Topic: handle bar switch housing options?

[flyin_]

hey all.  I think my starter switch is dead on my 76 CB750.  I can either try and fix it, although I don't know if I'm able.  Or I can try and buy a replacement.  However, on ebay these switches can go for a pretty penny and I really don't feel like spending a bunch on a set of switch housings that may be in just a poor condition as mine are.  Does anyone know of some reasonably priced universal switch housings that would work on the 7/8" bars for the CB750s?  I don't really car about maintaining the original look.  I've been doing some searching and have not found many options. 

If anyone has a good starter switch for sale that would be an option also

[jmanstuck]

if it is anything like a 73 500 4 it is pretty simple as a switch. If that is where your problem is. It's a button that has a metal pin on the back with a spring between it & a u shaped plate with a small metal disc connected to a red wire. Mine was shorting out due to changing handlebars to clubman.
There was to much wire bunching up & contacting other metal.  I took it apart cut some length off & soldered it back on done. Real simple take it apart & check it out.

[cbjunkie]

or...

you could just ditch the idea of having the starter switch on the grip at all...my PO fitted the starter button on the left sidecover - i got used to it quick and really like it - it's stupid simple to wire up, too...

lemme see if i can find a decent shot of it for you...

[flyin_]

or...

you could just ditch the idea of having the starter switch on the grip at all...my PO fitted the starter button on the left sidecover - i got used to it quick and really like it - it's stupid simple to wire up, too...

lemme see if i can find a decent shot of it for you...

Yeh that would be great.  For now I just plugged the two wires for the kill switch together to bypass it.  I tried to fix up the starter switch but there was nothing left.  I don't think I need the starter button anyhow.  I actually just started it up for the 1st time today.  It fired up on the 3rd kick and sounded pretty good and was firing on all 4.  I'll start a new post for that

I still have some problems with the left hand switch too so I'll need to sort that out eventually also. 

[Chris Schneiter]

Ok, here's what I did...You can get NEW OEM parts from Honda for about 100.00. You can get used parts, but I don't think it's  worth it. I ordered a used part, and with shipping, was 36.00, and was in worse shape than the one I took off the bike. At this point you're subject to rip offs..I never got my money back. You can Kick start...I about died last summer and didn't ride much because my bike is a cold runner.I couldn't use my bags because they got in the way of the kicker, and oh, the embarassment of stalling at lights!  Or you can do what I ended up doing and buy a switch, and wire your headlight separately. Just "get 'er done"...jacking sround with mine last year ate up a whole summer. And for what I ended up spending on the used part, and two new switches, I could have spent a few bucks more and gotten OEM!
Below see what was left of my original switch after I took it out with tweezers, and my new "Dashboard", fabricated out of an old Aluminum Ice cube tray. On top of the headlight, I mounted a little toggle for the headlight.
An added side benifit...I had always had a dim headlight. after putting it through a separate switch, it's as bright as a friends Halogen light!

[cbjunkie]

oops - sorry forgot to do this...

the starter can be seen at the back of the left side cover...

[flyin_]

Thanks for the additional input!!
I'm going to have to go with the kicker for now since I'm not much of an electrician.  How simple of a switch can be used to hook up your starter?  If someone has something drawn up to install a quick starter switch at the side like CBjunkies that would be great

[Chris Schneiter]

Mine is just a resetting spring switch that turns off when you release it. Mine is like an industrial switch, but I don't think you really need one that heavy.

[ProTeal55]

I kinda did the same thing Junkie did, with having the starter button on the left sidecover. I also moved the key back their as well..

I plan to move the starter button to the right side of the bike, so if their is a stall while moving, I can hold the clutch in with my left hand, and then press the button with my right...

[cbjunkie]

mine is the same - spring operated, but not very heavy duty - the whole thing is aluminum - sorry it's such a crappy photo i'll try to break it down with some detail shots, however it is heavily taped - i'll do my best to take some shots of the inside and trace some of the wires...

[Chris Schneiter]

Teal and Junkie, How did you wire it? I kept mine up near the bars because all the wiring was already there. I just disconnected the wires that ran up the bars and left them in place, then hooked the new switches to where the old ones had been.

[cbjunkie]

ah, see the PO did it in my case - i will try to track it like i said, i believe that wire is the G/Y...it would be switched to a black, i think...

[tsflstb]

My ignition switch and stater button were both broken, so I killed two birds with one stone.  Autozone has a universal ignition switch for $5.99.  I mounted it up near the right side cover.  I wired it up so you can crank the starter with the key.  It's out of the way and cleans up the instrument panel a lot.  I blanked off the starter button hole on the switch pod.  I'm eventually going to ditch the switch pod and use a 1/4 turn throttle.

[dusterdude]

oops - sorry forgot to do this...

the starter can be seen at the back of the left side cover...

gee junkie,i think he wanted to see the switch not the left turn signal and chainguard....hahahahahaha 

[Chris Schneiter]

I like the idea of using a key start. I was just saying that the only thing I don't like is, at least on cold starts, I have to be in neutral, because I can't hit the starter button, give it gas, and hold the clutch in at the same time. I think if I was going to do it again, I might just get new parts and make it original. I miss having the button right by the grip.

[cbjunkie]

gee junkie,i think he wanted to see the switch not the left turn signal and chainguard....hahahahahaha  Grin

alright alright...settle down...sheesh...i'm doing my best here - that pretty mugshot was the only one i had with the switch in it...

damn, you ask a lot duster...