Topic: CB550 Completely dead going down the road!

[Blaise_78]

I just bought a 76' CB550 off of eBay. (Item # 180518062209)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180518062209&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBDIX%3AIT
PO just put a brand new battery and it was a "daily driver"  I got it home and it cranks, runs, shifts, drives GREAT!
I took it out last night for a quick spin.  As I'm cruising along in top gear (about 45mph) The headlight goes out, the engine dies, no blinkers, taillight, starter...nothing.  I coast over to a parking lot and try the key, no headlight, no starter.  I then figure it's a battery issue, so I jump off and forget it's in gear. (woops) the bike falls over on it's left side and the lights come back on! I crank it right up and drive home.  I checked the battery, thinking it grounded out on the frame.  Sure enough, the battery was "cocked" to one side in the battery bracket.  I put it back straight and fixed the rubber strap to keep it upright in the bracket.

Well, today I got home withe the new license plate and decide to go for a quick ride.  I drove up and down my asphalt driveway (almost a mile long) a few times to make sure she was warm.  No Problems.  Get out on the main highway and click up into 4th gear, get a couple miles down the road and the same thing happened.

I checked the battery...13 volts and the battery is sitting perfect in the battery bracket, all 3 glass fuses are OK.  I tried jumping the black and red wire on the ignition, nothing.  I traced the positive cable from the battery to the solenoid? The nut was tight.  The "off-run-off" switch is set to run.  No headlight, no blinkers, horn, taillight, nothing.  Any body ever had this happened? Any thing I missed checking?  It seems to only happen at higher speeds.  I'm guessing maybe the key ignition, I've heard these go bad from time to time and it makes sense all lights/starter button wouldn't respond.  Am I on the right trail?
Thanks!

[Blaise_78]

For what it's worth, the key is up near the indicator lights on the handlebars.

[dave500]

find all the multi pin plugs and unclip them,try cleaning the connectors and reassemble them.

[Blaise_78]

find all the multi pin plugs and unclip them,try cleaning the connectors and reassemble them.

Electric contact cleaner only? Do you recommend dielectric grease?
Thanks!

[Blaise_78]

Should have looked at the fuses closer! It looked good, but the cap was totally corroded.  Guess these things happen on a 30+ year old bike!

[THE DUDE]

Did that fix it?

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Check you fuse clips too.  They need to be shiny clean and so tight that you need a tool to take the fuse out.  A corroded or loose connection leads to resistance which leads to heat which leads to melted fuses.

If you are handy with wiring, you could swap out your glass fuses for modern blade fuses.

As Carl Malden used to say "15-amp fuses, don't leave home without some!"

[cameron]

Saw that coming a mile away.

I almost sold mine when she did that to me.

[Blaise_78]

Did that fix it?

swapped the fuse with another and it started and idled.  Get this...all 3 fuses are 30 amp! I think they are supposed to be different. (5, 15, 30?) from rear of bike to front.  The holders need to be cleaned/sanded and squeezed tighter. the fuses are pretty loose in the clips.

how hard is it to upgrade to blade fuses? I'm sure there is a tech article o it here...I'll do a search. Thanks!

[OldSchool_IsCool]

As I recall, the fuses should be 7, 15, 7.  Check the For Sale section of the forum, I think someone here MAKES upgrade fuse boxes.  If not you can buy a 4 or 6 position fuse box from here:

http://www.wiringproducts.com/contents/en-us/d136.html

A little wire, a hand full of quarter-inch female spade ends and 20 minutes with a soldering iron, a little heat shrink tubing and you're in business!

[THE DUDE]

Go with the new fuses bro I need to do the same thing

OldSchool has a great link and info