Topic: 1973 CB350F Headlight Question (Pulling my hair out)

[Jayelwin]

So I've fully restored a pair of bikes (750K, 350F) a few years ago with incredible input from this most excellent forum. I have since replaced my 750's headlight bulb with an LED so my battery wouldn't die on long slow rides. That headlight is so easy to work on because it's large and there are a bajillion aftermarket solutions for it.

Now the 350F not so much. I have the original smaller bucket 7" wide with the 6" sealed beam stanley light. I was hoping it had a halogen substitute that I could then drop in an H4 LED replacement for. But no, no luck. I would even replace the bucket if I could find one that reliably fit between the ears (which are painted with the bike - can't get rid of them), had the cutouts for the gauge cables, and took a halogen reflector. But I cannot find one. It also has to have bucket room to hold the wiring harness too. So the chinese LED buckets on eBay wouldn't work either. I'll keep the original bucket for the purists, but I really want better light.

What are people doing to get LED light on a pretty much 100% stock '73 350F?

Here is the bike (wife's bike).

[camshaft1991]

If you keep it halogen....I would recommend using a 35 watt bulb to keep the battery from dying. But I can’t  vouch for using an led bulb. For my 350f, I have a 6 & 3/8” halogen headlight assembly from 4into1 but it’s no longer listed. The closest size they have now is a 6.5” assembly or 6”


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[HondaMan]

WOW! TWO BEAUTIES in the same picture.
(How do you rate that?)   

There is a German company who makes an H4 35w/35w bulb (I have two of these) and the lens for the CB350F bikes. I don't have the lens yet, due to my being neck-deep in SOHC4 engine rebuilds this year, none my own. If I can find the company again, I'll forward it here.

[Jayelwin]

If you keep it halogen....I would recommend using a 35 watt bulb to keep the battery from dying. But I can’t  vouch for using an led bulb. For my 350f, I have a 6 & 3/8” halogen headlight assembly from 4into1 but it’s no longer listed. The closest size they have now is a 6.5” assembly or 6”


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If I could get a halogen setup that I knew fit I would buy it and then just replace the bulb with LED and eliminate the wattage issue altogether. I just don’t know what either replaces the bucket or fits in the bucket.




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[Jayelwin]

WOW! TWO BEAUTIES in the same picture.
(How do you rate that?)   

There is a German company who makes an H4 35w/35w bulb (I have two of these) and the lens for the CB350F bikes. I don't have the lens yet, due to my being neck-deep in SOHC4 engine rebuilds this year, none my own. If I can find the company again, I'll forward it here.

Please do. I’d love a link for anything that takes an H4. There are a bajillion LED options for H4 and none for sealed beam.


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[gtmdriver]

It's a really awkward size and I doubt that you'll find an after market replacement that will fit in the original headlamp bucket.

My bike originally had a fairing fitted so I had no headlamp at all. I fitted a complete chrome headlamp shell and lens but even that wasn't straightforward as the OEM unit is shaped at the back to clear the instrument drive cables. I had to panel beat the replacement unit quite severely to get it to fit.



Fortunately I was able to get hold of a used original unit but I'm now back to the fairly feeble sealed beam headlamp again.

[Deltarider]

No need to pull your hair out. Pull just two wires out. I mean, if that front indicator in the picture is constantly on as a socalled running light, I would disconnect it. The two of them consume 16 Watts and that's a lot when your bike is idling at traffic lights where the generator is not charging and the battery is actually draining. To my knowledge no model CB350F ever had them. For the rest, you have to decide if you just want to be noticed during daylight or also want a safe light pattern at night.
There are quite some possibilities to improve the somewhat meagre headlight the CB350F had in some markets. But the original 50/35 Watts cannot be blamed for the socalled 'charging problems'. There weren't any. (As if Honda did not know how to make a bike with an adequent generator... ) It's the riding (or rather the lack of it) that can cause a problem.
Below some links to one of the biggest retailers in Holland. Select a category in the left and you can see what there is. If you need help to translate, let me know. BTW, this is hat I wrote before on the subject. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,174124.msg2026186.html#msg2026186

For a complete reflector, check: https://honda4shop.nl/product_info.php?cPath=35_94_133&products_id=260&language=en&osCsid=8uq0ir2m4t0kr75mpmvd31l172

For all kinds of bulbs, check:
https://www.lampengrossier.nl/epages/61796212.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61796212/Categories/Motor_en_Fiets_lampen/%22H4%20%20P43T%2012V%22

https://www.lampengrossier.nl/epages/61796212.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61796212/Categories/Motor_en_Fiets_lampen/%22H4%20P45T%2012V%22

Compliments for the bike! It's lovely.

[Jayelwin]

So I bought this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PJHYDPW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It said 6.5” between the ears which is exactly what a 350f has and also said “plenty of room for the harness” which was a concern. If it fits I’ll post it here and then replace the halogen H4 with an LED H4. I will save all original parts.


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[Don R]

http://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=179_274_192_215&products_id=3366

[Deltarider]

So I bought this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PJHYDPW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It said 6.5” between the ears which is exactly what a 350f has and also said “plenty of room for the harness” which was a concern. If it fits I’ll post it here and then replace the halogen H4 with an LED H4. I will save all original parts.


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As I understand it that reflector and lens have been developped for an H4 halogen. Insert a LED and - not having a filament in exactly the right place - you will have a rotten, non legal light with the risk of irritating oncomers. In your case why not go for the Philips Ecovision H4 and have the best?

[Jayelwin]

I haven’t bought the LED yet but it seems that they have gotten the LED chips in the right spot to solve that problem with filament position and awkward light.


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[TwoTired]

Have you measured the actual voltage your existing headlight is receiving, compared to actual battery voltaged?

Bulbs emit light relative to the voltage received.  If there is power distribution losses, that will make any headlight dimmer.  It also means those losses are wasting alternator power via heating.

Cheers,

[Jayelwin]

I will check. I think it’s just an old bulb. I have been really happy with the LED in my 750.


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[TwoTired]

Do check it with the lighting and ignition ON.

Cheers,

[Jayelwin]

Do check it with the lighting and ignition ON.

Cheers,

What? You mean zero volts isn’t normal? :-)


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[TwoTired]

If there are problems with distribution connectors and switch contacts, the more load you put on it will expose more voltage drop/ losses in the system.

Cheers,

[TwoTired]

Do check it with the lighting and ignition ON.

Cheers,

What? You mean zero volts isn’t normal? :-)


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Some clever individuals have removed the headlight to check voltage at the headlight terminals.  Which, of course, negates testing the system under load. ( conditions that would make the operating headlight dimmer.)

Cheers,

[Robbo]

How about this:  Old Bike Barn





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