to help keep the battery charged.

_________________
------------------------------

I learned the hard way. I ALWAYS turn my kill switch off when not riding. ALWAYS.

_________________
BB's Delivery Service
Established 2008

What did you learn?

OK, a question.

If your scooter is turned off and the key is removed, but the kill switch is
not turned off, then what is draining the battery?

It's always possible that my mechanic made a mistake, but he claims that the electrical system on my ET2 will drain the battery if I leave the kill switch on. I did run down the battery a few times and found the kill switch on. I always turn it off now. Of course I always plug it into my trickle (auto cut off) battery when it's at home as well.

I think the ET2 is a quirky little thing. But I love her anyway.

_________________
BB's Delivery Service
Established 2008

My bad, didn't mean to insult you, your scooter or your mechanic.
Sorry

The Kill switch was created as an American adaptation that is primarily meant for emergency situations to instantly turn off your engine. I agree with shutting it off when not riding. I haven't rode my scooters in months and they are parked in the Garage with their kill switch killed. Last week I started them both in the garage after about a month or so of not touching them and they both started up and stayed running fine.

_________________
Jess
PIAGGIO BV500 for sale!!!!

Seriously? No offense taken. That's the problem with forums and emails. Even with smilies we can't see each other's facial expression and voice inflections.

I have wondered myself if the mechanic in question knows what he's talking about sometimes. Like that weird rattling sound that he said was my license plate -- it isn't. Maybe I have an invisible gremlin bell?

The way I figure it, everyone's scooter has it's own "personality." What's good for me might not be appropriate for you and vice versa.

But it's fun to share and read about everyone's individual experiences. Yes?

_________________
BB's Delivery Service
Established 2008

Yeah. I want to know the answer to that question as well. I used to drive an old Toyota when the Youngest Member was an infant. In my sleep deprived state I left the lights on several times. The key was out of the ignition. The car was turned off, parked and locked up. How come the light stayed on? And also, what would I have done without AAA? my heroes.

There are some things I will never understand. But I can play the piano. I can only hope that I'm not being taken advantage of by the mechanics of this world.

_________________
BB's Delivery Service
Established 2008

I am just getting my scooter back from it's scheduled service and had to have the battery replaced. I asked the technician what may have killed the battery and he asked me if I have had it hooked up to a battery tender. I told him "No" and then asked him about this kill switch question. He said that he has heard talk of it but he didn't necessarily agree. With my scooter in particular, he told me to always keep it on the tender, especially in this cold weather. Who knows! I personally think that everyones scooter does have it's own quirks and if it avoids the problem for you, then do it! Ellen has posed a great question, though. With the scooter off and the kill switch unactivated, what is draining a scooter to where it would drain the battery? I am going to ask again, different technician next time to see what kind of answer I get.

_________________
There is no place like home . . . unless you are on the back of a scooter!