Topic: CB650 Custom Electrical Upgrades and General Questions

[manjisann]

I bought a 1980 CB650 Custom and am doing some work to deck it out as a cruiser style bike. I have read that these bikes have notoriously weak electrical systems, especially in the battery charging area. I realize I am jumping the gun since I haven't even got her running yet (when I bought her we sprayed starter fluid on the air filter and she was coughing like she wanted to start, but with 2yr old gas in the tank no surprise to me she didn't, I'm sure a tune up and carb cleaning and she'll be right as rain.) I bought a luggage rack that came with a snazzy looking trunk that has blinkers on it. I want to hook them up but I worry about adding more load to the system. So to summarize here are my questions:

What electronics would you/ have you upgraded on these babies.

Is there a way to convert old incandescent lights into led lights. Basically I want to keep the retro look on the lights, but would like to update them.

If I use led lights, what do I have to change out. I have a very basic understanding of electronics. I figure since LEDS use less electricity that is good, but do I need to put something in somewhere to compensate for this??

Any other suggestions you might have in this area would be appreciated as well.

Thanks

Brandon

[Soos]

Sorry no LED experience I can help you with.
I'm still trying to figure those out.


Electrical upgrades?
How handy are you?
Have access to a mill?
Dyna2000 is nice, eliminates the CDI units. but $$ is outta this world for a little gain there, and it would need customizing just to work on your bike, no they don't(yet) make a drop in kit for the cb650. I modified one for the Honda DOHC cb750/900/1100 bikes.

Other than that....... I would REALLY recommend cleaning all your electrical connectors and applying di-electric grease.
That will get rid of any oxidation your wiring harness has, and keep it from coming back for some time to come.






l8r

[78CB750CAFE]

Soos has told you a good first step, you should clean and dielectric grease all connectors, in conjunction with that once it is running do a voltage drop test throughout the bike, especially the charging system. Search here for how to info or get this from your local library:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0760327165/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

As far as led's go lots of places make replacement bulbs for your stock signal, tail and brake, and idiot lamps.
try these places;
superbrightleds.com
automotive leds (dot com?)
custom dynamics

if you go with led blinkers you will need a relay that work with the lesser load, avoid doing it with a "load equalizer" as they are just resistor packs and will nullify the benefit of LEDS reduced draw

be aware that if you go w/ led's for your dash lights they will be a little less visible in day light, same deal for some of the cheaper or lower bulb count blinker replacements. The LED's last practically forever so spend the $$ initially on better ones from one of the suppliers above instead of cheapy ebay junk.

[manjisann]

Unfortunately I don't have access to a mill, unless you count my vice and drill press with a file in my hand    One of these days I REALLY want to pick one up, but that is far off in the future.

I will definately be going through all the connectors with di electric grease after cleaning them off.  I'll also run the voltage tests once I get her running. Thanks for the heads up on the LED's, I'll check out those places.

Thanks,

Brandon

[Hush]

Do yourself a huge favor, dump and replace the old air filter, if she don't breathe she don't run good same with the plugs.
If the gas is 2 years old then so is the air filter and plugs.
Another first thing I do on any bike I ressurect is to change the oil and filter, 650's have a sieve like scavenger tube with a mesh cover in the sump, removing it is a piece of cake once the sump is off, you'll probably find this varnished almost closed.
Remove it and wash it with degreaser or whatever your favorite degunking fluid is, at least then you know oil can get to the top of the motor once she is running.
I do the same with the sump, remove it and squirt degreaser into it then swish it around like an old gold miner checking for bits or shiny engine splinters.
You'd be surprised wht you get in there, blow flies, bits of gasket......bits of piston if you really unlucky.
How these bikes don't sieze I'll never know, they are so damn forgiving of the abuse PO's do to them.
A little servicing goes a long long way to preserving their useful life.
As for lights, mine runs all these extras with few issues.

[manjisann]

   Hush, that is a beautiful bike! What kind of windshield do you have on it? 

I already ordered new oil filter and oil, and plugs. When you say the sump, is that the oil pan?  I assume I will need a new gasket is that correct?  Thanks for the heads up on that, would hate to seize her with such a simple fix being available.  The air filter is a K&N, so I plan to clean it real good then oil it back up.  Already got the POR15 kit to seal the tank and will be installing a filter between the tank and carbs.

Thanks,

Brandon

[Hush]

I haven't needed a new "oil pan" gasket yet, I just cleaned the old one up and reused it, if you have lots of $$$ then yeah go ahead and get a new one.

I couldn't get the original screen so had to use a Harley one but it works well.

[manjisann]

I haven't needed a new "oil pan" gasket yet, I just cleaned the old one up and reused it, if you have lots of $$$ then yeah go ahead and get a new one.

Not any more, just dropped nearly a grand on getting set up to do my own multi-coat paint system  plus the parts and tools for tuning up my two bikes.

If I can reuse the gasket I will. Thanks again, will definately drop the pan and check that screen and everything else. Sadly the PO stored her with dirty oil in the sump, so hopefully there isn't any damage there.

Thanks again all!

Brandon