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Author Topic: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light  (Read 1206 times)

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Offline rymian

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71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« on: June 19, 2018, 04:17:51 PM »
Recently purchased a 71 CB450 knowing full well that the headlight and taillight were not working. I am new to motorcycles especially something this old. I know that a lot of the connections are housed inside the headlight housing. Should I start there for checking connections?
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Offline calj737

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2018, 04:52:01 PM »
Use a meter. Test the actual wiring at the component with the key ON. Do you have 12v? If not, time to start deeper diagnosis.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Scott S

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2018, 05:09:29 PM »
 Check the easy stuff first....the bulbs.
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Offline MoMo

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2018, 08:34:29 PM »
Are both high and low out? tail and brake light out?  Welcome and congratulations on buying"the most impressive Honda ever made".   ....Larry
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Offline tbpmusic

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2018, 01:42:58 PM »
Quote from: MoMo on June 19, 2018, 08:34:29 PM
?  Welcome and congratulations on buying"the most impressive Honda ever made".   ....Larry

Yuk, yuk - I never get tired of that......
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"If you can't fix it with a hammer, then it's an electrical problem"

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Offline MoMo

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2018, 07:41:04 PM »
Quote from: tbpmusic on June 20, 2018, 01:42:58 PM
Quote from: MoMo on June 19, 2018, 08:34:29 PM
?  Welcome and congratulations on buying"the most impressive Honda ever made".   ....Larry

Yuk, yuk - I never get tired of that......





me either, it is about as farcical as it gets.  However, the 450 was an extraordinarily innovative motor design
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Offline rymian

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2018, 06:39:28 AM »
Quote from: MoMo on June 19, 2018, 08:34:29 PM
Are both high and low out? tail and brake light out?  Welcome and congratulations on buying"the most impressive Honda ever made".   ....Larry

Worked through some things last night and got the running taillight working along with the brake light. Simply a loose connection inside the headlamp housing. This also got the tachometer back light to start working. Lowbeam, highbeam, highbeam indicator light and speedometer light all still not working. Couldn't locate any other loose connections inside the headlamp housing.
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Offline MoMo

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2018, 09:34:34 AM »
Does the 71 have an on/off switch for the lights?  Also, check fuses if you haven't
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Offline rymian

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Re: 71 CB450 No headlight or rear running light
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2018, 01:59:34 PM »
Quote from: MoMo on June 21, 2018, 09:34:34 AM
Does the 71 have an on/off switch for the lights?  Also, check fuses if you haven't

Yes it does have an on/off switch and it works because the running taillight turns on and off with it. Only has one fuse and it is getting power on both sides of the fuse.
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