Topic: parking lamp bikes, reason for bl to bl/b jumper and extra brown in headlight

[Don R]

 The background,  it's a 75 USA 400F It had a fairing and home brew right controls with a broken "no headlight control" switch. When I took all that off  I wanted to control the headlight, so just for fun I bought a right headlight control with off-park-on settings. The hi-lo is still on the left.  Since the fairing had a square light and I needed one anyway I ordered a 35/35 watt halogen headlight with a yellow parking lamp built in.
 So, as designed does the front parking lamp work,

 1- key on
 2- key on or off
 3- key switch on park setting
 4- 1 and 3
 5- what's wrong with this guy?

  Edit,  I found the UK wiring diagram, it should explain everything,  they got a horn/headlight flashing passing switch! I want that!

[Don R]

 The UK wiring diagram shows it. The wiring appears to operate both front and rear park lamps with the key switch in it's park position, it appears it also comes on with the right switch with key on.   So it's  off, park/tail or headlight/tail.  The brown and brown/white wires work the same as US, the brown/blue from the park switch activates them also.

 So the answer is apparently 4 and 5.

 Now how to do this on a US bike, that's the fun part.

[Don R]

 I'm working out the us and uk diagrams. The fun is the new switch has no diagram and non Factory colors. I didn't want the purple kill button that comes on the genuine Honda part so that made my choice. The frame should have a black/red headlight feed but I have black/brown or black/yellow to choose from,they both have continuity when switched to either park or headlight.

 I think the PO removed a couple of his unused connections there aren't any wires for the front running lamps,the 75 us diagram shows them there.

[Don R]

 I noticed on the diagram the cb400F has a pointless regulator. I wonder why they even installed it then?

[disco]

Yep we got that same switch ‘Down Under’ too!

[Bodi]

The basic wiring harness is identical between US and UK models, the UK switchpod is different to have a headlight on/off switch and the headlight has the parking lamp. The front parking lamp is wired directly to the tail lamp so both are on with key in "Park" or with lights on. Regions with always-on headlights got a switchpod with no on/off switch, but with a spliced loop of wire in the cable sleeve connecting black to brown/black - the power feed to the TAIL fuse. The headlight circuit is also different, the on/off switchpod sends power to the HEAD fuse through that switch, the always-on version switches HEAD fuse power through the starter switch (causing many a burnt out starter switch).

[Don R]

Ureka!  I wish I'd read Bodi's post sooner. Now I get it.

 The black to black/blue jumper is on US bikes to jumper out the headlight switch that's not there, the jumper gets unplugged and now goes through the park light switch so the park/tail/instrument lights may be switched off. The extra brown inside the headlight is to power the park lamp. Other than that it's the same. I now need to take this off/park/headlight switch back apart to understand the scrambled wire colors and plug the headlight switch in between the correct color wires.

  I believe the ones in the diagram that read Brown/whatever are Black/whatever from the switch. Now if I could make my printer work I'd take the diagram to the shop and save me a few trips.

[Bankerdanny]

I know on the 550 there is an unused brown wire in the headlight.

[PeWe]

My European K6 had halogen H4 60/55W from the very beginning + parking lamp at front.
There is an extra brown wire in headlight not connected. I have seen it is powered in Ign key parking position.
Only rear will lit when key in in parking position, the step after ign on.

Right handlebar switch has Off-Parking-Headlight On (parking will lit too). Hi-Lo switch on left control.
I have installed  2 closing relays for Hi/Lo + another open relay that switch off parking when LO is on to not disturb the LO light pattern.
My original left switch has a good horn button that flash Hi  when pressing sideways.

[Don R]

 I always wondered about the black to brown jumper with the blue flag in the plastic cover and the brown wire in the headlight bucket. I think most all of the us cb's had this. If this works I may never buy another headlight switchless right control.

 I bought a few bikes over the years with toggle switches added by a PO. The easiest one was a toggle on top of the headlight bucket and the switch in the headlight ground wire.

 PeWe, I saw that left control wiring with the passing switch in a diagram. I assumed the park light was hooked to the extra brown wire.

 That's all interesting. The craziest things entertain me.

[PeWe]

The EU switch with parking is not described in the K6 diagram.
Marked with red arows: Brown not connected wire os shown. Jumper that must be there and easy forgotten when connecting everything after a rebuild. The jumper taken off together withbar switches.

The empty brown was connected in K1-K2 according to a Swedish manual I have. "Position light"
http://inside.hondamc.com/upload/Download/IBOOK/CB750K1_F1_K7_F2.pdf

USA H4 bulbs are weaker than EU? H4 60/55 is their name here. HI 60W, LO 55W

EDIT: The K6 diagram has the US version with position lights in the blinkers that was not a function in Euro bikes. (One wire extra)

[Don R]

 I used the cb400 wiring diagram for UK bikes and the 75 US diagram to compare. The ones at the top of the page.

