Topic: Handlebar switches 550 to 500, need help

[DavePhipps]

I'm half asleep and finding myself schematically challenged. Actualy I'm the same way when fully awake.
When putting 550 switches on a 500, what color wires from the 550, go to what color wires from the 500?
Thanks in advance for anyhelp or advice.

[IndyFour]

If you get a copy of the Honda Service Manual, there is a wiring diagram for both bikes in it....probably the Clymer manual also.  The wire colors are all marked.  You have to squint and you are likely to get a headache looking at the diagrams....but that's part of the "vintage experience".   

If you can't find a copy here to download, send me a PM and I'm happy to e-mail you the .pdf file.  How's that for Hoosier hospitality?   

[DavePhipps]

I've got the Clymer and factory service manual, but like I said, I'm schematically challenged. I'll keep staring at them and hopefully soon it will make sense.
After I get this switch issue sorted, I'll be trying to start the bike for the first time.
Wish me luck.

[IndyFour]

Oh o.k.  Well taking a quick looking at the two diagrams and knowing what I know from my friend's 500 compared to my 550....the main difference is that the low/high beam control is on the right side rather than the left.  Both bikes still use the same color wires.  Blue goes to high beam, white to low, brown/white to other lights.  Yellow/red is for the starter on the right side and the kill switch is black and black/white.  The turn signal and horn wires appear to be the same as well.

Once you route everything to the bucket, pretty much everything should plug back into place...it's just that the wires are coming from a different direction in some cases.

Good luck.

[DavePhipps]

If this works I'll ride up to Indy and buy you a beer, or at least a cup of coffee ! 
Now to go searching through the pole barn for the 550 switches.

[DH]

check handlebar for differences of hole locations for each switch's "locating" pin. You'll see what I'm talkin about when the switches are removed from the handlebar. Not sayin the swap won't work, just ran into an instance once where 550 switches would only fit on 550 bars cause the holes were spaced away from the grips
differently than on the 500...hope that makes sense.

[Brandotheamazing]

I have a magical motorycycle i have a 550 with a highbeam switch on both sides! i wonder who dun that in the past.

[IndyFour]

check handlebar for differences of hole locations for each switch's "locating" pin. You'll see what I'm talkin about when the switches are removed from the handlebar. Not sayin the swap won't work, just ran into an instance once where 550 switches would only fit on 550 bars cause the holes were spaced away from the grips
differently than on the 500...hope that makes sense.

Good point.  You can remove the pin, though, and they will still stay in place just from the friction of the clamps.  Most people who swap bars for aftermarket ones simply pull the pin out since there is no hole in the bars to accept it.

[DavePhipps]

Went to the pole barn armed with sockets and emerged with turn signals, brake light, intrument cluster, and hopefully some operational switches. It's getting too late to try them tonight. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good day for the 500.
If my camera was working I'd post pics of my "new" bike.
It looks like a motad 4-1 exhaust, pod filters, and feels like stiffer springs. It also has a rick's motorsport regulator/recitifier.

[bryanj]

BE VERY CAREFUL with the starter button

500 grounds the yellow red wire to the bars and the solenoid has a +ve feed

550(depending on year) puts power to the solenoid whilst turning the lights off and the solenoid has a -ve ground

[DavePhipps]

Now that has me worried, The switches I have are from a 74 550. At least I think they are the PO of the parts bikes was always switching stuff around.
Also I'm not familiar with the term ve. What does that mean?

[bryanj]

+ve = positive, -ve = negative.

You can tell the later switch by lookin inside the switch at the starter button

One wire to a small board its the early one

White plasticky bit with 3 wires its the late one

[DavePhipps]

Thank you, I'll check those out in a bit. Did the early 550 share the same switch? Externally they look the same. I need to compare wiring diagrams of different years. Did any other bikes share the same switchgear with the 500?

[bryanj]

500 switch had on/off for lights as did UK 550
As I'm not in US i can't tell you if or when the 550 changed to the no on/off but starter disconnects lights.

750 has a SIMILAR but not necessarily the same switch

[DavePhipps]

Thankss for the info.
I know for sure (after checking some wiring diagrams) the the CB350/4 and the 400/4 had the same switches. I've now got 5 of them on my ebay watch list, and contacted 2 members that  are selling the correct ones. This bike shall be running by this weekend barring slow shipping times. WOOHOO!!!!!!!

Actually I shoudn't woohoo yet. I still have no clue how it runs.