Topic: Salvageable Starter button?

[mathbishop]

Hey everyone. this is my situation. I took apart my controls to put on some new handlebars on my 1975 cb400f and now I cant figure out how to put the starter button assembly back together. At first I didnt really care because the kickstart is good enough for me. Come to find out the headlight wont work without it so I need it all to be wired up.

It is obvious some of the old plastic has chipped away.

Is it salvageable? or should I invest in some new controls? And recommendations? thanks for your input

[hoodellyhoo]

looks like you suffered the same problem as i had. The plastic housing for the rocker mechanism get weak over time and fails. I don't think there's any other solution besides replacement. My understanding is that the 360's, 400's, and 75/76 550 and 750's used this same handelbar switch, but if you replace it with another used one who knows how long it will last. My solution was to replace my handelbar switch with one from an earlier honda that has the simplified starter button. I had to do some detective work with hooking up the wires since it wasn't just plug-and-play but it works and now I have a manual on-off switch for the headlight.


My broken starter switch


What I replaced the handelbar switch with.

[Kurt V]

Great idea from hoodellyhoo. Couple of other options:

1. Do what I did and just bend over the contacts inside the housing that allow the headlight to come on when the key is turned on and just use the kick start.

2. Buy a new OEM switch and wiring, for $107.00, and install. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB360-CB360T-CB400F-CB550F-CB550-CB550K-CB750-CB750F-GL1000-starter-switch-/400329621637?hash=item5d35814085&item=400329621637&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

[mathbishop]

great idea, what contacts need to be touching?

[camelman]

FYI, not all the 360 switches work on the 400s. I really recommend buying new as opposed to used. I've been burnt a lot with used switched and found that new ones are just plain worth the extra couple of bucks.