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Author Topic: Wiring mentor needed  (Read 3520 times)

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Offline firecracker

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Wiring mentor needed
« on: April 23, 2009, 11:35:33 AM »
This forum is awesome, because there's so much information.  Unfortunately, I'm completely (let me stress that - completely) clueless about wiring.  So, all the information in the world isn't helping me translate it into something I understand.

I'm hoping some kind soul out there will be willing to work with me one-on-one to help me completely re-wire my K8.  No turn signals, no horn, but adding a fuse box with the U-shaped fuses (don't know what they're called, because I'm clueless, remember?).

I know what I want, and am willing to do the work, I just need someone to listen to what I need, and direct me in what to do.

So, anyone feeling up to the task?

Feel free to PM me, if you don't want the world to come knocking when you're done with me.
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Life is like a game of cards.  The hand you are dealt represents determinism.  The way you play it is free will.
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2009, 11:49:00 AM »
Sure.

Just bring the bike 'round my garage.

When ya want to do this?

Cheers,
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline firecracker

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2009, 01:16:27 PM »
Therein lies the problem.  You're a bit too far for a Saturday afternoon commute.

My two buddies who are into wrenching and riding both moved to Colorado.  So, I have a bike, but don't know anyone local who works on them.   Some things I'm willing to just jump in and tackle, but wiring has me pretty much just avoiding my bike.

Thought I'd try the long-distance/forum thing before I consider flying a buddy in for a long weekend.

You know it's bad when someone as tight as me is considering paying for something I "should" be able to do myself.  Honestly, I think the "fear of the unknown" is keeping me from diving in more than anything.  I just don't want to have to do it three times to get it right.

 :-\
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Life is like a game of cards.  The hand you are dealt represents determinism.  The way you play it is free will.
  -  Jawaharal Nehru

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2009, 01:21:19 PM »
What led to the decision to "completely rewire" the bike?  Has the existing harness gotten the "Jason" treatment?

Cheers,
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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.

Offline firecracker

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2009, 02:03:15 PM »
First, I'll readily admit that "my eyes are bigger than my stomach" (to borrow an analogy) when it comes to wrenching.

I can't really justify doing the cafe conversion (not really my style/personality), other than it was already begun when I got the bike.  But, since it's been started, I'd like to finish it.

Knowledgable? Not even a little.
Stubborn?  Puts a mule to shame.

Removing the turn signal/horn handlebar controls and indicator lights led to the rats nest in the headlight bucket.  From there, it evolved into "it can't be that difficult" and "it's 30 years old, it's probably a good idea anyway".  Plus, as I understand it, updating the fuses is a good/practical idea, if you're already "in there".

How much did I butcher the electrical system?  Not too much.  Bascially, everything's there, but I know I've done some damage.  Cut a few wires that seemed "unnecessary" out of the headlight bucket.


My goal?  (don't know if some of these are practical or even possible)

...to update/change the fuses and remove all wiring except:

-Toggle switch on the headlight bucket.  (Biggest hurdle seems to be finding a toggle that will switch from dim to high.  So far, my limited search has only turned up on/off switches.)
-Electric starter
-Brake lights
-Kill switch

Of course, from the schematics I've looked at, I realize there's more that needs to be hooked up, but I don't know exactly what, or in what manner.

In a nutshell, I'm a really well-intentioned idiot who had no business getting started on this project, but refuses to walk away from it.
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Life is like a game of cards.  The hand you are dealt represents determinism.  The way you play it is free will.
  -  Jawaharal Nehru

Offline greenjeans

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2009, 02:14:05 PM »
Just a suggestion, but you might try this guy on ebay.  Heard good things:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Easy-CB350-CB450-CB550-CB750-Cafe-Bobber-Wiring-Diagram_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem280337599437QQitemZ280337599437QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Pretty much just a bigger color-coded easy to read wiring diagram.  you can do it....
The hard (more expensive than I thought it would be) was to find the appropriate wiring & connectors
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Yep, I'm the kid that figured out how to put things back together...eventually.

