Topic: 1974 CB550 that runs awesome, but battery dies after 30 minutes

[Hurricanes10]

Hello all,

This is my first post...
I just bought a 1974 Chopped CB 550.
I put a new battery in and it started right away with the electric starter. After about 30 minutes of riding. I was downshifting and the engine would die. I would let the clutch out and it would catch up again.
I than would stop and the bike would die. It would no longer start with the electric button. I than would kick start it and it would fire on first kick. I would ride it for alittle bit and it would start sputtering than finally die.
I took it home and charged the battery for about 30 minutes, and Boom.. Started right up with electric starter.
Is there a problem with the wiring? or the stator?.

any info would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks,

Greg

[kghost]

Your not charging....

Theres a great troubleshooting guide in the FAQ.

Start there and follow it step by step....

Then you'll know if its stator, rectifier, regulator or what....

[OldSchool_IsCool]

The quick answer is MOST LIKELY.

To figure out where the problem lies, get urself a volt meter/multimeter.  measure the battery voltage with
key off,
key on kill switch off
key & kill on/ not running
bike at 1k idle
bike at 3k
bike at 5k

Do you know if your coils are original to the bike?

[Hurricanes10]

Not sure if the Coils are original..

[kghost]

Not sure if the Coils are original..

Doesn't matter.....

No coil that will spark your bike will kill the battery in 30 minutes if it is charging correctly.

Get a multi meter and GO HERE: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=1012.0

[OldSkool]

I had a similar problem but since my bike had less than 4k on it I was guessing that all of the electrical components were okay. Before I even tested anything I went through the electrical connections on the rectifier and regulator, cleaned all of the contact tabs and connectors and sure enough the next time I took it for a ride I came back, tested the battery voltage and it was charging. I think on these old bikes just cleaning connections thoroughly is a good start. I also disconnected the battery and cleaned the contacts there as well as all of the contacts in the fuse panel.

Good luck!

[Hurricanes10]

Oldskool,

What did you use to clean the contacttabs and connectors?

[OldSkool]

Oldskool,

What did you use to clean the contacttabs and connectors?

I basically just used some steel wool, althought I also have a thin but sturdy piece of metal that I wrapped the steel wool around and used for cleaning the female parts of the connections. I think you may be able to find another post on here where a forum member documented the voltage losses at various points in the electrical system due to the resistance of corrosion. Although most spots lost a fraction of a volt, they all added up to a significant amount.

[Spanner 1]

Take a close look at the 6 pole connector that comes up from the alternator 3 yellow, white, green and clean the contacts real good , try 400 grit paper...clean everything in sight....spray with contact cleaner before you put back together ( get the kind that leaves a residue, not the one that evaporates )...might restore charging, did for others...!

[Hurricanes10]

So i get home from work, Check to make sure the battery stayed charge from last night, The electric starter kicked it right on. I rode it for 30 miles. Ran like a bat out of hell. WTF? I checked to make sure that their were no loose or unconnected cables or wires. Everything was tight.
Can someone explain why it ran great today. Of course, as soon as i get on it and ride to work, it will probably break down. LOL..
This ever happen to anyone?

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Electrical faults can be elusive little gremlins!  Your best bet is to go ahead with the connector cleaning.  If it is a problem with a corroded connector, the cleaning should take care of it. 

By the way, if you do use steel wool or any other conductive implements to clean a multi-connector joint, I myself would disconnect the battery.  Just to make sure you don't accidentally bridge a live circuit.  The risk is almost ZERO that you would, but with a disconnected battery, it truly WILL be zero.

[Hurricanes10]

If i take pictures, can you tell me exactly what you would clean? I`m kind of new at bike repair. Not much of a tool man, But i am wanting to learn about this bike.
I really appreciate all your help old skool.

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

Really, go grab a multi meter from Harbor Freight. It'll tell you a lot.

[Hurricanes10]

What is Harbor Freight?

[TIM TINGEY, age 55]

THE RECTIFIER IS THE MOST LIKELY COMPONENT TO HAVE DIED. THE REGULATORS  RARELY FAIL. THE RECTIFIER IS EASLY CHECKED WITH AN OHM METER. RECHARGE YOUR BATTERY, FIRE UP THE BIKE, CHECK VOLTS ACROSS THE BATTERY TERMINALS-@1500 RPM VOLTAGE SHOULD START TO CLIMB, @ 5000 RPM VOLTAGE SHOULD BUILD TO 14.0-14.5. BEAR IN MIND THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM IS AN "EXITED FIELD COIL" DESIGHN-BATTERY CURRENT FEEDS THE FIELD COIL TO CREATE A MAGNETIC FIELD. CHECK THE FILD COIL RESISTENCE: 4.9 OHMS, MAKE SURE THE MULTI PLUG CONNECTORS AREN'T BURN'T, OR THE WIRING BRITTLE OR DISCOLORED. CHECK EACH YELLOW WIRE FOR ANY CONNECTION TO GROUND-THERE SHOULD BE NONE. IF THERE IS THE STATOR IS SHORTED. ARE THE STATOR COILS BLACK OR DARK BROWN?. IF SO THERE'S A CHANCE THAT EVEN IF THEY CHECK FINE( O.35 OHMS FROM YELLOW TO YELLOW-NO SHORTS TO GROUND) THEY COULD BE FAILING. YOU MAY NEED TO CLEAN AND ADJ. THE REGULATOR POINTS. MY EMAIL IS timmanyatingey@yahoo.com . THERES MORE I CAN TELL YA-GOOD LUCK

[OldSchool_IsCool]

What is Harbor Freight?

Ohhhhh a Harbor Freight Virgin!!  Check them out at www.harborfreight.com and look for a store near you.  They are the Walmart of cheap tools.  Some good things and a lot of junk.  IMHO, good enough for the hobbiest.  If you wana get serious about tools, Sears is the next level up with Mac and Snap-on being the apex.

Since the battery now seems to be charging, I'd say your problem is very likely a loose or corroded connector.  I doubt component failure.  It still needs attention else it will strand you at a very inconvenient time!  That's what electrical gremlins like to do.

Open up the side panel on the left.  Under it you will find the main electrical panel.  There will be three or four large wire connectors there.  Pull them off one at a time and look for green corrosion or signs of black pitting.  A fingernail file can be used to clean up anything that isn't shiney metal. 

While you are in there, clean the fuse holders and make sure they grip the fuses tight.  Add fuses to your shopping list as these bikes eat fuses like candy.  Pop a main fuse and your engine cuts out and you coast to the side of the road.  If you have a replacement fuse, ur back on the road in a few minutes.  No fuse makes for a long walk!  Search this site for a Higgins Fuse Box upgrade.  I have one and highly recommend it.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Hurricanes10]

Tim,

 I send you an email with some pics of my bike. I would have put them on here but i don`t know how too..lol.. Get back to me when you can.. Thanks.