Topic: Need some pix, please: 350F/400F/500/550.

[HondaMan]

For the new electronic ignitions:
I have a good recommended mounting method for the 750, so that's covered.
I also have a picture from a rider in Europe who just straps his similarly-sized unit on the side of the (CB500) battery, but I think if I had some pictures from some of you, we could create something a little more "hardware oriented", like a bracket or something that bolts onto the bike.

Could a few of you, who have the above-referenced bikes, pop off the side cover where the battery and/or electrics are located and take a shot, then post it here? I don't have ready access to these models anymore, and it would help those who have ordered these ignitions to get an idea of how to mount them to the bikes.

There's especially a lot of 500/550 riders who want these, and at least one 350F and 400F rider (and a 350 twin, but that's a different matter...).

Thanks in advance, shutterbikers. 

[FunJimmy]

Hondaman

I can quickly snap off a couple of CB550 pics for you.
All I need to know is how to post pictures to this site. I know.....another stupid newb question.
But willing to help and I learn fast.

Cheers
FunJimmy

[clarkjh]

HM
Would a pic of a stripped down frame of a 550 help?  Haven't got Surly back together, Yet.  I will be slowly putting her together over April.

James

[OldSchool_IsCool]

HondaMan,

This is off a '77 550k with after market side covers.  Hope this is helpful.

[csendker]

'75 550-K1.  The negative battery wire is an aftermarket (too long...)

[puppytrax]

I totally don't know what this is...but I want one...   

1973 CB500; VIN plate says 12/72

[okie]

1973 CB 350F

[HondaMan]

Hondaman

I can quickly snap off a couple of CB550 pics for you.
All I need to know is how to post pictures to this site. I know.....another stupid newb question.
But willing to help and I learn fast.

Cheers
FunJimmy

Fun:
When you go to write a post, there is a label on the lower left side that says "Additional options." Click on that, and it will open up a little Explorer window that lets you find you pix and attach them. They can't be real big, so you may have to save them to a 640x480 (800kB) format first.

I could use a shot from each side that also looks downward a little, on an angle. The nice shots below show that there isn't much space under the seat, but maybe off the side of the battery or over the top of the electrics...

HM
Would a pic of a stripped down frame of a 550 help? Haven't got Surly back together, Yet. I will be slowly putting her together over April.

James

...a bare bike won't help much, I don't think, though. But, maybe it wouldn't hurt to be able to see the top crossover, under the seat. Maybe there's a little space hiding under there?

It looks like the 350F will be a real challenge under the covers....Maybe a rear fender mount, like mine when the electronics were bigger, would work.

These ignitions are 3.9"long x1.9" wide x1.1" thick, pretty small. I didn't go look, but are any of you guys on the Ignitions list? I think I'm going to have to work with someone to figure out how to mount these in the 500/550/350 family...

[jsaab2748]

Maybe some of the 550 guys could take some measurements of the area underneath the battery box and find a way to attach
the unit on the underside of the battery box "floor"?.....I'd measure my bike, but it's miles away from me at the moment...
Just a thought...

[puppytrax]

These ignitions are 3.9"long x1.9" wide x1.1" thick...

...1.1 inch thick??...    Over an inch??   

I read all 22 pages of your Transistorized Ignition post earlier today (about 2 hours worth) and I thought you said it was .85" thick...   

If those measurememnts are accurate, we should be able to saw up a piece of 2x4 and see where it will fit...   

[csendker]

More 550K1 angles...down right, down left, and lookin' up.

[csendker]

Other side...and with the seat up.

[GroovieGhoulie]

I can get pics of my 400F on Thursday, unless someone posts pics before then.  I will say that there is VERY little room behind those sidecovers for anything.

[csendker]

Handy-dandy Cheese-it Box Transistorized Ignition Replica, ~4"x~2"x~1-1/16", give or take; again, all on the 550K1.

Option 1 (pic #5590).: Strap it to the battery or make a backplate, fits easily under the cover

Option 2 (pic #5591): Weatherproof? It also fits under the battery.

Option 3 (pic #5592): It will fit on the electronics side too (but I don't know just how OEM my stuff is there).

[HondaMan]

I think we have a 500/550 winner!    Cheesits wins!

Yes, I'm afraid the box has gone through more than one version, trying to balance heating and component spacing issues. But, I think the CK-under-the-battery-Cheesits wins it! The wires will come out of the end, and it's waterproof. In the "stock" form, the box is the above-mentioned size. The Dyna coils version has a 1" tall heatsink on top, making it over 2" thick, an issue that may have to be tackled yet for the 3-ohm Dyna guys' bikes.

