Can anyone possibly educate me, I have a 1973 RT3 360, I am doing a restorative restoration on bike.
Ignition has one position on key and that is to start.
Years ago I had one of these bikes and I thought there was a 2 position on the key. You could turn key to have just lights on???
Your input is helpful, thank you

Yes, key should have the two positions as you describe, although in position two the engine had to be running in order for the lights to work.

Here is a link to the photos on the CMSNL site.

MAIN SWITCH ASSY. for Yamaha - order at CMSNL

The above comments apply to US/Canada bikes. Mainland Europe (not UK) got a handful of these bikes, and I'd be fairly sure that the ignition switch and left switchgear set up was different. I'm not sure about Aus/NZ models.

 

thank you, i tthought i was headed in right direction
 

just to re-clarify on the 2 positions do you mean off being position one, and position two bike is running with lights on of course.
Is there another position where you can turn key and have lights on and engine not running,
I had a CT3 many years ago and Im thinking it had these different positions...maybe i just have CRS ...lol

There are 3 positions if you include off:-

1 = off and key can be removed.

2 = on, engine can run, but no lights.

3 = on, engine can run and headlight and meter lights will come on.

You can't have the headlight and meter lights on without the engine running and key in position 3. However, the tail light runs direct from the battery, so this will come on in position 3 without the engine running. 

right... so i definitely have the wrong ignition as I only have #1 & #2.
My hunt continues for correct switch.
Thank you

Is your left side handlebar switch correct? YHA205 should be cast on the underside of the lower case half and the hole for the toggle on the right of the switch should have a grey blanking plug fitted into it (other models used the same switchgear, but with the lights on/off function active).

I just bought the correct switch gear YHA205, going to restore it as well.I guess I still need to look for proper main ignition switch.

I have several NOS main ignition switch assemblies. Send me a PM.

thx sent a PM with my email.