Topic: ONE MORE STEP, check the picture

[RAWNOG]

The Black/Red wire in the pic is actually brown/white in the diagram but on my control its a black/red. I also dont have a green/red on my 76 550f control.
I need some help, Im sure someone has seen one of my posts asking about this but its not making any sense to me. I understand this 76 switch is the "hardwired headlight" kind, which send power to the starter when compressed but this wire is killing/preventing me from starting her up.

[Danno]

if it is the one I think it is it does go to the kill switch or to a diode that prevents starter engagement if you look on the right handle bar you will see a black red wire it is unclear if it goes to  the switch or not but i can tell you that 550's have a problem with the kill switch wiring it was one of the very first things I had go wrong with mine fixed it twice and finally I unhooked it have not had a problem since but I have no kill switch so I moved the ignition switch to the console I think your switch on that year is up there already

[doug22]

Hi Rawnog,

My '76 550F starter control switch is the same.  Three wires:   black and black with red tracer for the headlight, and yellow with red tracer for the starter.  I believe someone has posted a color wiring diagram in another thread...

[RAWNOG]

No my ignition is down below the tank.

Thanks Doug, Ill try an find it... if you happen to come across please send me the link.

[bryanj]

OK you won't get as many or as timely answers from me due to the fact I am in the UK but here goes.

On the RH switch you have, you should have at the headlamp end of the wires

1 x Black/white
1 x Black/red
1 x yellow/red
2 x Black

All these, EXCEPT the Black/Red
connect to the same colours in the headlamp bucket in the following way

1 x Black to the kill switch
1 x Black to the starter switch
1 x Yellow/Red to the starter switch
1 x Black/red to the starter switch
1 x black/white to the kill switch

Black becomes "Live" when the ignition switch is turned on and feeds power to the kill switch and starter button

When the Kill switch is "On" power feeds out on the black/white to the coils

With the starter button out power is fed via the Black/red wire to the dip switch on the LH bar (that you don't got) sometimes via the loom and a fuse

With the starter button pressed power is disconnected from the lights and put to the starter solenoid to start the engine BUT BE CAREFUL you need to check out the wiring at the starter solenoid as the early ones had permanent power and were grounded by the bar switch whilst the one this switch is for is permanently grounded and fed power from the switch.

Now just to make it more complicated the later version also has a "safety interlock" on the starter circuit to stop the electric starter operating unless EITHER the neutral light is on OR the clutch lever pulled in this is the Green/red on the LH switch.

IF you fit the LH switch to match your horn will stop working as the early ones have permanent power and are grounded to the bar by the button whilst the later ones are permanently grounded and powered by the button--Easy fix but lets sort that later.

Hope that helps

[RAWNOG]

With the starter button pressed power is disconnected from the lights and put to the starter solenoid to start the engine BUT BE CAREFUL you need to check out the wiring at the starter solenoid as the early ones had permanent power and were grounded by the bar switch whilst the one this switch is for is permanently grounded and fed power from the switch.

I have this one

[bryanj]

All the solenoids are the same, its just the way you connect the wires mate.

On the one you show connect the yellow/red to the harness yellow/red and the black to a decent ground and it should work. Don't cure your main/low headlight prob tho'.

BEFORE connecting check with a meter or bulb that there is 12v at the yellow/red harness wire when the starter button is pushed

[Danno]

Thanks bryanj you aisd what i was trying to say much more elegantly