Author Topic: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess  (Read 1815 times)

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Offline nilsey

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getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« on: May 04, 2011, 01:48:07 PM »
i'm trying to track down a short, and i'm looking at teh mess in teh headlight bucket.

what are folks doing, if anything, to cut down the mess back there? is there a thrid party connector or harness that can be used to cut down the clutter?
1976 CB550K: stock airbox, cb650 cam swap, 4x2 exhaust, dual disc brake conversion.
1974 BMW R90/6

Offline cookindaddy

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2011, 02:51:30 PM »
You should find your electrical problem. The wires are all color coded by function. If you have a specific issue, please ask.

Unfortunately there are no magic fixes or silver bullets.
« Last Edit: May 04, 2011, 02:53:07 PM by cookindaddy »
George with a black 78 CB750K (in Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada)

Offline nilsey

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2011, 03:01:18 PM »
Unfortunately there are no magic fixes or silver bullets.

ha ha, quite right. but there are days like today when a bullet would definitely make me feel better about the situation. for a short time anyways.
1976 CB550K: stock airbox, cb650 cam swap, 4x2 exhaust, dual disc brake conversion.
1974 BMW R90/6

Offline cookindaddy

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2011, 03:39:41 PM »
Thanks.

Dig in. It is not hard and there are many of us here to help you.

So what exactly is your "short"?
George with a black 78 CB750K (in Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada)

Offline Doctorlumen

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2011, 04:05:33 PM »
Hey Nilsey,
I'm in a similar situation. I was going to sync my carbs today, so I started my 400f up and let it idle a bit. Then shut it off to plug in the sync tool. I turned the key back on and absolutely nothing happened. No lights, no cough, nothing. Of course my cheapo multi meter crapped out as well, but thats another story.

Anyway, the bucket. I am going to try and build my own loom with molex style connectors instead of the bullets that come stock. You could try to "tidy" the headlight by installing some molex connectors to the stock harness I suppose, but I don't know how much tidier things would get in there. My two cents.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2011, 04:22:48 PM »
Unfortunately there are no magic fixes or silver bullets.

ha ha, quite right. but there are days like today when a bullet would definitely make me feel better about the situation. for a short time anyways.
...or for a long long time if place the shot strategically.

Ok there are a lot of wire in the headlight shell.  It's being used for a junction box for a lot of connections.  Big deal.  They are all color coded and correspond to the wire diagram "map".  Jeez do you complain about a lot steps in the stairs, too?  ;D

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Doctorlumen

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2011, 09:32:09 PM »
I complain about a ton of things...I'm just trying to shorten the list. ;D

Offline sopo400f

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2011, 03:49:59 AM »
Blue Seas makes a couple different sizes of terminal blocks that would work.
1975 cb400f blue

Offline zabzob

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2011, 11:08:13 AM »
Check out how FunJimmy did his headlight bucket. This post and the one below.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.msg317115#msg317115
1975 CB750K5

Offline nilsey

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2011, 12:43:54 PM »
FunJimmy's bike is so nice it gives me a headache amd makes me wanna give it up altogether!
1976 CB550K: stock airbox, cb650 cam swap, 4x2 exhaust, dual disc brake conversion.
1974 BMW R90/6

Offline Doctorlumen

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2011, 05:48:32 PM »
Check out how FunJimmy did his headlight bucket. This post and the one below.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.msg317115#msg317115


That is EXACTLY what I am looking for.

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2011, 06:23:34 PM »
It’s a big job to sort out the mess and find logic in connecting it all back up again, but It can be done. The good folks at Vintage Connections (http://www.vintageconnections.com/) can get all the plugs and wiring accessories you’ll need to transform this mess.......




Into this.




This wasn't just another make work project though. I changed both handlebar switch units with modern items from a CBR and this was the best way to wire it all up.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2011, 07:46:35 PM by FunJimmy »
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

CB550 Cafe Interceptor a Gentlemans Roadster
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.0

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2011, 06:25:39 PM »
FunJimmy's bike is so nice it gives me a headache and makes me wanna give it up altogether!

I’ve certainly been called a pain in the arse several times.  ;D
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

CB550 Cafe Interceptor a Gentlemans Roadster
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.0

Offline nilsey

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2011, 08:55:56 PM »
hey FJ, i was curious, what master cylinder did you use, you did a dual disc setup right? i tried a 14mm bore cheapo off of ebay but it didn't work and i happened on a kawasaki GPZ m/c that did the trick...
1976 CB550K: stock airbox, cb650 cam swap, 4x2 exhaust, dual disc brake conversion.
1974 BMW R90/6

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #14 on: May 06, 2011, 09:21:06 PM »
hey FJ, i was curious, what master cylinder did you use, you did a dual disc setup right? i tried a 14mm bore cheapo off of ebay but it didn't work and i happened on a kawasaki GPZ m/c that did the trick...

My brake is a single Yamaha R6 (4 piston) caliper on a 295mm CRB600 floating rotor, and the first master cylinder I ran was a ½” bore Nissin master cylinder from a Buell Blast. It worked really well with the 4 piston caliper, but I found an 11mm Brembo that I like even better.
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

CB550 Cafe Interceptor a Gentlemans Roadster
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.0

Offline nilsey

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Re: getting rid of teh headlight bucket mess
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2011, 06:54:31 AM »
well, i had a friend come by and help me track down a short, we seem to have got it and hooked everything back uo and the bike ran.

it wasn't until it got dark and i was riding last night when i realized that the headlight was turning off everytime i pulled theclutch in.... so now i have to back back in there and figure out which wire was crossed.

which makes this seem like more of a worthwhile project........
1976 CB550K: stock airbox, cb650 cam swap, 4x2 exhaust, dual disc brake conversion.
1974 BMW R90/6