Topic: Cb550 engine ground?

[eoddom]

Should there be a ground wire for the engine itself?  I don't know if what I saw was an arc, but it looked like there was a rather large arc going from one of my carbs to the gas tank.  I looked around and don't see any ground straps on the outside of the engine.  Should there be one?

[Stev-o]

There is no ground "strap" but the negative wire of your battery connects to the motor mount grounding the motor.

[eoddom]

So this would be correct then?

[DaveBarbier]

Yes, that's right. But the cleaner the ground surface the better. You probably didn't see an arc going from/to the tank because the tank is rubber mounted. Although an empty steel container can build up static electricity...but I doubt that much where you'd actually see an arc jump.

Edit: Yes that's right...assuming the other end is connected to the negative battery terminal .

[eoddom]

I don't know what it was then.  Didn't hear any sounds associated with a backfire out of the carb so that white flash came from somewhere.  Saw it happen twice.  Gonna try to re-create it tomorrow.

[eoddom]

Sorry silly question and don't want to make another thread, so hopefully someone sees this.  When re-installing a plug cap, i cut off about 1/2" of the old wire to get some fresh copper.  Do i need to trim back any of the insulation?  Or just push the cap in and twist it til its snug?

[RAFster122s]

Try it with a full tank. Vapor is more explosive than liquid gas.

[DaveBarbier]

Sorry silly question and don't want to make another thread, so hopefully someone sees this.  When re-installing a plug cap, i cut off about 1/2" of the old wire to get some fresh copper.  Do i need to trim back any of the insulation?  Or just push the cap in and twist it til its snug?

Yup, just cut it for some clean copper and screw the plug into the wire. Seems a little rudimentary but it works. I've always wondered why there isn't an actual terminal.

[eoddom]

Alright thanks, I always see people mention fanning out the copper, but not really sure how they're doing it since you dont cut any insulation back.

[DaveBarbier]

Weird, I've never heard of anyone fanning out the copper. If someone else replies saying that's what you should do then I'll have to do some research.

[Stev-o]

Weird, I've never heard of anyone fanning out the copper.

+1.    BTW - you should ohm out those caps to make sure they are within spec before reinstalling. 

[RevDoc]

Weird, I've never heard of anyone fanning out the copper. If someone else replies saying that's what you should do then I'll have to do some research.

Rather than actually stripping insulation and "fanning" the wire, what some people may be referring to is inserting a small round probe or Phillips head screwdriver to open the end of the copper wires a little to make starting the threads of the cap easier.