Thanks for all the help, CK! Would you like to do a test on Terry's unit (I just got it back, he's getting a newer test model)?

[csendker]

The way my son goes through Cheesits, I can make a hundred models.  Bring on the dimensions!

[HondaMan]

The way my son goes through Cheesits, I can make a hundred models.  Bring on the dimensions!

How about I send you a module, or at least an enclosure, for test measuring?

Are you on my list for electronic ignitions? (I should check, but it's in the other half of the basement, far far away...    ).

[csendker]

I wasn't on the list, but after reading this post and the 22 or so pages of the original post, I'm now interested ~ way late to the game so fabrication round 2 or 3 or whatever is no issue.  Besides, I like the led timing light thing.  If it's just the enclosure, save the postage and let me know the dimensions (picture too, like where are the wires?) and I'll fab up another Cheese-it special and play around with the mounting.  Digital pics are cheap and easy and a box is a box is a box.  It took about a minute and a half the first time, and it's still sitting next to me.  If you're looking for a sacrificial  test 550, mine is a stock (mechanically) 550-K1 ('75) but for the 4-1 exhaust and Uni foam drop-in air filter.  I've never been inside the engine, so I can only assume it's stock.  Ditto the carbs, but I can pull the bowls to verify the jetting, which I may do anyway just because I'm interested.  The weather's getting better here in Buffalo, and I believe we had WAY less snow that you folks - its all gone now.  Bike's been back in action for a couple of weeks now.  If you need a 550/K1 test-bed, I'm game.  If you already have one in the works, I'm still game for the Cheeseit Fab specials.

[HondaMan]

I can get pics of my 400F on Thursday, unless someone posts pics before then.  I will say that there is VERY little room behind those sidecovers for anything.

Groovie:
I either missed getting them, or lost them, or...?
Did you make a couple of shots of your 400F? I don't have images of the 400 in my collection. I could use one: someone just asked me about installation for one.

Thanks,
Mark

[bwaller]

400F for you. Sorry, read about a downward angle shot after I snapped these. I'll get more batteries and take a couple more later!

[bwaller]

Hondaman, it looks to me like the best placement on a 400F would be under the battery box as well. Between the inner rear fender and the accumulator on the bottom of the airbox is approx. 2.25". Between the chainguard and the sidecover peg bracket is safely 5.5". Lots of depth from the bottom of the battery box to the swingarm.

[HondaMan]

Hondaman, it looks to me like the best placement on a 400F would be under the battery box as well. Between the inner rear fender and the accumulator on the bottom of the airbox is approx. 2.25". Between the chainguard and the sidecover peg bracket is safely 5.5". Lots of depth from the bottom of the battery box to the swingarm.

Great shot, B! 

Thanks for the info: I'll add that to the recommendations.   

[mikedialect]

Mark!


Have you pondered if those would be worth making for a cb350 twin?

[csendker]

...or a CB175?

[mark]

How about a bag of parts with instructions for those of us who really miss Heathkit?

[78 k550]

HondaMan,
I have a 72 500 and 78 550 if you want to ride over to get measurements.

Paul

[HondaMan]

Mark!


Have you pondered if those would be worth making for a cb350 twin?

...or a CB175?

They work fine on both of those!

[HondaMan]

HondaMan,
I have a 72 500 and 78 550 if you want to ride over to get measurements.

Paul

Paul;

e-mail your address and phone: if you're on my go-to-work route, I'll drop by one night!
mgparis@concentric.net

[HondaMan]

How about a bag of parts with instructions for those of us who really miss Heathkit?

Someday, maybe: but, if you look through that giant "transistorized ignition" thread, there was a Velleman kit in there: you could use that schematic and gather up the parts in the meantime. One other SOHC4-er did just that, and he's in that section.

I've got so much going on with these right now, I don't think I have time to engineer up a kit!

[mark]

How about a bag of parts with instructions for those of us who really miss Heathkit?

Someday, maybe: but, if you look through that giant "transistorized ignition" thread, there was a Velleman kit in there: you could use that schematic and gather up the parts in the meantime. One other SOHC4-er did just that, and he's in that section.

I've got so much going on with these right now, I don't think I have time to engineer up a kit!

Cool. Thanks for the response!

Happy trails.

[mikedialect]

Mark!


Have you pondered if those would be worth making for a cb350 twin?

...or a CB175?

They work fine on both of those!

Sweet!