Topic: Help Wiring New Switch Assembly

[Nrgcreator]

Hello, I've been at a standstill on my 74 CB550 build for almost a year. Had some weird wiring issuing going on so decided to replace the harness and  Switch Assembly switches on both sides. I got all three from 4into1.com. Once they arrived i realized i was in over my head. More time went by and couldn't stand to see this sitting any longer so hired a mobile mechanic to come wire the bike. The harness went right on without problems as the colors we're almost a direct match. However, the switch assemblies are not. Nothing came with documentation and 4into1 refuses to help in anyway. Ive paid the mechanic $2300 now to do nothing but wiring and hes not close to being done. He is going through each wire, one by one with a meter. each 5 hour shift he does seems to make little to no progress. He also has the wiring diagram but says because the controls don't match the harness or diagram, he has to go through each wire one by one.  I'm hoping someone here is familiar with what 4into1 is selling and/or can guide me to a solution other than endless $50/hr sessions with the mechanic. Im just trying to figure out what each wire in the controls go to. Nothing is marked and the colors don't match my original control wires.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

4into1.com parts
Main Wiring Harness - 32100-374-000 - Honda CB550K - 1974-1975
SKU HCB550K-7475

Reproduction Left Switch Assembly - 35200-404-671 - Honda CB550 CB750
SKU 404-671R

Reproduction Throttle Switch Assembly - 35300-341-671 - Honda CB550K 74 - CB750K 73-74

[69cb750]

It takes ten minutes to remove a harness.
It takes thirty minutes to install a harness and connect the wires.
Would you be able to install the harness and connect all the wires if the wires have original colors ?
Buy original parts with correct colors (or Yamiya parts, good as original).

4into one is in the business of selling cheap, defective, poor quality parts, you will get any help from them.

[Deltarider]

It takes ten minutes to remove a harness.

This maybe true where it concerns models that have wiring outside the handlebars tube. Models that have wiring inside that tube... oh, boy...

[Little_Phil]

To a trained auto electrician the wiring is child's play. Each switch internals can be sketched out in 15 minutes with a DVM.
Wiring within the bars maybe an hour per side.

[RAFster122s]

That mechanic should Not be retained to do Anything for you...he has ripped you off if you have spent 2300 with him...

[pjlogue]

$2,300 and 5 hr shifts???  WOW!!!   I  would say the "mechanic" is very good at one thing and that is ripping you off. Get someone else to do the work.  The wiring isn't that complicated. 

-P.

[Nrgcreator]

That mechanic should Not be retained to do Anything for you...he has ripped you off if you have spent 2300 with him...

Yes, i know! This is why im trying to find info on these controls here. I live in a small town with limited options for hired help. I called every shop in a 50 mile radius and this is the only guy willing to help out. After talking about it, it seemed it would be a quick and painless process. But every time he comes, not much gets done. He did have to drill out the new handlebars to run the control wires (10hrs, charged me for 5), but he has now spent just about 40hrs and that includes only drilling the bars, installing the harness and attempting to wire the control assemblies. He's an old-timer that takes his sweet time. No doubt i have to end this with him, but im left with a half wired bike and no options for help. So kinda desperate to find a way to figure out what wires from the new control assemblies go to what part of the new harness. With the colors of the wires for the controls being different, im lost on how to figure this out. It's a shame 4into1 isn't capable of providing a simple wiring diagram to what wires control what functions in the controls. Hopefully someone here who has purchased these controls from 4into1 will stumble upon this post at some point and be able to help. Until then, this project is again at a standstill.

[calj737]

I have wired many of these bikes from scratch, building new harness, every connector, every switch in under 8 hours every time. Send the Old Guy packing. If you weren’t an 8 hour drive from me, I’d have you done in under 2 hours from wherever you are now.

[Michaelsoberanes]

I ordered the harness from them as well, and returned them after none of the colors matched, they suck as a company.

I ordered a harness from ebay, with no luck, so I restored my stock harness and it worked great. If I were your I'd get a motogadget m-unit and start over or get a stock harness on ebay.

I'm in the middle of rewiring with an m-unit at the moment.

