Author Topic: More 550 wiring issues  (Read 584 times)

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SOCALCRICKETT

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More 550 wiring issues
« on: April 01, 2010, 06:38:01 PM »
OK, so I know there is a post about wiring about 550 few posts down, but I have a little different problem. I have a '76 550 and the PO had altered the harness by removing the turn signals, horn, high/low switch, and wiring the headlight on separate system. Rebuilt the bike but didn't touch the harness, the bike ran, but one day when i went to start it one day i heard a '"pop", I checked the fuses and none of them were blown, I checked the rectifier and regulator which were OK as well. I then started to chase down the short. I have power from the battery to the key, power from the key to the electrical panel, power from the electrical panel to the headlight housing, power at the start button, but I don't have power to the indicator lights and she won't turn over, any ideas?   ???

Offline Highwayhigh

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Re: More 550 wiring issues
« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2010, 01:13:42 AM »
I assume headlight is on? If not, you blew your main fuse. Although you said you checked your fuses. Also, my PO did his own wiring chop job. Found he had hard wired the main fuse out of the system. Thank god I found that and fixed it. I am not super experienced with the wiring, but check for power at the disconnects before the starter, but after the switch. When you say indicator lights you mean your oil light right? Again, I'd go through the wirin with a fine tooth comb. Make sure all your connections are in order. That's a must before you chase down any wiring gremlins. I may not be super proficient with 550 wiring but I was an aviation electrician for 5 years. I know the fundamentals. Whoever had my bike before did a horrible job with wiring and I spent a good while just undoig the weird stuff he did. It helped me tremendously when I had some electrical issues. Anyways, sorry if I wasn't terribly helpful. Hopefully one of the SOHC veterans can chime in and help. Also, was the "pop" sound like an electrical short sound? Or was it mechanical? Just might help in troubleshooting.
1978 Honda CB550K -
The first of many to come in my horrible motorbike addiction.

Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: More 550 wiring issues
« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2010, 03:07:46 AM »
"Custom" wire jobs are always fun!  Double check your fuses.  Sometimes they can LOOK good when in fact they have melted under the end cap.

Check your starter solenoid (round "can" under the left side panel). With the bike in neutral, CAREFULLY bridge the two LARGE connectors with say a screwdriver.  If the starter motor spins, then the fault is either the solenoid itself or something with the smaller control wires.  Maybe even the starter button.

Its going to take a divide and concur approach to find the fault(s).  The further from stock, the tougher it's going to be.

For what it's worth, there are some awesome wiring diagrams here     http://www.oldmanhonda.com/MC/WiringDiagrams/MCwiring.php#class
I like this interactive diagram as I can turn off all but the system I'm chasing at the time.   http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/wiring.html
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