Topic: DIY wiring harness

[JKydd]

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

[JKydd]

Crickets chirping.

Anyone?

[70CB750]

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!

[purf_man]

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?

[bjbuchanan]

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

[cougar]

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...

[jamesb]

I use the simple wiring diagrham. It's well like it says simple.

[KRONUS0100]

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.

[JKydd]

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

[alancop]

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.

[bollingball]

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

[JKydd]

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

[thedrewski86]

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!