Topic: CB550K3 USA - headlight is always on..?

[shads]

Just planning the re-wire on my bike and it would appear that there is no way to turn the lights off..!  The right hand switch only has the start and kill switch, and the wiring diagram for the USA model shows no headlight switch, even though the Europe and Aus models do have a switch interestingly enough.

Is that correct?

[TurtleSnifferII]

Usually US model bikes I noticed all have the headlight on. Here in CA you have to have it all the time since its the law. 

[754]

74 was last year for the switch here.
 Damn good thing mine has it, i rode the last 850 miles home from Utah, with an almost dead battery..

[TwoTired]

Usually US model bikes I noticed all have the headlight on. Here in CA you have to have it all the time since its the law. 

Federal laws mandated mc headlights on during operation.  Honda made the change a couple years before fed law went into effect.

Cheers,

[Deltarider]

It's one thing to have a law that demands you to run a headlight when you operate your bike on shared roads. It's another thing to demand bikes where it is impossible to switch it off. The latter is plain stupid.

[carnivorous chicken]

74/75 was the switchover. I've got a 75 550K, probably built in 74, with an off switch for the headlight.

[Deltarider]

74/75 was the switchover. I've got a 75 550K, probably built in 74, with an off switch for the headlight.

See: p. 50, Ref. No. 6 in: http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac550/CB550-K0-K1-K2/CB550-K0-K1-K2_04.pdf

[Bankerdanny]

74/75 was the switchover. I've got a 75 550K, probably built in 74, with an off switch for the headlight.

See: p. 50, Ref. No. 6 in: http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac550/CB550-K0-K1-K2/CB550-K0-K1-K2_04.pdf

My 75 F didn't have an off switch. I can't say about the 74 K because it didn't come with switches.

[shads]

Thanks guys!  Looks like my headlight will be on all the time then... Not a bad thing, I guess...

[Deltarider]

Thanks guys!  Looks like my headlight will be on all the time then... Not a bad thing, I guess...

I'd fit a switch or a (break) relay triggered by the neutral indicator which will bring the light ON with the engine running and in gear and OFF with the engine running and in neutral, for instance when you work on the bike. Simple and low cost.

[robvangulik]

Thanks guys!  Looks like my headlight will be on all the time then... Not a bad thing, I guess...

I'd fit a switch or a (break) relay triggered by the neutral indicator which will bring the light ON with the engine running and in gear and OFF with the engine running and in neutral, for instance when you work on the bike. Simple and low cost.

You never use neutral while in the dark? Instant invisibility.....

[Deltarider]

I thought of that. At traffic lights at night just select first gear with the clutch pulled. Leaves only an extremely short interrruption when shifting from 1^st to 2^nd gear. At traffic lights in daylight you may select neutral and save gas . But the stupidity is in that law ofcourse that forced manufacturers to make different switch arrangements for various markets. BTW, Rob, it's been 38 years I did my test and, to be honest, quite often I don't know which laws have changed. Do you happen to know if we bikers must have our headlights on nowadays or is it still to our judgement (as it should be imo)?

[DaveBarbier]

Don’t bother with that neutral switch thing, that’s a little ridiculous. Just install a small switch somewhere if you want the headlight off.

[robvangulik]

Don’t bother with that neutral switch thing, that’s a little ridiculous. Just install a small switch somewhere if you want the headlight off.

Exactly, or buy a bike with an on/off switch to start with. Luckily that is a choice we still have over here.
And no Delta, as my knowledge stems from '75 i'm not sure either, but it doesn't interest me at all, you won't ever spot me riding without lights of my own free will!
 But i wouldn't install such a relay, i want to be able to adjust my collar in case of a cold draught, or my choke, petcock or select a setting on GPS, or whatever without blending into the background.

[carnivorous chicken]

Do you happen to know if we bikers must have our headlights on nowadays or is it still to our judgement (as it should be imo)?

In the US this is a state regulated thing. Most states require headlights on at all times, but there are some that don't. AZ is one that doesn't require it.

[Little_Phil]

I thought of that. At traffic lights at night just select first gear with the clutch pulled. Leaves only an extremely short interrruption when shifting from 1^st to 2^nd gear. At traffic lights in daylight you may select neutral and save gas . But the stupidity is in that law ofcourse that forced manufacturers to make different switch arrangements for markets. BTW, Rob, it's been 38 years I did my test and, to be honest, quite often I don't know which laws have changed. Do you happen to know if we bikers must have our headlights on nowadays or is it still to our judgement (as it should be imo)?

Delta, I was advised that dipped headlight is mandatory at all times in The Netherlands. So putting it in neutral would break the rules. Maybe it's not enforced.
Nowadays most cars come with LED daytime running lights, so although lights are not compulsory in the UK, at anytime except brilliant sunshine I use lights.

[calj737]

At traffic lights in daylight you may select neutral and save gas .

I wonder what model motorcycle you have that doesn’t use gas simply because it’s in Neutral? Whether a headlight is on or off, the fuel consumption is the same. 

[Deltarider]

I thought of that. At traffic lights at night just select first gear with the clutch pulled. Leaves only an extremely short interrruption when shifting from 1^st to 2^nd gear. At traffic lights in daylight you may select neutral and save gas . But the stupidity is in that law ofcourse that forced manufacturers to make different switch arrangements for markets. BTW, Rob, it's been 38 years I did my test and, to be honest, quite often I don't know which laws have changed. Do you happen to know if we bikers must have our headlights on nowadays or is it still to our judgement (as it should be imo)?

