Topic: i want my headlights always on...

[yodagruv]

anybody have a "how to" to rig my 75 cb550k to automatically turn the headlights on whenever i'm riding (key in the "run" position?)

[bryanj]

Use the  switchgear, loom and fusebox from a model that does it (it started round about 75 so not sure why yours does not have it) Just rigging it to be on will not leave enough battery power to start it

[dave500]

that will mean the head light burns as you crank the engine to start,i dont recomend it.

[johnny]

Hondaman does sell a kit to fix this issue. Correct?

[pat english]

ive done it...never had any problems starting the bike.i dont remember which wires..but its pretty simple..i did it on accident when i unhooked all the wires in the headlight bucket..turn the key on and start unplugging stuff and pluging it into differnt spots untill youre headlight comes on..i know it sounds dumb,but you really cant hurt anything..worst that can happen is you might blow a fuse..somebody here might be able to tell you exactly which wire to unplug and where to plug it into..its only one wire..

[johnny]

ive done it...never had any problems starting the bike.i dont remember which wires..but its pretty simple..i did it on accident when i unhooked all the wires in the headlight bucket..turn the key on and start unplugging stuff and pluging it into differnt spots untill youre headlight comes on..i know it sounds dumb,but you really cant hurt anything..worst that can happen is you might blow a fuse..somebody here might be able to tell you exactly which wire to unplug and where to plug it into..its only one wire..

Or, you could work smart (rather than hard) and simply download and print the wiring diagram for your bike from this website. If you want to be really fancy, you can laminate it.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

La

ive done it...never had any problems starting the bike.i dont remember which wires..but its pretty simple..i did it on accident when i unhooked all the wires in the headlight bucket..turn the key on and start unplugging stuff and pluging it into differnt spots untill youre headlight comes on..i know it sounds dumb,but you really cant hurt anything..worst that can happen is you might blow a fuse..somebody here might be able to tell you exactly which wire to unplug and where to plug it into..its only one wire..

Or, you could work smart (rather than hard) and simply download and print the wiring diagram for your bike from this website. If you want to be really fancy, you can laminate it.

laminate the wire or the schematic?  :-)

[johnny]

laminate the wire or the schematic?  :-)
[/quote]

Ha! The schematic. I'm kind of a slob when I work. It's the only way I can avoid covering it with dirt, oil and beer.

[SohRon]

1) Turn the headlights on using the switch on the right hand control
2) Break off the lever that extends outside the switch body
3) Cover the slot with tape

Voila! Lights always on!

[Really?]

That would be too easy. .

[camelman]

Some of the later models had disconnects for the headlight that turned it off when you cranked the engine.  As soon as your finger comes off the starter button, the headlight comes back on.  I believe the switching is done inside the right side handlebar controls housing.  I haven't dug through the wiring schematics to figure out how to integrate that system into an earlier model, but I imagine it is doable.

Regards,
Camelman

[phil71]

seems like a lot of work for little payoff... did you get a ticket?

[bender01]

I lost the hi/lo on my 1975 550k left switch. No more jiggle it til it came on. So I took a paper clip and found which wire it was. Then I made a the bullet connectors out of some scrap parts I had and I was done. Check them all because the blinker will work it and blink headlights dont work well. I think it was a loose brown one in the headlight Zoom in to see) and the white one from the bulb. Its stuck on lo beam but atleast its legal and im riding again.  Anyone have a NOS left switch for a 75 550k? Hope this helps.

[Spanner 1]

Doable, but a woeful amount of work to do instead of training yourself to turn on the head light before you start moving. You put your seatbelt on when you get in your car/ a car right?... what's the difference ??

[bender01]

 I have the on off switch on my 75 550k its on the right switch. The left switch has the hi/lo option. Im guessing... thats his problem that he wants to correct. It doesnt have anything to do with turning it on/off for me. That still works. The problem was always in the hi/lo til it finally quit. My lights still go out when using the starter too. I saved these pics this spring because I couldnt find the answer to the same easy?
 Yodagruv.. Your up , Any of these ideas sound familiar?
Before I did this the on / off didnt work. The hard wiring was the only way I could get a light.Now the on/off works but no hi/lo option.

[Retro Rocket]

Doable, but a woeful amount of work to do instead of training yourself to turn on the head light before you start moving. You put your seatbelt on when you get in your car/ a car right?... what's the difference ??

+1

[dave500]

i like to switch mine off if ive been tooling around traffic for a while to aid the battery charge,i have a volt meter i keep an eye on.

[Retro Rocket]

I remember when the push for hard wired headlights started, the main argument {in Australia} for not having the light on all the time was that it made a motorcycle and rider almost invisible with the sun at his back. We had a local road in Sydney that went slightly down hill coming from the west and in the afternoon heading east you couldn't see a bike at all with its lights on. I choose to put mine on when i feel its needed....

[Really?]

I wish my Venture had an on/off switch.  I like the fact that the 750 has one. 

[yodagruv]

my main issue is that i have changed out the factory switches and instead of two separate switches for on/off and hi/lo it has off/on/hi on one switch and i'm having trouble working out the wiring.  i can get the hi beam to come on but no the lows/running lights.  figured if i could rig the low beam/running lights always on then my problem is solved.

BTW, i have cars with auto lamps primarily because i always forgot to turn them on/off at the appropriate times

[TwoTired]

What are the wires colors and function assignments for your replacement headlight switch?

Can you tolerate the runing lights on with the key switch on?

Do you want your fuses to retain their original assigments?

[phil71]

Using auto security add-ons (DEI and the like) It would be pretty easy to build a circuit that wouldn't let the lights run at say , under 12.2 volts, which would kill it during cranking, and turn it on when running (using a relay, of course)

[SohRon]

That's a pre-'74 switch you're trying to use. In addition to the fact you'll have to do some major re-wiring to get it to work with the lights, the starter button set-up is totally different, so you'll either have to re-wire the starter circuit or forgo using the electric starter. Your best bet would be to find the correct switch; then everything will fit and work as it should. If you get a used one, there are tutorials on this site that cover switch rebuilding.

I'm not sure I'd like to attempt what you're doing; too much work...   

[lucky]

My advice. Leave it alone.

Turn on the lights yourself AFTER it is started.

Put a sign on your garage door if you have to.

TURN ON HEADLIGHTS!

[cb650]

I wish I could turn mine off when "I" want to not the gov.