Topic: Help: 1975 honda cb550 running lights

[phengv18]

Hello folks, I have a question concerning some aftermarket turn signals that I just bought for my cb550.  Now I have been searching through these forums that other members have asked with questions regarding turn signals and wiring but I have a specific question about the running light wiring.

The aftermarket turn signals that I bought comes with two wires, one is black which I believe is the ground, and one being black/white(Blinker).   I have also bought a 12v electronic flasher since it seems like many have suggested when buying aftermarket turn signals.  I have figured it out to make it work for the blinkers but since the aftermarket turn signals only came with wires for the blinker and ground, how do I make it work for the running light?  Do I splice them? or just buy dual filament bulbs ? 

I also bought some aftermarket LED taillights as well.  I have them working for the braking lights but not as running lights.  The taillight came with three wires, Red, Yellow, and Black..  Now I believe Yellow is ground which I connected to green, Red wires are brake lights connected to green/yellow, and Black wires are the running lights which is connected to brown.    Is this correct?

My turn signals and taillights were from DCC.

I know this is a dumb question, but do running lights only come on when the engine is running?

[vrenlos]

Take some time to study the wiring diagram (available in the docs section here or easily googled).  If you want to use the front running lights, you will need dual filament bulbs but also a new bulb receptacle that will give you a third wire on each bulb for that (or get creative in wiring it another way).

For the turn signals, be careful - I know I just put on a set of Emgo signals that actually used the black/white stripe wire as the ground.  I blew two mains fuses before I figured out what was going on.  Take your multimeter and do a continuity test on the housing/screw and figure out which side is shorted to which wire (also keep in mind - the bulb resistance is quite low ~.8Ohm, so it may read as a short in both directions.)  Be thorough and measure the resistance from each wire to the housing - the ground one will be lower (usually .3Ohm or so) and the other will read the full bulb resistance.

For the tail, get your connections straight before attempting to figure it out.  Get out a power supply (or 12V battery - the one on your bike could do) and figure out which wire is definitely ground, which one is for the running brake and which is switch operated, or at least which you would like each to be.  Once you know for sure what each part of the light is, you should be able to match it to the 500 wiring.  Also, from experience, make sure both of your brake switches front and rear are working correctly - I spent a few days chasing a gremlin that happened to be the rear switch with too much tension so it was constantly shorted.

Good luck!

[Silverback]

Unless you use a tail light integrator with the two wire turn signals, you cannot use them as running lights. You would need three wire signal/running lights with a dual filament bulb.

[Scott S]

 Are the running lights just on the front or front and rear?

[nilsey]

what silver back said -- running lights = 3 wires and a dual filament bulb.

if you have a two wire light, you do not have running lights. return them and get the right ones.

[Ryan66]

what silver back said -- running lights = 3 wires and a dual filament bulb.

if you have a two wire light, you do not have running lights. return them and get the right ones.

Why you dont have to have running lights. I have single filament on my 550. Whats this 12v electronic flasher hes talking about?