Topic: 1977 cb550 Will not get power

[Rhummy]

I have just recently bought this bike.  I have just started trying to figure out what is wrong with this.  I have a new battery that is fully charged. I have taken dc volt meter readings.  I have power to the magnetic starter switch, but it ends there.  I cannot get power to the fuse box.  I have checked the ground, it is clean and looks good, which might be deceiving.  I also have the Owner's Manual wiring diagram to trace circuits.  Nothing will light up, nothing gets any juice.  I know I am really new at this, so any input will help a lot. 

[TwoTired]

Where the battery cable attaches to the solenoid, there is also a small wire at the that point.  Make sure the ring lug is still electrically attached to the wire.

This red wire goes to the fuse block through two block connectors.

Make sure the fuse clips have clean, bright, shiny connection to the fuse ends.  If not, they can generate enough additional heat to melt the fuse link under the end cap where you can't see it.

About every 5 years I use emery cloth on the fuse clips as routine preventive maintenance.

Cheers,

[dave500]

if you disconnect one of the multi wire connectors behind the left cover and look at the terminals,do they look crappy,like with a green or whitish crud?,,it might help just disconnecting then reconnecting all the gang plugs,they should really be taken apart and cleaned properly if they look cruddy,so the bike was running when you got it?

[Rhummy]

Thank you both for the direction.  I will be pulling off the fusebox and check the gang plugs tonight depending on weather.

This bike supposedl ran before it was put in the garage.  From what I have seen since posting, it may have been in the garage for a long time.  I might be looking at possible mouse-chewed wires.  Also, if this makes a difernce in my problem, there is a coating of oxidation on the batre wires.  It seems someone did not use anything to cover some wires. They are not near the frame, but yeah, not what I wanted to see. 

[dave500]

once you separate a gang plug,if you look closely down inside you might see how to push the metal connectors out,,they have a kind of barb you just bend down with a tiny screwdriver then they pull out from the rear,you can really get them clean then,even wash/scrub the plastic housings.

[Rhummy]

After taking one gang plug out, yeah, this is a issue alright.  I need to pull the whole section off and really look.  Might have some melting from resistance back there.  Lots of green/white corrosion to get out.

At least I get my education hands on.   

[dave500]

once the gang plugs are clean remove the tank,there should be a green earth wire that goes to the coils mounting bolt on the gear shift side,clean that also, disconnect and clean the main earth from the battery to the frame,,see how it goes,,then you might need to remove the head light and carefully clean all the connections in there,,it looks a little daunting but you can do it,also with the black wires make sure if some have a white stripe they go to a white striped mate,you might need to turn the wire around to see it.,your keen to ride it but its better to sort it out before you take it out.

[Rhummy]

I have found the culprit.  Thank you both.  Your advice pointed it out.  Though to be fair, it is quite obvious, and it it had arms, I might have 2 black eyes and a broken lip.

I did clean all the contacts, the plugs, checked the red wire too.  I am not going to get this running to have something stupid like the bad fuse panel go out again. 

2 pictures.  One is obviously my issue.  The other is my solution.  Not pretty, not elegant, but I now have power.  On to a start button rebuild, the age old debate of pods vs. k&n air filter....

So much left before I ride it. Well worth the effort.

[bollingball]

http://sohc4shop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=48

I got this one from HondaMan Plug & play

         Ken