Topic: no power (electric)????? now with pictures

[000jeremy]

Something strange happened to me last night:  I got about a block away from where I started when my 77 cb550f cut out, as if I switched the key off...out of no where.  So I pushed it back home and did a couple things:

took out the battery and cleaned the terminals and connections
hooked it up to a charger ( it was a little low, but charged up to full in a reasonable time)
checked for blown fuses (there were none)
and made a cursory pass for bad wires and loose wiring harnesses (there were none)

the harness that plugs into the back of the ignition (where the key goes) used to pull out due to some poorly routed wires with the same results, but this wasn't the case this time

...still no progress.  Nothing lights up at all when I turn the key, and of course it wont start.

Any ideas?  Im really intimidated by electrical problems...

see attached photo - seems a bit melted, but fuse and connection in back are intact?!

Thanks in advance,
Jeremy

[the technological J]

it could be the ignition switch pull the plugs frome the back and connect the red and the black thats the ignition the bike should start if thats the problem... the brown wires run the lights....... it that doesnt work id unscew the two bolts  that hold in the fuse panel and really check the wires behind there...closely i had a short there and it looked completly normal untill i looked real close....

[mlinder]

You sure there ar enoo blown fuses? They can look ok sometimes, but aren't. Replace just to be sure.

[gregk]

I second the fuse inspection/replacement.  And while your there clean the fuse holders.

greg

[000jeremy]

the culprit:

thanks guys!

[Toxic]

Yup that I'll do it.

Now go spend 20 bucks and get a fuse block that converts over to newer blade style.

or at the very least don't go anywhere without spare fuses. One of each wrapped in tissue inside a small plastic pill bottle and you are good to go.

[TwoTired]

Those fuse clip were bright and shiny 30 years ago.  The dull stuff coating them is resistive and generates heat when current is passed through it.  This heat not only melts the plastic, but also the fuse link inside the glass, causing the fuse to fail.
The contact area of the fuse clip must be polished back to bright and shiny every 10 years or so, as a preventive measure.

Due to lack of attention, your fuse block is now junk and must be replaced for continued reliability.

Or, be ready to push your bike some more.