Topic: Headlight bucket wiring. Why in the bucket?

[DavePhipps]

Why does so much wiring go into the Headlight bucket. Wouldn't it be easier to use block connecters outside the bucket?

[Bob Wessner]

Tis a bit of a mess in there, like the wiring around my PC, no matter how much I try to keep it neat. I think block connectors would be too bulking to fit between the sealed beam and the headlight shell without making the headlight shell a good deal larger.

[Zaipai]

I don't know how much easier it would be but like on my CB550 it the blocks used by Honda would get in the way of other things. Plus there is all that room in the headlight why not use it. I believe they could have made it neater however they did it in a way that works for Honda and the support they provide. At least thats my thoughts on it and I always reserve the right to be wrong/incorrect. :-)

[DavePhipps]

Tis a bit of a mess in there, like the wiring around my PC, no matter how much I try to keep it neat. I think block connectors would be too bulking to fit between the sealed beam and the headlight shell without making the headlight shell a good deal larger.

I  know what  you mean by cables around the PC mine look like the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Actually I was thinking of using small block connectors outside of the bucket.

[fishhead]

 I run the wires to the coil area to get rid of all the hassles of the wiring inside the bucket (Full fairing has to be removed to get to the headlight bucket). I havent tried it with the stock tank, but it works fine with aftermarket tanks (Dunstall, Rickman,etc,) and cleans up the fairing blade area (it only has the needed wires running to the head light- head light and turns).

[Laminar]

I don't know how much easier it would be but like on my CB550 it the blocks used by Honda would get in the way of other things. Plus there is all that room in the headlight why not use it. I believe they could have made it neater however they did it in a way that works for Honda and the support they provide. At least thats my thoughts on it and I always reserve the right to be wrong/incorrect. :-)

The Nighthawk 550 uses block connectors going into the fuse box, which sits right under the headlight. Wiring is much easier to trace with that system than with the Flying Spaghetti Monster in the headlight bucket.

[Gordon]

Why does so much wiring go into the Headlight bucket. Wouldn't it be easier to use block connecters outside the bucket?

Try getting the switch pod wiring out of and back into the handlebars with block connectors on the ends.

[Spanner 1]

'Cos you got wiring to and from...let's see...headlight; headlight hi/lo switch; horn button; turn signals and running lights switch; kill-switch; ignition switch; start button; turn-signals and on some bikes, headlight on/off switch...and all switches mounted on the handlebars !!, and not including wires from the loom to service rear signals, brake light, tail-light..oh, I forgot the ignition coils and the front brake light switch wires...bucket's the only place to accommodate all this !!

[Laminar]

'Cos you got wiring to and from...let's see...headlight; headlight hi/lo switch; horn button; turn signals and running lights switch; kill-switch; ignition switch; start button; turn-signals and on some bikes, headlight on/off switch...and all switches mounted on the handlebars !!, and not including wires from the loom to service rear signals, brake light, tail-light..oh, I forgot the ignition coils and the front brake light switch wires...bucket's the only place to accommodate all this !!

Not really. The Nighthawk 550 has the fuse box mounted under the headlight, so the only wires going into the headlight are for the headlight and turn signals. Everything coming from the handlebars either goes into the fuse box or connects to the wiring harness via plastic plugs.

It's just how things were done back then.

[TwoTired]

Why does so much wiring go into the Headlight bucket. Wouldn't it be easier to use block connecters outside the bucket?

The headlight bucket does provide some shelter to the elements for the electrical connections.

[Spanner 1]

So the wires from all the handlebar switches on a 550 go to 'plugs' where...sounds like under the tank...is that more accessible than the h/l bucket ? I don't think so....

[TwoTired]

While all the 550's have similar wiring, the details of where there are connections vary between models.
The F models share connection points in the headlight shell and the under the tank there is a box on the left side.

K models prior to 77 had the bulk of the connectors in the headlight shell only

In 77 the K models got block connectors for the bar control wires.  Connectors went in the headlight shell. Wires ran outside the bars.

As I said before, Honda did some things to keep the connectors out of the elements.  The headlight shell offers some protection, and even when connection were made under the tank, there was a box to fit over them.  Neither were air tight, but rain would normally fall past the openings...usually.

[DavePhipps]

Most moderm bikes have thier wiring and block connecters exposed to the elements. With judicious use of dialectric grease there should never be a problem being exsposed to weather.
I'm leaving my 74 550 stock nicluding wiring. When I get to the 76  550 I'll setup block connecters and post a report on how they did in the weather.

[Alan F.]

My 90's 750 Nighthawk has block connectors in the headlight bucket where the switch pods connect to the harness, the bucket is molded to keep the connectors in place with a small clip to keep them from popping loose.

[FunJimmy]

It can be done with a little planning and small block connectors.
This is my CB550 headlight bucket and it all works fine.
There's even adequate room for the two headlight relays!

[DavePhipps]

Now that's one nicely organised setup Jimmy

[heyjones]

That turned out great! Any reason why I couldn't get my 750 to look that clean?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Our F's have the other connector box in front of the down tubes right where an oil cooler shoud/would go. I'd love for ALL my connectors to be behind the headlight!