Topic: !974 CB550 Electrical System

[Funkyrabbi]

I have a 1974 CB550 that I am wanting to rebuild the Electrical system on. The current electronics that are on the bike are the original parts. They are chewed up and the coatings are starting to fall off. I am wanting to Switch to an LED Headlight and some sort of small simple LED Tail light. I don;t have any other electrical items on the bike. I am wanting too possibly add turn signals as well. So I would like a good solid list and possibly some links to whatever you guys can suggest. I would also like to find a small simple one button starter if at all possible. Thanks for any and all help.

[b1jackson]

4 into 1 sells a complete harness for around $125.  If you want plug and play, I'd check them out.

4into1.com

[calj737]

You’ll need:
A solenoid to run the starter
Power to the coils
Power to the headlight
Power to the tail light
Charging harness
OIL and NeUTRAL safety lights and power to those
Wiring runs to the front and rear for TURN L and TURN R
wiring from from and rear BRAKE switches to the tail light
Battery cables to charging side and to frame.
You could use simple push putt on, momentary switches
How about a horn?!?!?

You’re not really “reducing” your needs much, so using a stock harness is probably a better idea in the long run. Especially if you’re new to building a bike and electrical. 

Or is your project a custom job and you’ve gone all “minimal” and now need to stash and stow electrical?

[nuwonder]

Nice summary from calj737

IF you wanna make a new wiring harness instead of original one, check this link. It's super simple and I think anyone with little understanding how bike wiring works is capable of following these instructions: http://www.bikeexif.com/motorcycle-wiring

[Funkyrabbi]

Calj737 my job is custom. I am only running headlight, taillight, and possibly blinkers. What electronic components do I need. I have seen a Voltage rectifier/regulator. At the moment I have all of the original parts. So I am wanting to get a complete working system with the minimum parts necessary. I am willing to build my own minimal harness. Thanks for any help.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Bodi]

I think legally you need headlight, tailight, and horn... maybe signals if the model year had them?
So not much wiring. A battery, fuse, keyswitch, wires from there to the regulator and ignition coils, and also to the lighting switches and horn switch. Plus to the horn and lights of course. Add a flasher and the extra wire for signals if you have them.
Charging is rather simple as well. Alternator wires to the reg/rect - one field wire gets grounded - and a wire to the battery +, as well ass the wire from the key switch.
There's a comic-book style wiring diagram for a minimal chopper harness that uses all the stock parts.

[nuwonder]

Oh and put a neat on/off switch to the power wire which goes to coils, so you can have a kill if you feel you need one. Sometimes just a ignition key off -kill is enough but I always feel like it's nice to have extra kill for the coils.

[Funkyrabbi]

Bodi California doesn't require HORN so I am good there. I am wanting to know what electrical parts I need to buy. Such a rectifier/regulator, fuse block, is there anything I am missing. My bike now has a bunch of stuff for the wiring system that I don't know if it's neccasry. I will take a picture when I get home and update.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[CycleRanger]

4 into 1 sells a complete harness for around $125.  If you want plug and play, I'd check them out.

4into1.com

Way cheaper than that.  $80
http://4into1.com/main-wiring-harness-32100-374-000-honda-cb550k-1974-1975/

 

[przjohn]

Another vote for using a reproduction stock harness. You are going to use just about everything if you want signals and brake lights. The harness also connects ignition components and charging system components. I have made my own harness using Vintage Connections components but it is not worth the effort for what you can buy a reproduction for. Just don't use what you don't want to, like the horn.

[Funkyrabbi]

Another vote for using a reproduction stock harness. You are going to use just about everything if you want signals and brake lights. The harness also connects ignition components and charging system components. I have made my own harness using Vintage Connections components but it is not worth the effort for what you can buy a reproduction for. Just don't use what you don't want to, like the horn.

Przjohn thanks for the info I never though of it like that.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Funkyrabbi]

What electronic components am I going to need? I want to replace all of the components.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[evinrude7]

What electronic components am I going to need? I want to replace all of the components.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

http://manuals.sohc4.net/cb500/service_manual/HSM500550_4.pdf

[Gene]

4 into 1 sells a complete harness for around $125.  If you want plug and play, I'd check them out.

4into1.com

Way cheaper than that.  $80
http://4into1.com/main-wiring-harness-32100-374-000-honda-cb550k-1974-1975/

 

no sh*t . . . wow. And here I cleaned my original up. 

[CycleRanger]

no sh*t . . . wow. And here I cleaned my original up. 

The plugs were shot and the wiring was crunchy on my 550 harness.
Not worth my time to repair just to have issues later.
I got one of these, good harness, exact fit. No issues.

[Gene]

no sh*t . . . wow. And here I cleaned my original up. 

The plugs were shot and the wiring was crunchy on my 550 harness.
Not worth my time to repair just to have issues later.
I got one of these, good harness, exact fit. No issues.

This is excellent information. Thank you.