Topic: Cb500k lighting switches

[cbsix50]

Hi ,   I am attempting to restore a 1971 CB500k , USA model. I would like to restore it back to the UK spec for nostalgic reasons. Most of the differences I have figured out , main one being that no all black CB500 seems to have come to USA.  It is the lighting switches got me confused , I specifically want the pilot bulb in the headlight and the main headlight , which the right switch will say, 'off, L, H , the off being a red dot. On the left switch , there is the turn signal and horn with an additional switch , as a separate item , controlling high beam on/off .  Both switches are wires through handlebars , the hi/lo wires run outside.
Can anybody confirm that I am going in the right direction.

[Kevnz]

I vaguely remember those separate hi\low switches on the left , but all the 500ks I've owned just used the the right side switch for hi\low beam. Although I occasionally plunged myself into darkness switching from Hi to Off, I still think the right side  switch is more convenient to use as the left switch ( including the integrated one on the 550) is too much of a stretch for the thumb. Pilot light can still be wired to come on with the ignition if required.

[Little_Phil]

Pretty sure this is correct:
Early and rare K0s imported into the UK had this:-

[Little_Phil]

Later K1s (by far the majority of UK 500) had this:-


P was for pilot (4W) light in headlight.
The separate switch on the LHS was a all lights switch and was the supply to the PLH on the RHS.
I think I have the wiring diagram for the UK K1 if you need it.

[cbsix50]

Little-Phil ,
                    Exactly what I have been looking for, thank you.  The right switch with 'P' instead of a red dot is hard to find, even with the reproduction switches going around . I am not a purist, but it is a small detail that could make all the difference in a resto. Apparently, this separate hi/lo switch was on the 72 - 74 CB750's also. I thought I knew everything about these old bikes , blindsided by this switch.

[bryanj]

As an ex 1970's Honda dealer mech the correct UK switch for all the K1's, which is all that Honda OFFICIALY imported is the one in the first picture with the extra small line.
The circular switch was never fitted by honda but we fitted a lot so that when you went from main to dip and pusher too far after the switch wore out, and wearing the big gloves needed to keep your hands warm, you were not plunged into darkness hurtling towards the next corner

[Deltarider]

Looking at those two pics ^, I think from an ergonomically viewpoint, they're a horrible design. For safety, selecting low or high beam should be easy to do and certainly not by a stepped switch. A stepped switch is OK to select the pilot or headlight however, but selecting low or high beam should be swift by a dip switch as shown below.

[Little_Phil]

This is the relevant bit of the UK K1 wiring diagram showing the headlight control switch.
The separate switch is just about visible on my bike the day I bought it in 1974.

[trigger]

You are correct Phil.
I am not sure when they changed to the Hi-Lo switch on the CB500K. I have a wiring diagram for a UK CB500K0 that does not show the Hi-Lo switch but, the same as you, i also have a UK CB500K1 wiring diagram that show the switch.

I have owned two UK CB500K0's and it is hard to find info on these early bikes. I did find out that the KO was never officially sold in the UK and a few were shipped from Holland and had the headlight and clocks changed, then registered up and sold. The KO's that came from Holland had the Hi-Lo switch fitted as standard and the UK press bikes and a few display units came with the early righthand switch which was also used on the CB750K1 at that time. 

[cbsix50]

It is all very interesting , who would believe switches on an old bike could be so interesting . I think the UK got a bad deal on the early CB500K I only remember black and gold models with the K0 gauges, not tilted forward and just a lifting handle to get on main stand, no grab rail, with a small rear tail light on a black painted bracket.  That was it ,from 72 to 76, then there was the CB550F1 , then the 77 CB550K3 and F2 ,, this is the sum total of CB500/550 UK models.

[cbsix50]

I stand corrected, I see a new brown 500 in the thread.

[dave500]

that horn button goes sideways to flash high beam briefly,was called a passing button?they wear out,i dispensed with mine and use the horn only type,my right switch has dot L H,easy enough to flash high beam with it,although the dedicated pass button flashes the high beam even with the headlight off.

[PeWe]

CB750 K2 had that additional switch for light off.

You can find NOS on eBay, DSS and many other sellers.
This to work with RHS with P-L-H, no off as US K2 switch has without parking.

Horn with headlight flash sideways was typical for Europe? My CB750 K6 had that as well as K2 I have seen.
Mine had no problem.

[trigger]

It is all very interesting , who would believe switches on an old bike could be so interesting . I think the UK got a bad deal on the early CB500K I only remember black and gold models with the K0 gauges, not tilted forward and just a lifting handle to get on main stand, no grab rail, with a small rear tail light on a black painted bracket.  That was it ,from 72 to 76, then there was the CB550F1 , then the 77 CB550K3 and F2 ,, this is the sum total of CB500/550 UK models.

Yes, that is correct, only 3 colours and no sissy bar.

Most of Europe was the same spec in the 70's