The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Help for a Forgetful old man

Ok guys I could use some help. Working on getting my Truck on the road for my son this summer. Well been tinkering with it in the garage while trying to adjust the carb and such. Well I have a bad habit of leaving the key in the ignition and in the "on" position. I have drained the battery twice now. Luckily I haven't yet burned up the points, yet. So what I would like is what others out there have done to help prevent this. I have thought about a kill switch in the seat but this would cause issue when working in the engine compartment while the engine was running. I could put a weight on the seat but then I have the same issue as I do now. If I forget and leave the weight on the seat, I will probably forget the key in the ignition. I have thought about a warning buzzer but not sure how this would work or how to set up. Any ideas???? I am willing to entertain any and all ideas. Thanks in advance!

This issue should go away after you are driving the truck. You will turn the key off to shut down the motor.

In the meantime, lock yourself out of the house, put the house key on the truck key ring.

Wayne
I like that idea and if I lived alone that would work. The back door to our house is the main entry for all of us including our 2 dogs. I thought about putting my key with my Daily driver vehicle keys but if I left them in the ignition I would not know it until the next morning. Thank you.

Wire a good-sized light bulb, like one for a brake light, to the hot side of the coil. Other than maybe having to recharge the battery occasionally, there's no downside- - - -more light under the hood to work by, and you've got a very effective visual reminder that the switch has been left in the "on" position.
Jerry

Jerry
Thank you. This will work and is simple. Great solution. I might even put a mercury switch inline to shut it off when the hood is closed. Awesome. Thanks again!

I'm an old man with the same problem. See my thread in the Electrical section. After ruining a $40 coil I think I will remember it for a while.

You will have to remove the switch when it's ready to drive unless you drive with the hood open.

I rewired the ignition light bulb to illuminate when the ignition is 'on' by wiring it to the hot pole of ignition switch. (Normally it will only come on when the headlights are on.)
If that doesn't work, I will surrender my drivers license to the proper authorities and hire a driver. I will call him Jeeves regardless of his given name.
Carl