Author Topic: DIY wiring harness  (Read 2023 times)

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Offline JKydd

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DIY wiring harness
« on: November 06, 2012, 12:57:26 PM »
Hi all,

I'm new to this forum so forgive me if this topic has been discussed before.  I did a search but couldn't find it in the forum topics.

Have any of you tried making your own wiring harnesses from scratch?  If so, how did it go?  Did you find any resources out there to help?

Thanks in advance.

John
"Hey Buddy, you don't know no one that don't need nothin' done do ya?"

Offline JKydd

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2012, 04:44:25 PM »
Crickets chirping.

Anyone?
"Hey Buddy, you don't know no one that don't need nothin' done do ya?"

Offline 70CB750

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2012, 04:50:31 PM »
The Custom Google search actually works, you can give it a shot.

As far as the harness there is at least one curent project like that. It should come up on a search. What bike is it for?  The common opinion here is if you can get full new harness it is cheaper than diy.

Here is a supply of connectors:

http://www.vintageconnections.com/

In the manual section on this web you can find electrical schematics and of course you can ask questions and somebody will sure help you out.

Good luck!
« Last Edit: November 19, 2012, 04:53:41 PM by 70CB750 »
Prokop
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I love it when parts come together.

Dorothy - my CB750
CB750K3F - The Red
Sidecar


CB900C

2006 KLR650

Offline purf_man

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2012, 05:34:44 PM »
I am looking to do this too...

I am doing a battery and relay panel relocate and since I won't be running wires in my clubmans I am thinking of getting away from the stock bullet style connectors and switching over to Packard Weatherpack connectors (have a bunch of them from my cage projects) 

Is there any reason to keep all the connections in the headlight?  I was thinking of just a multi-pin plug for all the controls and a second one for the headlight (to handle the higher amperage)

On another hijack...what is the current load for the starter relay?  I found a nice 70A continuous unit but didn't know if it would last on the 550?
1975 CB550
1978 RD400

Offline bjbuchanan

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2012, 05:35:29 PM »
You will find plenty of guys who will give you a source, a diagram and a thumbs up but you will be hard pressed to find anyone document the process. Anybody who does will snap a fuzzy pic and talk about it but rarely elaborate. There is a ton of schematics, use the google custom search and pour over them til your heart's content

If you go for it tho, post it up in detail will ya?

http://www.torkypig.com/tp/wp-content/uploads/mutantwiringjpg.jpg     >>>Decent, can get you started somewhat

http://oldmanhonda.com/                           <<<<<Useful to add/delete a circuit and see its effect on the system


My best tip is to take your harness, whatever is left of it, and to delete circuits out one by one, add circuits one by one and not worry about relative wire length, prettiness, quality

Then duplicate what you made using new high quality wire and connectors with the right lengths and such

Thats my .02
The dirty girl-1976 cb750k, Ebay 836, Tracy bodykit
Round top carbs w/ 38 pilots, middle needle position, airscrew 7/8ths out, 122 main jet
Stock airbox w/ drop in K&N, Hooker 4-1

Don't trust me alone with a claw hammer and some pliers

Offline cougar

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2012, 05:37:16 PM »
John ; Since we don't know what your wiring it's kind of an open question!  Here is a link to a wiring harness for the SOHC CB750, 1971K model I believe, http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/wiring750K1.html  . It is interactive so you can use or delete what you want. It should work for 69>76 models. More info from your end will help others to help. Your connectors are your choice.   ...cougar...
I'm not prejudice, I'll weld anything that pays! Knowledge that is shared is Never Lost!!   Right is right, wrong is wrong! The truth is the truth and a lie is a lie! DEAL WITH IT ACCORDINGLY !!!   I HATE "DIAL-UP"

Offline jamesb

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2012, 06:55:08 PM »
I use the simple wiring diagrham. It's well like it says simple.
I've done a lot of things in my life that I'm not proud of...and the things I AM proud of, "are disgusting"

