Topic: Ground wire nuts from headlamp bolts? Where do they go?

[billingstitan]

Been doing a rehab on an old 77 CB550 that had a fairing - I believe I've got everything sorted out ... except

 I am uncertain where the two green wires coming from the headlamp bolts connect into?

Looked at the wiring diagram - but I must be fried from picking through this rat's nest of wires. Can't seem to find it on there.

Just looking at the wires and guessing, there seems to be two potential choices - I believe there was a black and a green, both with dual female connectors.

Sorry no pics - but my iphone is out of gas right now - but thought someone might know off the top of their head. If not, I'll get some pics up on this tomorrow.

[Jimsun]

Been doing a rehab on an old 77 CB550 that had a fairing - I believe I've got everything sorted out ... except

 I am uncertain where the two green wires coming from the headlamp bolts connect into?

Looked at the wiring diagram - but I must be fried from picking through this rat's nest of wires. Can't seem to find it on there.

Just looking at the wires and guessing, there seems to be two potential choices - I believe there was a black and a green, both with dual female connectors.

Sorry no pics - but my iphone is out of gas right now - but thought someone might know off the top of their head. If not, I'll get some pics up on this tomorrow.

Are you talking about the 2 wires that connects to the nuts that holds the bolts that holds the headlight bucket in place? If so then those wires are green wires that is connected to ground.

[DH]

they are grounds. plug them into any green.

[billingstitan]

Yup - those are the wires I'm talking about - the ones that come off the nuts that the headlamp bolts screw into - appreciate it.

I was aware they're grounds ... I've got everything working except the horn and the gauge lights - wanted to ensure this wasn't part of the problem.

@DH Thanks for the input - so it sounds these would go into the green wire(s) coming from the harness w/ the dual female receptacles?

Just to clarify - here's a pic I downloaded - it is the two green wires coming off the bolts on either side of the headlight that I'm looking for info on -

[billingstitan]

Here's an actual pic from the wiring (other pic is a download) - on the top center you'll see a group of green wires with a blue crimp/splice device on it - I believe this is where those wires should be connected?

Things are a little messy w/ this because of the fairing that was installed. But I think it's almost there - getting ready to put the headlamp on this week and it will almost be ready to ride.

[DH]

Here's an actual pic from the wiring (other pic is a download) - on the top center you'll see a group of green wires with a blue crimp/splice device on it - I believe this is where those wires should be connected?

Things are a little messy w/ this because of the fairing that was installed. But I think it's almost there - getting ready to put the headlamp on this week and it will almost be ready to ride.

The blue splice is a Scotchlock connector, and is not factory. Probably put there, as you
stated, for the fairing that used to be on the bike. You can plug the headlight mount ground wires into ANY solid green wire in the headlight shell, as ALL solid green wires are grounds. Just connect to the closest/most convenient. Some greens have 3 connections, some have 4, you get the idea eh? You will want to remove those scotchlocks, and maybe tape over the wire where they were installed to seal things up. IMHO, scotchlock connectors are a screw up waiting to happen. Probably one of the worst ways to connect to a circuit there is, so I always get rid of 'em....jmo

[Bodi]

The wires ground the fork assembly through the harness. Some electrical components ground to the "frame" on the front fork assembly - which includes the handlebars, headlight, and instruments. The headlight shell bolt grounding wires are there to carry that ground current. Without them, ground current would have to pass through the steering head bearings: that's not a secure current path, and it's rather bad for those bearings. The centre notch felt in bad steering neck bearings is often caused by electrical etching due to this ground current, rather than any mechanical trauma.

[DH]

The wires ground the fork assembly through the harness. Some electrical components ground to the "frame" on the front fork assembly - which includes the handlebars, headlight, and instruments. The headlight shell bolt grounding wires are there to carry that ground current. Without them, ground current would have to pass through the steering head bearings: that's not a secure current path, and it's rather bad for those bearings. The centre notch felt in bad steering neck bearings is often caused by electrical etching due to this ground current, rather than any mechanical trauma.

I never knew that....Good to know, and still learnin'

[ekpent]

Turn signals.

[DH]

Turn signals.

And that makes even more sense, after reviewing the t/s wiring to the front......

[billingstitan]

@dh/expent - thanks a million for the input and enlightenment.

Just a clarification - so should I hook those into the green wires coming from the harness (there's one that looks right w/ two female receptacles.), or to turn signals?

The stock turn signals on this one only have two wires, by the wiring diagram, one side hooks to light blue/light blue-white; the other to orange/orange-white - there is not a third wire for ground? The wires on the turn-signals also have little bands that seem to match these colors.

thanks again for the assistance - lots of clean-up to go on these wires, but got most of the connections going except gauge lights and those two wire ground wires from the headlamp bucket bolts.

[DH]

You can plug the green wires that are attached to the headlight shell nuts
INTO the green wire with dual recepticals. The front signals have two wires, one
go to each filament of the bulb. The bulb socket is then grounded thru the bulb housing/stem/the nut inside the shell/thru the green wire attached to the
nut, AND FINALLY TO the green wire with 2 recepticals. Gonna go out on a limb and say that should work. If not, a fuse should blow. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. The two wires going to the front sigs are black wires with small bands that correspond with the like colored wires they connect to inside the shell.
Org/white bands go to org/white wire inside shell .....etc..
And if I'm reading the diagram right, the green wire shown in the diagram coming from each front signal light-------- IS THAT GREEN WIRE ATTACHED TO THE NUT IN THE HOUSING.....just emphasizing not yelling

[billingstitan]

Thanks, man - I think that's right -

I've already got the signals hooked up and they work no problem when grounded against the bike, and no blown fuses at this point.

I appreciate the help - I'll be glad to get that headlamp buttoned up and on to other tasks!

[Don R]

ALL solid greens connect to each other and nothing else except the frame, it's that simple.
 

[billingstitan]

Awesome - thanks, Don - almost there with this one. Thought the wiring was going to be toughest part ... but all in all, not so bad - especially being able to tap into some shared wisdom.