Topic: help with 550 headlight/tail light wiring

[ratrods rule]

Sorry if this is somewhere in the archives, but the wife and I just got back from a ride and we had problems with both bikes so my patience at this point is as short as my..... well let's just say it is short.  I don't have a manual for our 75 cb 550 so I need some help. Neither the headlight nor tail light is working. They were both working when we left. The brake light works, both elements in the tail light bulb look good and I even replaced it with one I know is good just to make sure. When you turn the key all the up, the tail light comes on and it would be very coincidental for both the headlight and tail light to burn out at the same time. I looked at the 3 fuses on the left side and all look good. Without a wiring diagram I have no idea where to start. Any help would be appreciated. Time to get away from the honda and get to work on the HD. Thanks.

[TwoTired]

Is it an F or a K?
You got a headlight switch?

[csendker]

The wiring schematic on the main web site doesn't seem to be opening up, so here's a copy of mine.  It may be too small to read in the compressed format.  It's a generic 550, probably for a K.

[ratrods rule]

Thanks for the replys. The diagram is too small to make out and for some reason I can't expand it. I'm having as much luck with the computer as I am with the bikes. Also, here's a crazy question, what's the difference between an F and a K and how do you tell? Man, I feel dumb. Need beer, need beer now. Beer makes problems go away.

[csendker]

The K has an on-off headlight switch in addition to the hi-lo switch.  I don't think the F has the on-off.

And a couple of thoughts:

I had a fuse that 'looked' good, but was actually part-fried way up in the tube out of site.  Crappy connection in the fuse block overheated it.  Make sure your fuses really are good with a meter, and clean up the fuse block.

If the tail light comes on when the key is in the park position, then the tail lamp is functioning.  One common denominator for both the headlight and the taillight is the switch.  If the switch fried, neither will come on when the key is in run.  Neither will the gauge lights nor the front running lights.  Do any/all of the other lights work?

I can send you the real file, not compressed if you want.  PM me an e-mail address...

[csendker]

Also:

K: 4-4 original exhaust, F: 4-1 original exhaust
K: standard flip-top gas cap, F: hidden cap under a locking flap
Subtle electrical differences & subtle frame differences (mostly to accommodate the 4-1).

I can't remember the rest, someone else will likely chime in here.  Had beer, had beer at the hockey game last night.  I think my problems have yet to come back from wherever they go, but sooner or later they will with a vengence.

[ratrods rule]

  LMAO! I told you beer would help! After reading csendker's first post, I figured I had an F since there is no on/off, just hi/lo. I typed a reply thanking you and letting you know that I had already switched out the fuses and checked the fuse block connections. I figured the switch must be bad and was going to go see if the guage lights worked. Anyways, when I clicked on "post", the screen went blank. When I backed up, everything I typed was gone. I guess I have a post floating in cyberspace somewhere. So, I cracked open another beer and pondered what else could go wrong tonight. I thought I would refresh the page once more to look for my post before going out and checking on the guage lights when I noticed csendker's second post. Now, how can I have an F if I have 4-4 exhaust and a standard flip gas cap. HMMMMMMMM More beer to help me think better. So, back out to the bike I stumble, I mean go, and low and behold, hiding from me inconspicously on the opposite side on the hi/low switch is a little lever with the words " on - off " written neatly above them. The lever was pointing to the "off" side. I turned on the key, moved the little lever to the "on" side, and glory be to god I got light coming from everywhere! Holy crap! And to think I felt dumb before! Thanks guys, disaster averted.

[csendker]

Good news!  It's often the simple things that are the answer.

Now, how can I have an F if I have 4-4 exhaust and a standard flip gas cap.

An aftermarket 4-1 was a popular replacement when the OEM rotted out.  Like on mine.

[csendker]

I've just uploaded a bigger version of the 550 wiring schematic into my gallery (after searching all night for my user name and password ).

http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/Christopher/CB550Schematic.JPG.html?g2_navId=xada3c7ff