Automatic Plate Tilters - not PC!!

**madboy** · 1st February 2005, 12:30

Okay, okay... this thread like the debate on Police/runners etc will polarise - you're either into it or you're not... I'm not asking for the moral debate on this one. You don't like, you don't need to read.

I saw, and don't recall who posted it, a short vid of someone with a plate that tilted upward at the press of a button. Something that I have long considered a worthwhile engineering experiment.

I don't want to run with no plate. Last time I did that my fuel consumption went up so much I ended up pushing the bastard 5 kms down the mway - not something you want to do in breach of your license conditions with no plate on!! Just that for those times when it is cost effective to have your plate less prominently displayed, well, some form of electric device would be helpful.

I'm thinking a hinge across the top and a central locking motor strategically placed would do the trick. I've been told a choke cable would have the same effect, but it's just sooooo low-tech. Prefer an electric solution. Tried to whip something up on the weekend but the two spare motors I had were shagged.

The only real area I'm not sure on is wiring the motor. They have two wires. Stick +/- into it and it goes up, stick -/+ into it and it does down. All well and good when you're sitting there with bare wires but can you put a three position switch on there and it goes one way up and the other way down? Or do you need relays or little things to stop the current flowing back? Or should I have just paid more attention to 5th form?

Do I need to reinvent the wheel here, or has someone got some brilliant advice on creating one of these devices before I go to the trouble? Bearing in mind I've got enough hinges, wire, switches, relays and a new door lock motor is bugger all from Dickies or Ripco - so I don't wanna import some device from the US with a cracking markup on it!!!

Any suggestions, pointers, etc?

**jrandom** · 1st February 2005, 12:46

Attach the plate with magnets, instead of screws. Practice reaching around at speed and yanking it off.

Job's a good 'un.

**Blakamin** · 1st February 2005, 12:46

what you need is a solenoid that just pushes a rod when powered... then a spring to return it... Gman has some ideas, and when he stops being a lazy prick we'll finish it

**Drunken Monkey** · 1st February 2005, 12:50

You can order some after market kits also. Look at last month's Superbike Mag (might still be on the shelves), go to the 'long termers' section and check out Jayne's R6.

**Biff** · 1st February 2005, 12:52

Originally Posted by jrandom

Attach the plate with magnets, instead of screws. Practice reaching around at speed and yanking it off.

Job's a good 'un.

If I could reach around the back of my Bird (it's a looooong bike) while it was stationary let alone while travelling at speed I'd be in a bloody circus, as oppossed to my current job as a producer for Playboy.

**jrandom** · 1st February 2005, 12:54

Originally Posted by Biff Baff

If I could reach around the back of my Bird (it's a looooong bike) while it was stationary let alone while travelling at speed I'd be in a bloody circus, as oppossed to my current job as a producer for Playboy.

So trade it for an XB9.

Duh.

**bugjuice** · 1st February 2005, 13:05

This is what you want (about half way down the page).
There was a thread on something like this last week and couldn't find what I was on about, so here it is..
Makes for 'more aerodynamical' resistance 'while racing on a track' of course..

**Hitcher** · 1st February 2005, 13:10

I wondered what the "Rotate Plate" button was for...

**scumdog** · 1st February 2005, 13:15

Central locking door lock solenoid + ingenuity?

Go slower and save the effort?

**sedge** · 1st February 2005, 13:17

Originally Posted by Biff Baff

If I could reach around the back of my Bird (it's a looooong bike) while it was stationary let alone while travelling at speed I'd be in a bloody circus, as oppossed to my current job as a producer for Playboy.

Heh heh... I dunno why, but I read from the Back forwards... I guess playboy just drew the eyes in eh ?...

"I work for Playboy, I can reach around to the back of my bird while travelling at speed, I should be in a circus."

Frecking weirdo...

sedge.

**TonyB** · 1st February 2005, 13:22

What about the motors they use to fold back the mirrors on Jap cars? They must already have some sort of limit switch arrangement to stop them at both ends. Could be worth a look.

**Biff** · 1st February 2005, 13:24

Originally Posted by jrandom

So trade it for an XB9.

Duh.

No chance, and never have to work with all those loverly ladies again!!!!

**Deano** · 1st February 2005, 13:27

I know a certain KBer that had a low tech method using electric wire connectors and a fishing line to drop the plate flat. No way of it coming back up though until you stop.

**blackbandit** · 1st February 2005, 13:31

i spent many years riding in London. my answer to the tilting plate was to carry a bike cover on my sports rack and let the corner hang down covering the plate. in over 20 years riding i only got stopped a couple of times. i had the perfect excuse,
"sorry officer it must have slipped"