Topic: '77 CB550 Low beam not working and disconnected wires

[BuffaloFunk]

My low beam isn't working and I've started investigating. Ive been staring at the wiring diagram and I can't figure out what is disconnected or if it should be connected at all.

In the headlight bucket I've got an orange and white wire disconnected (female end), a brown wire (female) disconnected, a light blue and white female disconnected and a blue male disconnected. Everything seems to work besides the low beam. Should any of these be connected? Is this the issue with my low beam?

[goldarrow]

I don't own 77 550, but pretty sure that orange/white and light blue/white are for blinkers, blue for high/low beams I forget which, and brown isn't connected to anything

[BuffaloFunk]

Well, all that stuff is working (besides from the low beam)... so who know what is up.

I'll check it out with a multimeter after work and see if any of the three connections to the sealed beam are bad.

If it turns out to be a bad headlight, would any 7" sealed beam fit?  I'm just looking for something to currently pass NYS inspection tomorrow and will be upgrading to H4 or LED in the future.

Heard a H6024XV will fit... true?

[RobbZombie]

Not to piggyback on your post, but do you have pictures of your wiring set-up, mainly the area behind the side cover (by the battery) as well as the headlight area?

Or are you only using the wiring diagrams?

I have a few things I'm trying to sort out on a 75 CB750. Mainly the signals and the red connector that (on my bike currently) isn't hooked to anything....

[BuffaloFunk]

One of the previous owners has tinkered with my wiring somewhere down the line.  Most of it appears stock.  I can snap a photo when I'm home from work if you'd like.

That being said, the H6025XV will NOT fit.  It is far too large for the bucket/ring.

I did luck out and my neighbor saw me tinkering a way and came over the chat.  Gave me a free 8" headlamp assembly.  Fit right up and works.  I realize this will most likely overtax my charging system, so it is just something temporary to get me spotted on the road and get me to pass inspection.

[Duanob]

As much of a mess as it looks inside the bucket it's actually pretty idiot proof. Everything is color coded.

The brown female is just an extra most 550s have them.

The dark blue and the white is your HIGH/LOW. MAybe the PO hardwired into one wire?

You should have constant front blinker light as well as flashers. There should be solid orange/lt blue and white striped in the same colors. One set is for constant and the other is for flasher.

There are lots of downloadable wiring diagrams online, that's the first place to start.

[Stilltime]

When I bought my '78 CB550 it still had the stock sealed beam.  Low wouldn't work, but Hi would (although it seemed incredibly dim).  When I swapped it for my LED headlight, Hi and Low worked as they should.  Could be the light itself!

[BuffaloFunk]

Yeah, it ended up being the light.  I'd really like one of the Trucklite 7" LED lamps.  Just $200 seems like a lot for a headlight when I have a joke of a seat on it and a tank that is about 60% painted, 30% unpainted and 10% ugly sticker residue.

[Stilltime]

Any new H4 or replacement sealed beam should work just fine, I was just noting that when I replaced mine, both Hi/Low functionality was there.

I've seen some bike tanks completely covered in stickers, and it kinda looks cool!  Cheaper than paint