Delta, I was advised that dipped headlight is mandatory at all times in The Netherlands. So putting it in neutral would break the rules. Maybe it's not enforced.
Nowadays most cars come with LED daytime running lights, so although lights are not compulsory in the UK, at anytime except brilliant sunshine I use lights.

Looked it up for you. Although dipped headlight is allowed during daylight for all vehicles, it is not manditory with the exception of atmospheric conditions that may reduce visibility. Ofcourse every biker with common sense has some sort of headlight on, but bikers in general regret the growing number of cars that use headlights at daytime and so as a consequence reduce the bikers relative visibility. Philips thought of that and developped the X-treme Vision H4 Moto especially for motorcycles. Although it offers an unrivaled, perfectly white light where you need it - on the road - it also has a somewhat slight yellowish glare signallng it's a bike that approaches you.
What puzzles me about the US switch arrangement is, that it is no guarantee the light is on. I seriously studied the wiring diagram and I conclude the engine doesn't stop running and forces you to pull over whenever the headlight bulb blows. So, where's the logic?

[Deltarider]

At traffic lights in daylight you may select neutral and save gas .

I wonder what model motorcycle you have that doesn’t use gas simply because it’s in Neutral? Whether a headlight is on or off, the fuel consumption is the same. 

Haaa... free electrons for your headlight and... another candidate for the Noble prize for Physics!

[Don R]

  I had a 400F with a toggle in the top of the headlight bucket, it switched the ground wire from the headlight bulb. A pilot light would be good so you can see when it's on.  DSS also sells a right control with the off/park/on switch in it. Look at non us bikes to find it.

[shads]

  I had a 400F with a toggle in the top of the headlight bucket, it switched the ground wire from the headlight bulb. A pilot light would be good so you can see when it's on.  DSS also sells a right control with the off/park/on switch in it. Look at non us bikes to find it.

Yep decided ill be putting a switch in the headlight for it.  My controls are all polished up and on the bike now and that's where they are staying.  This project has turned into more of a polishing aluminum exercise and less of a bike building one, so there's no way im starting from scratch with new controls...!

[shads]

LOL.  Just read the manual for my M-unit and it has a feature where it doesn't switch the lights on until the engine is started, so no need for a different on/off switch really.    It also has a toggle switch setup for Jap bikes which switches between high and low using the stock controls...

I should have read the manual first, sorry... Thanks for the input though!

[calj737]

You can use the m-unit with your stock controls but you need to make some changes in your harness in order to do so.

The stock harness carries power to the controls, then on to the component. The m-unit input from the controls must be a ground signal, the power then from the m-unit to the component directly. If you don't re-route the power, you will damage the m-unit.

[MikeSimon]

There may be laws that govern "headlight always on" mode for motorcycles when they are approved by DOT for sale, but I have never heard of the police enforcing this anywhere (except maybe CA). I have converted several of my bikes - Hondas, BMWs and Kawasakis - to Euro switchgear with a headlight on/off switch and sometimes forget to turn the light on. Never had a problem, even when stopped by the police for another reason.

And as far as fuel consumption is concerned - If you want to be technical and really, really correct , you have a higher fuel consumption when lights are on. The load on your alternator is higher, thus requiring more power to drive it, thus needing more fuel. Whether this is measurable at all, is another question....

[Don R]

 I've been puled over twice in Illinois for headlight off. Once was a burned out low beam and once was my fault for turning it off when cranking the starter and forgetting to turn it back on. Half a block from the house, verbal warnings both times.
 Like I posted above, I have an LED yellow park lamp bulb in my 400F's park light, so I can run it if there was reason to not want the headlight on. The wiring harness accommodates whatever switch or lack of your bike has.

[carnivorous chicken]

I was pulled over in WA for not having a headlight on  in the daytime (20+ years ago, but they will still do it).

[calj737]

And as far as fuel consumption is concerned - If you want to be technical and really, really correct , you have a higher fuel consumption when lights are on. The load on your alternator is higher, thus requiring more power to drive it, thus needing more fuel. Whether this is measurable at all, is another question....

Your premise is only valid under 2 scenarios: that you manually adjust the throttle to match the output of the alternator under its load, or;
You are operating an engine-driven generator that is equipped with engine management controls to alter the engine speed to produce more output for the alternator under a load.

As far as all SOHCs manufactured between 1969 and 1978 I’m unaware of any equipped from Honda with this electronic capability.

And based upon Delta’s statement,
 “

At traffic lights in daylight you may select neutral and save gas .

Being in neutral versus being in gear with a headlight OFF is similiarily silly. (I think he later concedes this point). 

[shads]

You can use the m-unit with your stock controls but you need to make some changes in your harness in order to do so.

The stock harness carries power to the controls, then on to the component. The m-unit input from the controls must be a ground signal, the power then from the m-unit to the component directly. If you don't re-route the power, you will damage the m-unit.

Hey Cal, thanks for the input.  I'm doing a full re-wire of the bike with my own custom harness so been figuring out exactly what the M-Unit needs re inputs/outputs over the weekend.  I'll post the diagram on here soon, would be great if you could have a quick look over it at some point.   

[PeWe]

LED H4 need less amps which ensure the battery charging. My K6 has also a parking light LED that lit rather bright.