Topic: new ignition switch

[hymodyne]

evening all,

I've just installed a new ignition switch, and the first click above "off" lights my handlebar indicators, oil light, high beam, etc.,

but not the rear taillight. the rear tailight only comes on in the next switch position. I have  wiring diagrams for the 500 and 550, as I'm using handlebar pods form a 550, but I can't discover the problem.

 I recently posted concerning whether or not the tail light should come on when I turn on my ignition, with or without my headlight on, and was told that it should. front and rear stop switches are working, and I'm replacing the kill switch with a new one

I'm hoping that the new kill switch will fix things, but I expect that the tail light issue will remain.

suggestions?

hym

[TwoTired]

My 72 CB500 ignition switch (original) has 5 connection points.  Two of them are labeled TL2 and must be jumpered. This is the brown wire for the tail lamp. 

The switch has three positions.
Off - no connections
1- Ig to Bat, and TL1 to TL2
2- BAT to TL2

The ignition switch routes power from the B/W lighting circuit (TL1) to the Brown tail light when the ignition is on.  This way, the tail run light can be controlled from the main lighting switch when the ignition is on.

Position two is a park or emergengy tail light activator only.

[cb750_chris]

If that switch is not wired to do as stated above it is probably not for your bike.  If you can't figure out how to make it so you might as well go back to the old one.  I've torn down lots of regular ignitions to restore some 69 ones.  The only ones that are wired differently are for bikes smaller than the 350.  As in 175's, S90's, and Z50's.  Any 350 and up ignition should work fine.  Don't bother getting an old one as the springs inside that push the contact plates up rust out easily.  I'd say two out of three old ignitions I open up are no good.