Topic: CB550 Cut out

[Angiey2002]

Hi Guys. While riding home today my bike just cut out. No warning or anything. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to where to look first. There is plenty fuel in it. It didnt splutter or hesitate or anything. Just died completely and will not start. Plenty of juice in the battery. Just winds and winds but no firing. Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Angus.

[Cvillechopper]

Check ALL of your connections, then start checking the switches.  Sounds like something came undone or burned out.

I'd start with the coil leads.  See if you're getting juice to them and work back from there.  You have a wiring diagram?

[Patrick]

It certainly sounds electrical. But check your carb bowls and make sure there is fuel in them. Might be a fuel line stoppage. Pull a plug and hold it to a bolt on the head to see if there is spark. If there is no spark, work backward from the plugs to the coils to the points and make sure everything is connected. If you have a tester light, try to find out where the juice ends.

[number13]

Check your main fuse.

[BobbyR]

Check the wiring for your kill switch.

[TwoTired]

If the electrics starter motor is cranking the engine, then your main fuse is still functional.  If not, check/replace the fuse first.

Next check the position of your STOP-RUN-STOP switch on the bars.

Next would be to check power to the coils, and that your points are still working.

Next, check that your plugs are still sparking.

Next check that your petcock is still delivering fuel to the carbs.

Next open a tappet cover on #1 and #4 cylinder, and verify that the tappets move during engine turn over.

Cheers,

[hapsh]

I am 95% sure it is spark related.  If it just cut out quickly without any bogging I would probably rule out fuel.  If you loose fuel delivery it takes a bit of time before the floats drain and it just feels like you are running out of gas before it dies.  I had a similar issue and it was the Stop-Run-Stop switch.  It could be the switch or the connection in your headlight bucket.  Check in your headlight bucket for the black wire connecting to your right hand controls, there should be 12 volts there, then coming out of your right hand control there is a Black with White stripe wire.  With the Stop-Run-Stop switch switched too Run there should be 12 volts there.  From there the Black with White stripe wire goes to a splitter to your coils.  For a quick check to see if you have spark I would pull a spark plug, lay it against the head with and see if you are getting spark.  If you don't have spark I would follow your schematic and make sure you are getting 12 volts at the hot side of your points to ground when they are open.
Also if you cam chain gave out it would die right away as well, however it makes a hell of a noise  .

[Angiey2002]

Thanks for all your help guys. Checked everything as you all advised. Fuel in bowls,
etc and pulled plug and what do you know, no spark. Traced juice from switch along black cable with white stripe to the loom and after unravelling loads of insulating tape discovered a bullet connector had come adrift. New connector on and after a couple of turns fired right up  I am a happy bunny now. Thanks to you all for your input.

[mystic_1]

I've come to hate those little buggers, the bullet connectors that is.  In some ways they're nice but they are very finicky and fickle critters.

Glad you got it sorted.

mystic_1

[BobbyR]

Thanks for all your help guys. Checked everything as you all advised. Fuel in bowls,
etc and pulled plug and what do you know, no spark. Traced juice from switch along black cable with white stripe to the loom and after unravelling loads of insulating tape discovered a bullet connector had come adrift. New connector on and after a couple of turns fired right up  I am a happy bunny now. Thanks to you all for your input.

Do yourself a favor and eliminate those connectors where possible. They are made to ease manufacture no conduct electricity for long periods of time. A nice solder joint with some silicone and shrink tubing is the ticket.