Author Topic: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.  (Read 343 times)

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Offline JDrider

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1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« on: October 26, 2022, 09:02:03 AM »
Also when I first start the bike the headlight wont light up. After a minute of so it will but no high beam.
I opened up the headlight bucket searching for loose wires and didn't see anything.
The rear turn signals, brake light and all other electrical operates fine.
(I should add that this was like this when I purchased the bike a couple weeks ago)
Thanks,
JD

JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline newday777

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2022, 10:57:52 AM »
It can be dirty start switch for the headlight as the switch cuts out the headlight to give full volts to the starter, then once you let off the button it should spring back out unless it is gunked up in the spring.
Dirty contacts in the turn switch can be the problem of no frt turn signals. Or it can be the turn flasher.
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline JDrider

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2022, 11:03:52 AM »
It can be dirty start switch for the headlight as the switch cuts out the headlight to give full volts to the starter, then once you let off the button it should spring back out unless it is gunked up in the spring.
Dirty contacts in the turn switch can be the problem of no frt turn signals. Or it can be the turn flasher.

the rear signals work fine. Also I can see that the running lights are on too.
The headlight wont come on till at least 30 seconds after starting it up.
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline bryanj

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2022, 03:27:29 PM »
Headlight should come on immediately you let go the start button and should be on before you push the button, if not rh switch unit is bad, if only one beam works either the bulb/sealded beam is faulty or the lh switch is faulty.
As to indicators if rears light up but not fronts its a wiring fault as lh switch does not have seperate wires to front and back, could be bad ground on front blinker mounts
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline JDrider

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2022, 03:29:09 PM »
Thank you
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline RAFster122s

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2022, 04:46:55 PM »
You sure your issue isn’t just a function of a low battery?
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline JDrider

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2022, 04:48:52 PM »
You sure your issue isn’t just a function of a low battery?
That’s what I was hoping when I bought it.
But after a new battery that is fully charged, it still does this.
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline Fezzler

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2022, 08:58:14 PM »
I vote switch too.  I had similar issues in the past.
1975 Honda CB550f in parts in progress
1978 Honda CB550 Four K4
1971 Honda CB500 Four K0
2008 105th Anniversary Edition HD Road King
(Sold) 1998 Honda Shadow ACE Deluxe VT750
1973 Schwinn Stingray (Blue Deluxe - RIP Jack and Rose)

Offline bryanj

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2022, 07:03:37 AM »
You can fit the rh switch with the lights on/off and different starter wiring if you wish but you have to alter the solenoid wiring.
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline JDrider

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2022, 07:09:28 AM »
You can fit the rh switch with the lights on/off and different starter wiring if you wish but you have to alter the solenoid wiring.
Can the switch housing be removed and parts/contacts cleaned?
I dont know if these are serviceable.
JD
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline newday777

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #10 on: October 27, 2022, 07:51:42 AM »
You can fit the rh switch with the lights on/off and different starter wiring if you wish but you have to alter the solenoid wiring.
Can the switch housing be removed and parts/contacts cleaned?
I dont know if these are serviceable.
JD
Yes. Very carefully.  Best to put it in a 2 gallon baggie to catch possible flying springs.
Take pictures as you go to help you put it back together.
There might be a you tube on repairing the switches, but they are fairly basic.
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline bryanj

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2022, 08:20:55 AM »
The plastic bit the starter/lights wires go to is very fragile and breaks a lot, there was somebody 3d printing replacements as its not available anywhere else
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline TwoTired

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Re: 1975 CB550K1 front turn signals not working.
« Reply #12 on: October 27, 2022, 11:46:07 AM »
Wait.  The 75 K1 has the same basic electrical as the 74.    LH control should have a headlight on off switch, as well as the LR turn switch.   The F model had no headlight off on switch, and the starter button had a headlight interrupter while the starter was engaged to keep the ignition voltage high during e start. Yes, that switch often disintegrated.  But, the 74-75-76 K model starter button switch is pretty robust.

If front TS aren't working, check the bulbs, they should have two filaments (1157s will make the stock flasher unit not work right, I don't recall the proper number off hand, but they are lower wattage 1056/1034 possibly).  The rears have only one filament.  Check to see if you have the correct parts installed.  The fronts are run lights and turn lights (two elements).  The run light turns off when the blinker is selected.

The fronts also need a proper ground to function correctly.  The headlight mount bolts at the ear should have nuts inside with green connection grounds that wire directly to the harness inside the bucket.  The forks ears are rubber isolated from the forks and frame, hence the need for this wire ground for the stalks of the signals.

Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.