Hello, I've been at a standstill on my 74 CB550 build for almost a year. Had some weird wiring issuing going on so decided to replace the harness and  Switch Assembly switches on both sides. I got all three from 4into1.com. Once they arrived i realized i was in over my head. More time went by and couldn't stand to see this sitting any longer so hired a mobile mechanic to come wire the bike. The harness went right on without problems as the colors we're almost a direct match. However, the switch assemblies are not. Nothing came with documentation and 4into1 refuses to help in anyway. Ive paid the mechanic $2300 now to do nothing but wiring and hes not close to being done. He is going through each wire, one by one with a meter. each 5 hour shift he does seems to make little to no progress. He also has the wiring diagram but says because the controls don't match the harness or diagram, he has to go through each wire one by one.  I'm hoping someone here is familiar with what 4into1 is selling and/or can guide me to a solution other than endless $50/hr sessions with the mechanic. Im just trying to figure out what each wire in the controls go to. Nothing is marked and the colors don't match my original control wires.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

4into1.com parts
Main Wiring Harness - 32100-374-000 - Honda CB550K - 1974-1975
SKU HCB550K-7475

Reproduction Left Switch Assembly - 35200-404-671 - Honda CB550 CB750
SKU 404-671R

Reproduction Throttle Switch Assembly - 35300-341-671 - Honda CB550K 74 - CB750K 73-74

[kerryb]

Please take some photos of the new controls.  Get your manual turned to the wiring diagram and prepare to take notes on it.  Then pick one function on one control to work on.  If you don't have a meter, go to Harbor Freight and buy the cheap plastic digital meter.  When you're ready, let me know, I'll walk you through it.  I have a '74 in pieces, and a '76 complete to refer to.  I'm sorry you got ripped off, but now lets get this bike on the road, one wire at a time.  I'm no master electrician, but I've yet to run into a wiring problem that couldn't be fixed to the stock diagram.

[Don R]

  On the replacement controls I've seen a couple extra wires. but nothing that gave that kind of heartburn. I also checked your location but I'm too far away too.
  I've gone to old man Honda and printed out a 2 page color version of the wiring diagram, then glued it to a beer carton so it could stand up where I could see it. then find a component and it's colors then connect the dots.
  Show us a photo of some loose ends, I'd bet we can help. Yellow, blue and black/white near the steering neck are the coil wires. striped wires have been through a switch, green are all grounds.
 

[Don R]

http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/WiringDiagrams/CB550.jpg

  It looks imposing but it's like eating a watermelon, just one bite at a time. kerryb is correct post a pic and we'll get started.

[Nrgcreator]

You guys are very kind and generous for your willingness to help = Thank you! I ended up paying my mechanic to continue working on the bike. He's a good guy, just slow and meticulous / very expensive. I'm just a week or two away from pour oil and gas in her! Thanks again!

[calj737]

I'm just a week or two away from pour oil and gas in her! Thanks again!

I hope so for your sake, but based upon your prior posts, I doubt it…

[MauiK3]

Where have I been, I just checked out Old Man Honda. Nice site.

[pjlogue]

You guys are very kind and generous for your willingness to help = Thank you! I ended up paying my mechanic to continue working on the bike. He's a good guy, just slow and meticulous / very expensive. I'm just a week or two away from pour oil and gas in her! Thanks again!

I would strongly encourage you to learn about your bike and be able to do basic repairs before you ride it. Bearings, suspension components, i.e. anything safety related.  I would not take a bike out on the road and ride it without first making sure it is safe!!!  These are old machines and do need care and upkeep, let alone repair for the age they are.  To be honest, with the cost you are paying your mechanic, you could put a LOT of new things on your bike.  I respect that it is your money and your motorcycle and with that, it is your call.   

-P.

[Nrgcreator]

You guys are very kind and generous for your willingness to help = Thank you! I ended up paying my mechanic to continue working on the bike. He's a good guy, just slow and meticulous / very expensive. I'm just a week or two away from pour oil and gas in her! Thanks again!

I would strongly encourage you to learn about your bike and be able to do basic repairs before you ride it. Bearings, suspension components, i.e. anything safety related.  I would not take a bike out on the road and ride it without first making sure it is safe!!!  These are old machines and do need care and upkeep, let alone repair for the age they are.  To be honest, with the cost you are paying your mechanic, you could put a LOT of new things on your bike.  I respect that it is your money and your motorcycle and with that, it is your call.   

-P.

I have replaced or rebuilt pretty much everything on the front end by now and rebuilt the carbs. I have both service manuals and have learned a lot since picking up this old machine. I'm not new to riding, just never had something this old in such bad shape. Wiring however is something i know literally nothing about and wasn't up to the task of figuring it out. It def wasn't ideal to pay this much to replace the harness, just didn't have any other options other than figuring it out on my own, which again, wasn't willing to do. Thanks for the advice!