[Don R]

I have everything working as I think it should. I still have a black/blue wire that has continuity to ground when the kill switch is set to run. I'm wondering if it's for this switch on a different bike. I still need to verify it has spark.

[PeWe]

The UK wiring I have connect the NC brown to parking light. Not possible to ride bike with parking light on, only with ign key in parking position, the position after ign on. Correction: Diagram show that this NC brown has 12V when rear light has 12V. No need of separate switch for parking then. Just switch LO/HI off, parking will continue.

Maybe I did not always use the diagram when I connected the wires. I measured and marked all wires on the bar switches.

This switch with P light my parking lamp front. Rear is on as std. Good when battery is not fully charged and need to be charged. Like cruising in city on low rpm, often below 4000 rpm for a longer period
My parking bulb is visible with 10W LED.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB-750-Four-K3-K6-F-Lenkerschalter-Rechts-Switch-Assy-Handlebar-R-SOHC/400894236544?hash=item5d57289780:g:C3cAAOSwJ5NZ3eVy

[enwri]

I've got with ign. switch in park pos. ,- front park, rear tail lights.
Ign on, light switch off,- nothing.
Ign on, light switch in park pos,- front park, instruments, rear tail.
Ign.on, lights on, - everything on.

[Don R]

 Thanks guys. I love a good puzzle, you gave me the border pieces.

 Black/blue was the feed through the off/on/off switch for the black/white. I'll have spark when I make a 1 into 3 plug and plug it in.
  The only issue is, on low beam the turn indicators come on. That one's got me baffled so far. When the headlight's off, park or high beam the turn signals work properly. The white wire for low beam appears to run clean through to the headlight bucket. I need to look at the indicator wiring diagram.
  I didn't get to test everything when I got the bike home, the fairing wiring was already coming uncrimped, it's possible the left control has an issue causing the indicator lights to come on.

 JT Marks emailed today, my headlight has been shipped. until then testing with an antique car headlight.

[Don R]

 What are the thoughts on front running lamps in the turn signals? I notice some US wiring diagrams show them and some don't. I thought it was a 77 thing but saw a 75 diagram that showed them, edit,  I found the wires and hooked them up. 
 I know the charging system is marginal and I'll have a small watt parking lamp on too. I did stay 35/35 watt on the Marchal headlight bulb so that at least holds the line on wattage there.

 PeWe, in the 70's new US  vehicles were saddled with the inferior sealed beam headlights by our DOT, we often installed illegal headlights in our vehicles. Aircraft landing lights were popular in 4 headlight cars. Also some years of CB's used front running lights in the turn signals. That might be another reason for the 35 watt headlights.
 I have the front running lights and am deciding if I want them connected. The bike didn't have them new. I see that newer ones did. This is a low serial number 75.

[Don R]

 This one is wired and tested. As soon as the headlight gets delivered, I'll post a couple pics.

[Deltarider]

What are the thoughts on front running lamps in the turn signals?

Those were a new gadget, to artificially outdate earlier models in a consumption driven market. It's a trick well known in the automotive industry. They do nothing for safety and nevertheless consume a wasted 16 Watts. It's a matter of taste ofcourse, but IMO they give your bike the appearance of a cheap toy. If I were you, I'd go for quality and change the headlight for a real one with a 55/60 Watts halogen. 

[Don R]

 I have a blacktop road I do my all of headlight testing on, I can compare bulbs and lenses. I assume I'll like the lens. My Goldwing experience says new lenses are substantially better than old style lenses. I thought I liked my 1970 Stanley lens until I tried a newer Bosch lens. The older unknown brand bulb was better the new GE I bought. 

Not so sure on the bulb.  The wires were there so I connected the running lamps, I haven't seen the result at night yet. the park setting looks like a dim headlight, I'll try to find an amber push in bulb for it just for giggles.

[10tenmen]

Don did you sort the wiring I have a 1974 400f from Colorado with broken switchgear I have purchased replacements from David silva with the on/off switch for lights on the right switchgear I now have 3 wires that control that function and no clue as to where they plug in, can you help pls.
Thanks Gary

[mattsz]

Don did you sort the wiring I have a 1974 400f from Colorado with broken switchgear I have purchased replacements from David silva with the on/off switch for lights on the right switchgear I now have 3 wires that control that function and no clue as to where they plug in, can you help pls.
Thanks Gary

Gary - would wiring diagrams help you?  I can show you the diagrams for the UK models, which have the headlight switch in question, and the later USA models which didn't include a switchable headlight.  Both use the same wires connected in different ways, and the diagrams show the differences...

[10tenmen]

All sorted and now working thanks.

[Don R]

 Sorry, I didn't see the question. Once I found the jumper under the gas tank and removed it all of the wire colors fell into place.