Topic: Having electrical ignition issues??

[neurotoxin312]

I just replaced the wiring harness on my 76 CB550 and unfortunately, I'm having ignition issues.

What is the best way to test if my ignition switch works? I never had a stock ignition switch and my previous wiring harness was so chopped up so I couldn't rely on how it was set up previously. I took the time to check out the wiring diagram and it seems like black & black red tracer wire?

I would also like to bypass my ignition switch if. Any ideas on that?

[calj737]

Is the KILL switch set to RUN? Do you have 12v at the coils (BLK/WHT wire)? If yes, then the ignition switch is fine.

Is it turning over, but not firing? You may have a harness that depends upon the Clutch Safety Switch. So, pull the clutch lever and try again.

And please provide some specific detail as to what is happening (or not) 

[neurotoxin312]

Ahh yes! Good idea with the clutch safety switch. It will need to be bypassed. I didn't do that. I will check the black and white wire. Is that the dual bullet connector for the ignition coils?

[Deltarider]

Yes.

[neurotoxin312]

Which wires do I need to bypass in the headlight bucket for the clutch switch? Would it be the green red Tracer wire connected to the solid green?

[calj737]

See right here:

[neurotoxin312]

Ok great! I got her working again! Thanks for that tidbit!

My second question now involves the taillight activation. There is a brown wire that serves as the drive light for the tailight (not the brakelight Green/yellow tracer wire).I traced the brown wire on the wiring diagram and it seems like there is a female bullet connector that is left unconnected in the headlight bucket. It also seems as though the brown wire is connected to a brown/red tracer wire at some point?

My question is when does this brown wire activate? When I tested, I cannot seem to get 12v across this wire unless I go past the "Ignition" on my ignition switch (the 2nd click). Essentially, I cannot turn on my tailight, but I can turn on my headlight.

[Yamahawk]

You need a jumper wire to the Brown bullet connector, if it is a double or triple female, then you need a male bullet feeding it from a switched 12v source, maybe a black wire. If it is a male bullet, find the triple female, and plug it into the back of it. That connection is often overlooked.
Charlie

[Deltarider]

I traced the brown wire on the wiring diagram and it seems like there is a female bullet connector that is left unconnected in the headlight bucket.

Other markets than the US had a separate position light (Ba9s, 5 Watts) in the headlight reflector. That's what the brown wire is for. These markets had an extra P position at the lightswitch. That same bulb is ON with the taillight when ignition key is switched to 'P'. Honda didn't bother to make an extra wire harness for the US market. That's why you have that unconnected brown wire in the headlight.

[neurotoxin312]

You need a jumper wire to the Brown bullet connector, if it is a double or triple female, then you need a male bullet feeding it from a switched 12v source, maybe a black wire. If it is a male bullet, find the triple female, and plug it into the back of it. That connection is often overlooked.
Charlie

When I connected that brown wire to a black switched hot wire, I burned out a fuse lol.

[calj737]

This is a 550, not a 750. The BROWN wire is activated wire the key. RED is always hot, RED WITH KEY activated black, BROWN, and BRW/WHT thru the fuse block.

The TAIL is a separate fuse for the BROWN. Do NOT connect BLACK to BROWN.

[Yamahawk]

This is a 550, not a 750. The BROWN wire is activated wire the key. RED is always hot, RED WITH KEY activated black, BROWN, and BRW/WHT thru the fuse block.

The TAIL is a separate fuse for the BROWN. Do NOT connect BLACK to BROWN.

My bad, yep I was thinking CB750, not 550... sorry!
Charlie