Topic: wiring harness compatibility

[geoffreylr]

Does anyone know if the wiring harness from a 1971 cb 500 is compatible with the wiring harness needed by a 1972 cb 500 bike?

Thanks for the information!

[chippyfive50]

I think your big obsticle is going to be different "molex"  connectors and pins.  The older pins/sockets were round, and the newer ones are blades.......

[bryanj]

As the other man said the loom changes. Depends on wether yours is a "K" or just a CB500. (sometimes known as K1 and K0)

[scunny]

#$%*e, I've owned 2 500's and only knew them by the year, ignorance is bliss I hope 

[geoffreylr]

How do I know whether it is a K or simply a 500?  It is a inline four cylinder machine. 

[TwoTired]

http://sohc4.us/?q=node/132

Look up your engine and frame serial number.

[geoffreylr]

   Talked to my local Honda parts man.  The 72 and 73 cb 500's are compatible; 71 isn't with the 72.  What parts bike do I have sitting in my garage? A 71; however he thought that they would be very similar so, I am out to the garage to give it a try.  Thanks for all the help,  I will let you know if it works.  I want to ride in a poker run on Saturday!!

[bryanj]

It will fit if you also fit the complete electrical panel under the side cover and the alternator

[geoffreylr]

  Jup, It will fit if I do take the complete electrical panel out and also under the alternerator which I was not prepared to do.  So I fiddled around with the wiring trying to solve the electrical problem that I have, namely, some guy chopped this bike before I owned it and really buggered up the wiring.  I was trying to get blinkers to work on it again.  But now, I seem to have lost my oil light and neutral light.  Not the lights mind you because I have tested them and they are ok, but probably blew the switches as my monkeying around blew the fuse which I replaced.  Everything else seems to work.  Starter, horn, headlights and three of the blinkers.  Any advice?  How hard is it to replace the oil switch and neutral switch?  Again, thanks for your advice.

[madbunny]

hmm,
i find it highly unlikely that you would "blow" both of these switches.
take a meter or a self powered test light and trace the wire and check your grounds in the headlight bucket/wiring nightmare.

[bryanj]

You have probably disloged the black power feed wire to the relevant idiot lights as the switches just ground OR you have disloged the wires where they connect into the loom in the multi block along with the alternator wires. If only one blinker dont work suspect the ground wire or the socket where the bulb goes

[geoffreylr]

I looked to see if I had dislodged any wires.  Didn't find any problem there.  I am suspicioning that there is a break in one of the wires somewhere that I am not seeing.  So I am going to pull the whole harness, set it on my workbench and test each wire for continuity.  Does this make sense for me to do in order to get to the bottom of the problem?  (And if that don't work, then I might just wire it like a chopper and forget it!)