Topic: complete electrical failure

[Jhurls]

Hello,

I have a 1977 cb 550

I just replaced the battery and I was riding with a friend when it suddenly just died. All electrical things just quit working,  all of the fuses are good and the battery connections are good.

anybody have any ideas on what the problem is?

[goldarrow]

Fuse sometimes look good but could actually be bad. 

[Stev-o]

Fuse sometimes look good but could actually be bad. 

+1, check them with an ohmmeter.  And clean the fuse holder, could be a bad connection.

[CoachDoc]

Clean both ends of the battery cables and the ground attachment point, then tighten the connections securely. Could also be a battery failure.

[Don R]

check the fuse box. they are a known failure point.

[dave the welder]

check where the ground wires in harness attach to frame.even tho the battery ground cable is attached you still need the harness grounded

[strynboen]

pull the fuse holder...take the back plastic plate off..and thek for meldet plastic..and loose koneksions...if it not are 100% ok..thange to new type fuse/holder..the flat type..
it are easy to remove the viring/fuseholder  they have ther one vire/konekter..thek it also for bad konnektion

[Davidov]

check where the ground wires in harness attach to frame.even tho the battery ground cable is attached you still need the harness grounded

Yes, this and the fuse block.

My 750 shut off a few times, and the ignition switch was the culprit.

[ekpent]

Make sure also that your ignition switch pigtail has not pulled apart at the connectors, especially if you have one of those relocation brackets up by the upper triple/handlebar area. Happened to me on a 750.

[doobiebro]

I second the check of the ignition switch.  Sometimes the connector at the bottom fails or comes loose (especially if it is an Emgo switch).

[Jhurls]

thanks everyone for your ideas, I will give all of these things a try and get back to you all

[Jhurls]

Cleaned up the fuse connections and electricity is back on and the bike is back in commission. Thanks everyone!

[Stev-o]

Cleaned up the fuse connections and electricity is back on and the bike is back in commission. Thanks everyone!

Good to hear.   We knew it would be minor.  Might be a good idea to clean up all of your connections on the bike.

[Davidov]

Cleaned up the fuse connections and electricity is back on and the bike is back in commission. Thanks everyone!

Good to hear.   We knew it would be minor.  Might be a good idea to clean up all of your connections on the bike.

Yes and insulate with some sort of dielectric grease or liquid electrical tape.

[Jhurls]

I am having the same issue, once again.... What is a good way to clean the connections up/ would it be best just to replace them, the connections for the main fuse are noticeable darker and look more beat up then the others and the soldering looks worse as well. Idk if this has something to do with it.

I also noticed someone said something above about replacing the holder to one that works with the modern square fuses, is that easily done?

[CoachDoc]

I am having the same issue, once again.... What is a good way to clean the connections up/ would it be best just to replace them, the connections for the main fuse are noticeable darker and look more beat up then the others and the soldering looks worse as well. Idk if this has something to do with it.

I also noticed someone said something above about replacing the holder to one that works with the modern square fuses, is that easily done?

Pull apart each bullet connector. I go over the male end with emery paper lightly to remove oxidation. The female ends can be cleaned with a .17 gauge rifle bore cleaning brush, which will fit inside and can be the twirled to remove the female oxidation. Spray them with contact cleaner, apply a dab of dielectric grease and reconnect. If not connecting solidly I sometimes crimp the female end ever so slightly to provide a tighter connection. Spend a day doing every bullet connector on the bike. The .17 gauge brush also works well to clean the OEM fuse holders from the inside. Hondaman makes a great replacement fuse block if you want to start with modern fuses.

[Bodi]

There's a CB750 plug-in replacement fusebox but I don't know if it is plug and play for a 550:
http://sohc4shop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48

[strynboen]

its easy to remove the fuse holder..and the short viring..to the konnektor

...then it can be kleaned/glasblast the holders...or bay a standart fuseholder..and  build the viring over .
..or build a new viring..its only 6 vires 30 cm long...and easy to ´fix..or take the komponents to somone who can make it

i bayes the komponents..and made a nev..and used the old to reference..the colors and konektors...they can also be bayed as new..or thanged to a better desein..evt bullet konnektors..then cut the box konnektors off