Offline firecracker

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2009, 02:22:47 PM »
From recommendations on the board, I've been referring to these diagrams:

http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/WiringDiagrams/CB750(K8).jpg

http://hondachopper.com/images/simple.wiring.diagram2.jpg

and especially this one, with the turn signals and horn "off":

http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/wiring750K1.html
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Life is like a game of cards.  The hand you are dealt represents determinism.  The way you play it is free will.
  -  Jawaharal Nehru

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2009, 05:50:12 PM »
Do you have difficulty with road maps?

That's what a wire diagram is, really.  A road map for electrical current flow.

The fuse box change only effects a single connector with six terminals, off the wire harness.  These are paired going to each end of a fuse.  They are color coded (I prefer the wire diagram in the Honda shop manual, page 279).  Surely six wires can't be beyond your capacity.

For your headlight, you need a single pole double throw switch. (SPDT)  These will have a row of three pins.  The Br/R connects to the center post/pin/terminal. and the white and blue wires connect to the ends.  The green wire to the headlight plug connects to all the other green wires in the harness, where ever you find them in the headlight bucket.  The headlight fuse wires are both Br/R. one of these connects to Black (somewhere) and the other will go to your new headlight switch. (assuming you have no bar controls.)

Where do you want your kill switch?  You need a SPDT switch with center off.
Are you keeping the stock brake light switches front and rear?

Anyway, as with most tasks, you do one part or section at a time.  The bike's electrical system is just an accumulation of individual sections/devices bundled together as one.  It's not a big task, just a number of smaller ones.

Probably the worst thing about these electrical modifications is that the finished bike has no accurate wire diagram for it.  That's why it is best to only modify what is there, unless what's there is no longer recognizable.  If at least some of the bike uses stock wire codes, later troubleshooting can be much easier when something goes awry.

If you want a unique wire system, you really ought to have a unique wire diagram for it.  You can start by taking a stock diagram and then remove the routes and parts you don't want on the bike.  When the diagram is finished, then make the bike represent what you've changed.

Cheers,
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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.

Offline ev0lve

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2009, 06:33:43 PM »
Quote from: firecracker on April 23, 2009, 02:03:15 PM

Knowledgable? Not even a little.
Stubborn?  Puts a mule to shame.


You and I share something in common then. We can compare forehead bruises later  ;D

Quote from: TwoTired on April 23, 2009, 05:50:12 PM

Anyway, as with most tasks, you do one part or section at a time.  The bike's electrical system is just an accumulation of individual sections/devices bundled together as one.  It's not a big task, just a number of smaller ones.


As always I think TT's right on the money here. I have an aversion to wiring diagrams myself but am forced to figure it the hell out. My battle plan is to isolate a circuit and get it to work with the idea that it's not an unknowable system - I just don't know - yet.

So launch into it. The only thing you have to lose is riding time. If you run out all the gory details here I'm sure someone (like me) will learn a little something  ;D
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Offline firecracker

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2009, 06:58:48 AM »
Alright.  Keeping the original, it is.  Whew!  I already feel better.  TT, I know you help a lot of people here, but we haven't scared you off yet.

Thanks for sticking around.

 :)
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Life is like a game of cards.  The hand you are dealt represents determinism.  The way you play it is free will.
  -  Jawaharal Nehru

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2009, 12:08:45 PM »
Quote from: firecracker on April 24, 2009, 06:58:48 AM
Alright.  Keeping the original, it is.  Whew!  I already feel better.  TT, I know you help a lot of people here, but we haven't scared you off yet.

Thanks for sticking around.

 :)

You're honestly welcome to any help I may have distributed.

As for sticking around.  Recent events have made that prospect questionable.  But, I'm ready for whatever the outcome may be.

Cheers,
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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.

Offline Slayer

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Re: Wiring mentor needed
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2009, 02:15:41 PM »
Quote from: greenjeans on April 23, 2009, 02:14:05 PM
Just a suggestion, but you might try this guy on ebay.  Heard good things:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Easy-CB350-CB450-CB550-CB750-Cafe-Bobber-Wiring-Diagram_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem280337599437QQitemZ280337599437QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Pretty much just a bigger color-coded easy to read wiring diagram.  you can do it....
The hard (more expensive than I thought it would be) was to find the appropriate wiring & connectors

Save yourself the ebay money. See, it doesn't look so bad  ;)

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