Topic: 1973 Cb500F signal lights demon

[Honda3]

Only the throttle side front signal comes on, not the rear or the front or rear clutch side.

Brake light is fine, headlight is fine.


Ive changed the flasher and checked ALL the wires and nothing. Only thing I havent checked is the headlight bucket, but nothing in there should have moved.

Sprayed contact cleaner on and in the handlebar switch and still nothing.

Im at my wits end. What could it be?

[jakec]

Take the switch apart and look at it, the brass could bent or something. I've had a turn signal switch on a CL175 that I spent like three nights fixing. Also make sure all of your bulbs are either dual or single filament, which ever they are supposed to be.

[Honda3]

Take the switch apart and look at it, the brass could bent or something. I've had a turn signal switch on a CL175 that I spent like three nights fixing. Also make sure all of your bulbs are either dual or single filament, which ever they are supposed to be.

Thanks Jake.

Also, the indicator in the tree (Signal, Neutral, Oil) for the signal light stays steady instead of blinking. I left the bike out in the rain, but covered, and then this happened. But I dried everything and sprayed contact cleaner and still no dice.

I think the problem is in the switch too but not sure. Im thinking of outright replacing it.

[jakec]

You can rebuild the switch just take it apart and don't lose anything. Usually the copper is dirty, or a spring or spacer is compressed or something, and you're no longer making contact. Blinkers are weird and i'm no expert. Like I said I spent three days fixing them on the CL175 and in the end I don't even know what I did that made them work right.

[Scott S]

 There's no such thing as a '73 CB500 F. The SOHC4 CB500 was designated with a K. K0 for '71, K1 for '72 and K2 for '73.
 You have a 1973 CB500 K2.

  Here's a thread that covers rebuilding the switch:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=143351.0

 I've rebuilt both the RH and LH controls. Never again. Fiddly as hell and the little springs and ball bearings go everywhere.

 https://4into1.com/reproduction-honda-turn-signal-horn-switch-assembly-35250-300-033-cb-cl175-200-350-450-cb500-cb750/

 Have you checked the actual bulbs? Take the one on the RH front that works and put it in the rear. Make sure it's not something silly like dead bulbs.
 Check the grounds. Check the wires in the headlight bucket.

 Are your signals incandescent or LED?

[Bodi]

There should be 4 wires to the signals from the switch if you have front marker lights that switch off when signalling. The front and rear signal lights on each side are wired together, so there must be a wiring problem if only one works - wires are light blue for right and green for left, I think. The front marker wires should be light blue with white stripe (right) and green with white stripe (left), some harnesses have plain color wires with a white plastic ring near the connectors.
First, fix why both signals don't light when the wire is connected to +12 battery power.
The signal switch does a lot if the bike has front markers. When activated, the signalling side's marker power is disconnected and its signal wire is connected to "flashing power" from the flasher, the grey wire.
Test that all the lights work as expected before digging into the switch. It is complicated with several moving contacts, detents, and springs... be 100% sure it isn't working properly before opening it.

[Honda3]

There's no such thing as a '73 CB500 F. The SOHC4 CB500 was designated with a K. K0 for '71, K1 for '72 and K2 for '73.
 You have a 1973 CB500 K2.

  Here's a thread that covers rebuilding the switch:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=143351.0

 I've rebuilt both the RH and LH controls. Never again. Fiddly as hell and the little springs and ball bearings go everywhere.

 https://4into1.com/reproduction-honda-turn-signal-horn-switch-assembly-35250-300-033-cb-cl175-200-350-450-cb500-cb750/

 Have you checked the actual bulbs? Take the one on the RH front that works and put it in the rear. Make sure it's not something silly like dead bulbs.
 Check the grounds. Check the wires in the headlight bucket.

 Are your signals incandescent or LED?

yeah I checked the bulbs, switched them to my other hondas and they work fine. Ive checked all the wires but have not looked in the headlight bucket, but I will once it warms up a bit more here in NYC.

I think its the switch!

[robvangulik]

@Bodi, on any Honda since beginning of time GREEN is battery negative/mass/ground or whatever you want to call it, and you always use ORANGE wiring to indicate for a left turn!