Topic: How to drive your SOHC4 (CB550)

[AirCanuck]

I've just read this whole thread, lots of good info going on, but the bike is in the shop where AC can't access it or learn from exploring its contents.  How soon can you get it back?  Winter is coming...
In the mean time,  as a retired school shop teacher, I'm offering to send you one of those free meters we all know about, some led's , alligator leads, and a basic electricity book so you can start experimenting to learn about electric circuits.  Then, you can use the color wiring diagrams in an old clymer manual to learn about the circuits on your bike and do the diagnostics contained in the clymer manual.  When you get stuck, pictures and questions to the forum will get you back on track.  You're in good hands with these guys ( they got me through plenty of learning curves).
So...pm me your address, ask the shop for your bike back and get started on this amazing journey.
p.s. I was able to use the clymer book to readjust  my ailing voltage regulator and fix my charging problem.

I REALLY appreciate your offer but the charging issue is one of a few things the shop is fixing that I don't have time to do right now and I'd rather pay to have it fixed so I can ride it ASAP!

THAT being said, I would love to take you up on your offer of that learning pack.... I am sitting here watching videos about how it works but I'd love to get my hands on something like that which would help me learn how it all works! Let me know if you're willing to, knowing that I'll still leave it at the shop for now.

Appreciate your generosity!

[kerryb]

Pm me your address and I'll get you started.  I don't need all these old textbooks anymore.
 On a side note, I got over my apprehension of bike wiring by dismantling an old wiring harness and tracing and labeling every wire from start to finish with the diagrams in the manual.  I didn't fix anything, but I know where the unused terminals are and the diagrams make WAY more sense now.  It was a few hours of time well-spent!

[AirCanuck]

Pm me your address and I'll get you started.  I don't need all these old textbooks anymore.
 On a side note, I got over my apprehension of bike wiring by dismantling an old wiring harness and tracing and labeling every wire from start to finish with the diagrams in the manual.  I didn't fix anything, but I know where the unused terminals are and the diagrams make WAY more sense now.  It was a few hours of time well-spent!

Coming your way! Ps, my wiring harness has all been replaced by an Munit

[Deltarider]

kerryb, you're the man. Your idea crossed my mind but shipping from Europe is a bit too costly. Even the cheapest and simplest multimeter will do for a start. About using the Clymer wiring diagrams, OK, but always have the Honda wiring scheme for your model at hand to compare, because there are some differences here and there.

[kerryb]

. About using the Clymer wiring diagrams, OK, but always have the Honda wiring scheme for your model at hand to compare, because there are some differences here and there.

Agreed...wiring diagrams are like science theories, you have to prove them right before putting them to use.  I use a mix of honda and clymer (for the color)  to assess any electrical question.

[AirCanuck]

. About using the Clymer wiring diagrams, OK, but always have the Honda wiring scheme for your model at hand to compare, because there are some differences here and there.

Agreed...wiring diagrams are like science theories, you have to prove them right before putting them to use.  I use a mix of honda and clymer (for the color)  to assess any electrical question.

For me, I am luckily in touch with the builder of the new wiring harness. He doesn't have a diagram but did stick with the standard wiring colours as much as possible. One day I'll make a diagram.

[TwoTired]

For those new to electricity basics, this link is a pretty good place start.  It gives good foundation for those not trained in particle physics.
Learning about electron behavior provides a good foundation for your knowledge base to build upon, even before tackling ohm's law.
Mind's eye visualization is better if you can imagine what's moving in a wire or circuit.
Meter's are a conversion and quantization tool for the magnitudes involved in what motion is occuring.  The wire doesn't move.  The electrons within do.

http://www.antonine-education.co.uk/Pages/Physics_1/Electricity/EL_01/Electricity_1.htm

Cheers,

[AirCanuck]

For those new to electricity basics, this link is a pretty good place start.  It gives good foundation for those not trained in particle physics.
Learning about electron behavior provides a good foundation for your knowledge base to build upon, even before tackling ohm's law.
Mind's eye visualization is better if you can imagine what's moving in a wire or circuit.
Meter's are a conversion and quantization tool for the magnitudes involved in what motion is occuring.  The wire doesn't move.  The electrons within do.

http://www.antonine-education.co.uk/Pages/Physics_1/Electricity/EL_01/Electricity_1.htm

Cheers,

I'll give this a look !!

[AirCanuck]

For me, I am luckily in touch with the builder of the new wiring harness. He doesn't have a diagram but did stick with the standard wiring colours as much as possible. One day I'll make a diagram.

Very easy to do since you have the m-Unit. Every wire coming into the left side is form the handlebar switches, and is a "ground" (with the exception of inputs to LOCK). Every wire leaving the right side is switched power.

When your bike is back in your possession, take a clear picture of the m-unit with the wire colors and I might have already a diagram that is accurate for you.

Sweet... will do... one day... when I see her again...

[ilikepinkcrayons]

Nobody mentioned LEDs. Going full LED has really helped my battery out. I found it would loose charge pretty quickly (within a month or two) before I switched to all LEDs (including a Trucklite 27270C headlight, which is low power and bright, but has a crumby beam pattern). I was also running on an old battery, but bought a new one at the same time as the LED swap. Haven't had any problems since. Oh, I've also got a Dyna-S ignition with 5ohm coils, which draws quite a bit more power than the stock!

Well that makes sense.  I don't have LED anything on my stockers.  They still serve me as is.  But, I do know how to keep the battery happy.  My blinker flash rate is also my voltmeter/charge meter.  Tools at hand and all that.

Have you tallied total cost for the total LED conversion?  Know the total current drain of the bike's systems?

Cheers,

I can get a power summary together and post it, but the improvement is obviously better the more the lights are used. I'm a daylight headlights kinda guy, so this helps me considerably.

As for cost, I'll break this down too, but I'd estimate it to be $50 for everything except the headlight, including the load independent flasher.

The headlight is $$$ (or £££ for those in the United Kingdom of England Land), and only worth it for those truly dedicated to short trips with the headlight on!

Guys, I finally got around to providing a summary of the cost and power of the LED conversion. There's a ton of information elsewhere on this in the ether, but this is what I cam up with. I jives pretty well with other summaries I've found, but it's a bit more detailed and flexible for your needs. Check it out: Power Consumption Comparison of LED's vs Incandescents

[AirCanuck]

To all those who gave me multimeter advice... I managed to find a used fluke 87 for $100 Canadian! Awesome score.

[ilikepinkcrayons]

That's just a fluke...

(I apologize in advance if that joke has already been made)

[AirCanuck]

That's just a fluke...

(I apologize in advance if that joke has already been made)

LOL. Ba-dum tssssssh

[TwoTired]

To all those who gave me multimeter advice... I managed to find a used fluke 87 for $100 Canadian! Awesome score.

Yes, that should serve you well, and be useful for a good long while.

Cheers,

[AirCanuck]

To all those who gave me multimeter advice... I managed to find a used fluke 87 for $100 Canadian! Awesome score.

Yes, that should serve you well, and be useful for a good long while.

Cheers,

yeah!  Can't wait to try it out.

Thank you very much for all your advice on this!

[TwoTired]

If you didn't get the manual for your meter, download one.  The meter has features you won't use routinely.  But, when you do, the manual will explain how to exploit them.

Cheers,

[AirCanuck]

If you didn't get the manual for your meter, download one.  The meter has features you won't use routinely.  But, when you do, the manual will explain how to exploit them.

Cheers,

Good advice!