Author Topic: Does anyone here refurbish handlebar controls? (Read 4678 times)

Scott S · « **on:** March 25, 2011, 02:06:41 PM »

I checked the "services offered" forum and didn't see anything.

I have a fairly nice set of CB500 handlebar controls. The horn wire is broken off very short in the LH control. I attempted a solder repair, but it just wasn't very good.
The start button on the RH control seems very stiff; almost no movement when pushed.

Both sets could use some new covering over the wires, too.

I was wondering if anyone here rebuilds/refurbishes controls/switches?

Scott S · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2011, 02:38:25 PM »

Excellent write up! Now...who wants to get paid to do that for me?

wookie · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2011, 04:38:54 PM »

That's part of the enjoyment of owning/fixing these old bikes. You can do it, just take your time and lots of reference pics.

knox-cb · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2011, 06:10:29 PM »

I have a '76 CB 550 and had the misfortune of rebuilding the infamous "hard-wired" switch. The starter button works know, although not perfectly.

Scott S · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2011, 04:43:26 AM »

Which is exactly why I'm looking for someone to do this for me.

Since I started working on vintage iron (first with aircooled VW's years ago, then with vintage bikes a few years back) I've learned a lot of things and done a lot of things that I didn't think I was capable of. Many of those things I swore I would NEVER do again, even though they came out fine. A man has to pick his battles.
This is one I've made a half hearted attempt at and decided that I
d rather sell some spare parts or put in some OT at work and just pay to get it done.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2011, 06:45:08 AM »

...possibly a wise choice. I am currently waiting for a new rh switch to replace the one I effed up in a rebuild attempt...

hesselfuzz · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:35:00 PM »

I've refurbished a few sets and would be happy to do yours. PM me and we'll work something out.
Hesselfuzz

Scott S · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2011, 02:03:42 PM »

Quote from: hesselfuzz on March 26, 2011, 01:35:00 PM

I've refurbished a few sets and would be happy to do yours. PM me and we'll work something out.
Hesselfuzz

PM sent.

Scott S · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:59:41 PM »

Hesselfuzz, did you get my PM?

hesselfuzz · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:25:25 AM »

I did, Scott, and replied to your email address. Check your junk mail box.

hesselfuzz · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:27:16 AM »

Oops, no, sent you a PM. Look under messages at the top of this page.

Scott S · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2011, 01:14:00 PM »

Nope...nothing there. Try again, please.

hesselfuzz · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2011, 01:39:42 PM »

Emailed again.

geminimotors · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2011, 06:31:53 PM »

Yep. You gotta know when to hold em, Know when to fold em. I've had two starter buttons fly apart and or turn to dust in my hands. In the future I'll send these off to a jeweler, or somebody who performs brain surgery on miniature pocket watches.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2011, 01:22:55 PM »

killer avatar geminimotors...and here I thought I was the only one on here that had heard that record

Scott S · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2011, 05:28:59 AM »

The more I look at these things, the more I think I may give it a shot myself.

Luckily, I have a spare set of "parts" controls that came on my CB500. The wires are cut short, but the guts are good. I was able to see that the starter button didn't work properly on the set I want to rebuild because it was missing a piece! Transferred that over from the spare set and got that all taken care of.

I want to swap kill switch buttons, but I'll need my buddy....who is an electrical engineer and has GOOD quality soldering stuff and tons of experience....to help me break the solder and reconnect it properly. My cheapo solder gun leaves a lot to be desired, especially when working with tiny bits like that.

The LH control should be much easier, minus dealing with those tiny springs and balls. But I think I can do it.

One question I do have: Where can I get some good shrink wrap for the wiring bundle. Like most of them, mine are stiff and cracked. I can find some shrink wrap that's big enough, but my experience with this stuff is that it gets very hard and stiff when heated and shrunk.
Is there anything available that stays supple enough to snake through the handle bars? Or should I just use electricians tape?

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2011, 01:01:06 PM »

I have the same question...anybody got some good links to good products?

Scott S · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2011, 05:10:42 PM »

I have a set of controls for my KZ250 project and the "shrink wrap" on them isn't really shrink wrap. It's a soft rubber-ish sleeve that just slides over the wires. I'm still hoping someone has some suggestions other than just electrical tape.

SohRon · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2011, 08:49:48 PM »

The black plastic sleeving (it isn't and never was shrink wrap) can be found here:

http://www.vintageconnections.com

The 11mm sleeving is used on the switch harness.

I'm wondering what you need to unsolder to remove the kill switch button? If you mean the knob itself, it can be removed without unsoldering any connections; just unclip the e-clip and it wll pop right out.

jumpnkill · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2011, 01:08:07 AM »

I saw a lot of wire wrap that did say something about heat shrink at harbor freight. Lots of different sizes too.

Simpson · « **Reply #20 on:** April 02, 2011, 04:04:07 AM »

Controls are just one of those items its worth replacing with NOS. That unless you are hell bent on the challenge of refurbishing every part of your bike. I think of them as a wear item like points.

Scott S · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:27:08 AM »

Quote from: SohRon on April 01, 2011, 08:49:48 PM

The black plastic sleeving (it isn't and never was shrink wrap) can be found here:

http://www.vintageconnections.com

The 11mm sleeving is used on the switch harness.

I'm wondering what you need to unsolder to remove the kill switch button? If you mean the knob itself, it can be removed without unsoldering any connections; just unclip the e-clip and it wll pop right out.

Exactly...that's more like the stuff on my KZ switches. The stuff on the Honda switches is hard and brittle now.

I have two sets of switches. One with good internals, one with good cases. I want to swap some stuff over and to get the wiring harness out of the switch you must un-solder the wires on the kill switch.

Scott S · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:29:48 AM »

Quote from: Simpson on April 02, 2011, 04:04:07 AM

Controls are just one of those items its worth replacing with NOS.

Something I considered...but have you seen a NOS Right Hand switch for a CB500 lately? I can find them for 550's, 650's, etc., but not the early switch with the kill switch/light switch/start button on the RH side.

I emailed Motogrid a week ago asking about availability. They show them in stock, but that doesn't always mean they have them. Haven't heard back from them yet.

Scott S · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:58:38 AM »

BTW, the LH switch is no problem; those are still available NOS in lots of places. The RH switch is the one that's hard to find.

And if I use a later switch, say from a 550, then I still have to do some re-wiring in the headlight bucket, so why not repair the correct switch(es) that I have instead?

octagon · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2011, 09:02:52 AM »

another vote for doing it yourself - if you can work on an old volkswagon you can certainly do this.
a couple of points made in other threads that helped me - put the switch in a contained space, even if it's the bottom of a cardboard box, so the smaller parts don't get away from you, and also, take lots of pictures. i think it's helpful to take notes as you go along too.
take some good pictures of the open switch body before you start removing wires, so you'll be clear on how they should look when you're securing everything back in place.
disassembled and reassembled one of these switches (right or left) three or four times in a row, you'd see the logic of the design and it would be fairly easy. like anything else it's the first couple of times that take all the energy and attention.

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Author Topic: Does anyone here refurbish handlebar controls? (Read 4678 times)