Topic: My running lights issues cb550

[Knightro]

K, i have installed new wire harnes and my taillight only lights up on 'p' with key all the way to the right.   

Checked this forum and didnt really answer my issue

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126415.0

And this forum
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=46066.0.  Where they r talking bk/y wire. Makes no sense... bk/y?

I have a 1978 cb550k.  Just installed 32100-404-670 wire harnes.  Got from vintagecb750.com.

Issue is my tail lights only light up in far right 'p' possition.  I have blk from right power start handlebar switch connected to br/w wires in headlight.   When i did that my front signal lights lit up.  Nit sure i like that.  But i need that tail light on at all times for manitoba saftey test to pass my bike.  I also dont want to blow a fuse when turn switch to 'p'

I ttried br/b in headlight to br/w and br/b to black (same as br/w ).   I also tried brown to br/w and to black.  This is all because of suggestions on thus forum.   One gue starts talking bout black/yellow and i am lost. 

Im tired of blowing fuses.  Ive bown a bunch because im obviously jumping across circuits from trying wrong connections. 

Can someone please straight forward explain how to get tail light (br wire) to stay on with bike in on position and not just 'p'? And as bonus, so my signal is only on when i signal?  Thanks all.   If u think i just dont have wires in headlight hooked up correctly that might be too.   Anyone have a play by playbwhat wire goes where.   Yes i have the wire schematics... obviously still need help.   

Thanks

[calj737]

The first thread is for the F model 550 and is different harness than yours. The second thread is for a 750 K and that’s not relevant to your bike either.

Here is the diagram I use for a 550 K
http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/WiringDiagrams/CB550.jpg

You’ll see BROWN from the key gets power through its own fuse to power TAIL. BR/WHT is powered thru it’s own fuse to supply the front end and has nothing to do with the rear.

Check your harness for continuity on BR from the tail light end to the key plug. Be certain the fuse is in tact. Check your key switch provides power from RED to BR in both positions.once those are ascertained, then it’s down to the fixture being grounded or the bulb. That’s easy enough to test with a jumper from the battery directly.

[Knightro]

Im thinking they sent me a cb550F and not a k... my wires going to/from fuses are br/b fused to br/w  i have bk/r fused to a light brown/red  and a thick red to a shielded red   

My tach/ speedo have gr and br/w  wires  in bucked connect to brown white  connector and no lights no 12v from brown white to ground at any point in ignition sequence 

In ignition connection i have 5 connections   red in middle   blk gets continuity in on position  brown has continuity in 'p'  i dont think br on black side or br/w on 'p' side.  In ignition connection i have continuity to tail light both wires   i'll add pics   ug   sry guys    wtf   

[calj737]

Just so you know...

Br/Blue is for the TURN SIGNAL BUZZER and should appear on the LH switch harness.
Bk/R is for the power to the RH on later models.

Your tach and speedo should be using BRWN for power, solid GREEN is grounds.

Some pictures of your fuse block would help, but the 5 wire plug may be right for your year.

[strynboen]

some(denmark) have that  euro viring , that parking light..a small bulb in the main light and konnelt the rear light..in the key parking posision..it can give some problems mixed up vith us spec virenes,,ve also have that turn light off buttom..

[Knightro]

Photo of harnes side going to fuse block. 

Then 5 pin ignition (6 wire block)

I have the bucket wire blocks hooked up now.   Will take another couple photos of the arrangement when i wake up. 

[Knightro]

This was in the actual user manual that came w the bike.   (Yes it came wth the original i believe)

[RAFster122s]

The 750 harness from one supplier has to have a couple wires switched to work correctly...same kind of problem here?  HondaMan might have some insight.

David

[Knightro]

Problem solved.   After having a second look at the (hide my embarrassment) user manual (see above post) that came with the bike, it shows a jumper wire between the extra black from the start/on off right hand switch jumpered w male to male wire to the brown/blue from the main harnes cluster.  That then gives power to brown through black in ignition switch and then brown only on 'p' at the key.   

Harness didnt come with one.  Didnt remember the old one but probablly did. Either way.   I made mine yellow so id never forget it.  Lol

Peace all. 

Ride on. 

[Patrick]

Honda does that with a lot of bikes. I've encountered it on an '87 Bandit 250, an '82 VF750 and CB750s. It is the only place in the wire harness that two different colors meet, and most folks aren't expecting that. The tail light actually runs on two circuits, so people figure it works when in the accessory position, so it must be a bad wire harness. I got the Bandit with three  different wire harnesses, from someone baffled by wire diagrams. All three harnesses were fine, but none had that little jumper wire.

Patrick

[RAFster122s]

Would advise you to create a work log or maintenance log for your bike and write down things like this for future reference or future owners. Can even staple receipts to log and indicate what you are fixing or maintaining and any issues you ran into and their fix. Forums won't always be there to refer back to as they get archived sometimes or a computer problem loses the data that was there.

No need to have running total of maintenance expenses but it helps to have that record on where you got things some times and have everything together.  Never know when you might need it.