Offline KRONUS0100

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2012, 08:38:15 AM »
built my own harness for my 76 750F.  split the headlight circuit out of the starter button circuit, put everything on relays............horn, coils,hi beam,low beam.  mounted the realys to a mteal plate i mounted under the battery box........the socalled egr stuff wasnt there.
MATT
current bikes:  1976 CB750F, 1981 GS1100E
bikes owned:1981 GL1100I, 1990 GS500E, 1981 GS850, 1977 and 1979 GS750, 1974 CB750, 1975 CB750, and a 1982 GS750E

Offline JKydd

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2012, 02:11:08 PM »
Hi all and thanks for the replies.  Sorry I forgot to mention it's for a '74 CB550. 
Thanks for the oldmanhonda site link looks good. 
I haven't decided yet if I'm going to go through with it but if I do I will be sure to post progress and things that I learned and mistakes I make along the way.  It does look a little daunting though.

John
"Hey Buddy, you don't know no one that don't need nothin' done do ya?"

Offline alancop

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2012, 06:49:34 AM »
Do you have experience with industrial and or car wiring? If the answer to that question is no, serious considerations must be made. I rewired most of my car and am working on an EE degree, This is still a somewhat daunting project. You can PM me for info on how I'm going about it if you would like, or I can post here.
It's almost twice as old as me, I don't know how the hell it works!

bollingball

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2012, 08:32:28 AM »
There is really nothing to it. You will have a hard time finding the correct color coded wire that Honda used. So that means you need a good label maker that can print on shrink tubing. Then you need a good set of connectors and a good crimper.
http://www.vintageconnections.com/
There crimp tool is the best I have used for these connectors. What ever you do don't use that crap from advance autozone and places like that that red blue and yellow crap. I say do it right use the best there is make it look like a pro did it or don't do it. Be proud of your work.

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?WT.z_cid=ref_sitelinks_search&gclid=CLHN9-HU_KgCFQOt7QodPRrTTg&WT.term=DigiKey&WT.mc_id=Brand%20Sitelinks&WT.medium=cpc&WT.campaign=Brand%20Sitelinks&WT.content=text&WT.srch=1&WT.source=google
http://www.jegs.com/p/Caspers-Electronics/Caspers-Electronics-Weatherpack-And-Metripack-Connector-Kits-Refills/757789/10002/-1
http://stores.ebay.com/Atop-Authentic-Auction/PET-Expandable-Sleeving-/_i.html?_fsub=2578659015&_sid=879188535&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322
http://kojaycat.co.uk/epages/950000457.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/950000457/Categories

http://vsource.org/VFR-RVF_files/HondaWireColors.htm
http://www.imagesupply.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1090&idcategory=496
http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=736

This could go on forever. If you get your mind right you can do it. Keep telling your self. Would I be proud to show this to my dad mom kids and best friend.
Good luck in what ever you do.
Ken

Offline JKydd

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #11 on: November 30, 2012, 05:09:44 PM »
Thanks Ken, that was a great post.  Great links too.
I've never wired a car or such but anyone who has has found themselves doing it for the first time at some point.
I have 2 wiring harnesses already and don't know if there are any problems with them.  I wanted to make a new one for a few reasons. I learn more about the bike, clean up the wiring with new stuff and when I finish the bike I'll know every inch of it.
 I think I'd like to take a crack at it but I probably will wait a few months when I have most of the bike finished.

Thanks again.  I've bookmarked all the links everyone has provided so I better get reading.

Cheers,

I'll post some pictures when I get to that stage.
Johnny
"Hey Buddy, you don't know no one that don't need nothin' done do ya?"

Offline thedrewski86

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Re: DIY wiring harness
« Reply #12 on: November 30, 2012, 06:22:41 PM »
built my own harness for my 76 750F.  split the headlight circuit out of the starter button circuit, put everything on relays............horn, coils,hi beam,low beam.  mounted the realys to a mteal plate i mounted under the battery box........the socalled egr stuff wasnt there.

I wouldn't mind seeing pics of this!
1975 CB 550k
1990 CBR1000f
1995 VT1100C2 (sold!)
2009 Ninja 250 (wife's)
1994 Toyota 4x4 22RE 5 speed