Topic: 1975 CB400F starter button

[kart74]

OK so the starter button was missing from my switch. This in turn was preventing the electric start from working (obviously) and it also prevented the head light from working. I found a used swith on ebay which i purchased. It arrived today and sadly also has issues. The starter button would push in but was very slow to come back out. I figured it needed a good cleaning and maybe a new spring. When i took it apart i found a bunch of broken plastic which all fell apart. It seems that the starter button is housed in a plastic cup of sorts. Does anyone have a picture of a working switch? Or has anyone ever rebuilt one of these? I cant believe that the only solution is to go buy a brand new switch for $160 bucks. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[sir funk]

If you join the Yahoo CB400F group there are a couple of images showing a rebuild. 

When you either get a new switch or repair the old, you may want to use a relay to prevent the premature failure of the replacement switch.  This will prevent the current for the headlight from being routed over the switch. Hondaman also has a premade relay kit @ sohc4store. 

New Switch for $100 - ebay item #190629005481

Also, there was a post detailing using a radio shack switch in place of the original. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=14052.msg137973#msg137973 

[Bodi]

The problem is usually the plastic innards of the switch assembly. They turn brittle and disintegrate, and a new part is unobtainable. Buying a used switchpod brings you an equally brittle plastic piece that will soon disintegrate. New is the only way to go to get one that will last a few decades: I believe the CMSNL ones have better innards that should not fail the same way. Be aware that 75/76 400Fs with no headlight ON/OFF switch will have had a trick wire in the original switchpod wiring harness that is not included in the current switchless replacement pod available. This is pretty easy to work around but you will have no headlight power until you do so.
Also, the starter switch carries the headlight power (so it can turn the headlight off while starting). If (when) the contacts corrode, the switch will heat up inside - this accelerates the degradation of the plastic. The relay suggested avoids that problem but hacking up the wiring harness is probably the #1 complaint I see here about previous owners.