Topic: 71 CB500 project.

[calj737]

If you abandon Black and the controls don't work, then yes, you have mis-wired.

To be sure, run a wire from the Turn R switch to m-unit input. Run the same color wire to the right hand blinker. Also, ground the blinker. When you push the Turn R switch, the left and right side of the m-unit will light up. And so should the right side blinker. Let me know what happens when you do this.

[cafehonda500]

I am Using an M-Buttion as well. So turn is wired into the Button, Button ran into Config, Turn R out ran to Blinker power, and blinker ground to frame.

exact same set up BUT if I ground the black wire from controls it works as you say it should.    Could my ground in the control be bad?

[calj737]

Yes, your housing ground could be a problem. Painted bars? Is the m-button grounded to the frame? It needs to be also.

Lastly, you also need to run resistor wires with the m-button 

[cafehonda500]

No the bars are not painted.   
Yes it is grounded to the frame.
and sorry, but what do you mean "run resister wires with the M-button"?  I thought I just ran the green wire to Config

[calj737]

Resistor wires are the actual spark plug wires. Standard wires (spark plug) allow interference to infiltrate the m-button and can create erroneous behavior in it. Aside from being a wiring aide, it converts the signals from analog to digital and multiplexes the signals across that single CONFIG wire.

[cafehonda500]

I dont know about the wires but I have NGK boots with 5k ohms resistance.   Is this what you mean or do I need a special type of wire as well?   
I know the basic idea of how the M-Unit and M-Button work, some very nice products.

So I pulled off the controls and cleaned it off a little and put it back on.   The Horn works fine, but the blinker switch does not.   lets start here.

Blinkers.
Orange is ran to Turn L, Sky Blue is ran to Turn R, now do I abandon the GRAY wire?

Headlights.
White is ran to Light.  Do I abandon the blue, brown/white, and black wires?

M-Button is ground to frame and ran to Config.

M-Unit has a very good ground and connected to battery for testing

[cafehonda500]

Been busy the past week trying to get things up to date for work but finaly had some time to look at the bike again.   After spending a few hours tinkering with the wiring I still can not figure out what I am doing.   Has anyone else ran into issues like me?  I have searched the forms here and others and cant find anything like this.

[calj737]

Pm sent.

[cafehonda500]

Finally got the bike running!!   Huge thanks to Calj for all the help and even calling to talk to me about this.    Couldn't have done it without you man.    But got the bike all wired up and running.   Everything works, well learned my spedo and tach bulbs are burnt out,  but lights, blinkers, horn, brake everything works.   The charging system tested out good as well.    Even though its 43° and sprinkling out I still took her for a 3 mile test drive.   Might be in my head but it felt like better throttle response too.    Just some final tiding up the wiring and I'll post some pictures for you guys.

[cafehonda500]

Well had the bike out for about 200 miles or so already and it is running good.   Welded my brackets to the frame because I had a screw snap and saw the bracket was hanging on me.   I think the Regulator and rectifier are going out as the battery doesnt fully charge, Ive been getting the "low battery honk" a few times latly.   Need some Ideas how to to route the wires under the seat a little better.  Every picture just shows a little bit so I cant see how others do it.  Biggest thing i need for the wiring is a new mounting spot for my starter motor and for the new reg/rect.   currently using the stock ones in the stock location and that is ugly to me.

[calj737]

How about some more detail about what battery you are running, and are you regulator and recitifier the stock units?

Have you measured the voltage at the battery while resting? What is it?

Then compare it with motor running at 4,000 RPMs. What do you get?

[Restoration Fan]

Biggest thing i need for the wiring is a new mounting spot for my starter motor

Wait, what?  You're trying to relocate the starter motor?  The gear on that motor is integrated with other gears in the engine.  Are you sure you didn't mean that you want to relocate the starter switch?

[calj737]

I'm thinking he means starter solenoid-

[Restoration Fan]

I'm thinking he means starter solenoid-

Ahhh, ok yeah I could see that.

[cafehonda500]

Sorry, Yes starter solenoid not motor lol    The battery is an Energizer 12A-A and the Regulator and Rectifier are stock.  They are two separate units.   I measured the Voltage of the battery right on the pos and neg terminals with a multi-meter.   Sitting was 12.7v  Idle was 12.3v and about 3300rpm was 13.3v.     Seems like it is charging to me or is this bad readings?   I do not know the age of the battery, came with the bike and is not punched out with date.   I am not against replacing the battery as it is unknown age and the terminals are getting worn.

[calj737]

Couple of things: if the battery is a standard lead acid, might be worth replacing it with a known good battery. I concur, your Reg/Rec units are charging, but you also need to measure the voltage seen at the battery at 5,000 RPMs to verify the battery never sees more than 13.8v. If so, an overcharge can occur.

Do you know if the headlight is stock? If not, can you read the back of the reflector/bulb for the wattage? Some people replaced the stock unit with much higher wattage units and end up taxing the charging system. This leads to the last point-

Riding behavior: These bikes don't produce a surplus charge until riding above ~2,500 RPMS. So, if you are lazy, strolling along trying to "go easy on the old girl" when riding, you're doing yourself and the bike a disservice. Rev that motor!!! IT is very happy to run well above 6,000 RPMs (despite its 40 years) and up towards 9,500. Trust me.

So you can and will run down a good battery during prolonged stop-and-go, or traffic situations if you let the bike idle excessively.