Author Topic: So my chain came undone as I was riding...now no start?  (Read 6831 times)

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Offline Fritz

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #25 on: May 21, 2011, 06:06:59 AM »
what is that plug lookin thing anyway? not to thread jack but .....

It's sealing the left end of the main transmission shaft.
See http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88975

1976 CB550F

Offline Kevin400F

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #26 on: May 21, 2011, 07:30:17 AM »
Below is a pic of the safety-wire technique I use on my track bike. 

Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #27 on: June 01, 2011, 07:21:54 PM »
So I'm taking a look at my bike again (CL350 has been keeping me occupied) and I took a picture of the neutral safety switch (thing) It doesn't look like it is missing anything when I compare it to the parts fiche, so maybe that copper/brass looking part got bent? If someone can recognize my problem with the picture below hopefully I can correct it.


Offline dave500

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #28 on: June 02, 2011, 01:05:19 AM »
that little hole should have a contact type point on it,heres how yours should look,this one is worn out but the angle of the copper spring shows how it contacts the metal edge on the plastic cam.

Offline c(b)hris

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #29 on: June 02, 2011, 02:51:18 AM »
here's what mine looks like.  there's only metal on a small part of the side of that rotating black plastic thing.  In certain shifter positions it grounds against that little tab.  You might need to bend that little tab so that it is barely making contact with the side of that black part, not on the top of it.  If you look at the side of the black part while you move the shifter into and out of neutral, you can see where the two metal parts are supposed to line up when the switch should come on.  That's how mine works anyway.

75 CB550
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Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #30 on: June 07, 2011, 06:49:56 PM »
Thanks for the pictures, they really helped. I got the clip bent back, so now the neutral light comes on when I switch it into neutral. That is the good news. The bad news is the bike wont turn over via the electric starter. And I can kick it and kick it, and it will not start. What can be the problem now? Not sure what to do, I thought that clip was my only problem so I'm at a loss, now...

Offline Blueridgerunner

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #31 on: June 08, 2011, 08:39:17 AM »
I safety wired mine plus I put some silicone sealer on top of that. Sort of like suspenders + a belt.  ;)
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bollingball

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #32 on: June 08, 2011, 08:48:48 AM »
I don't think the sealer would do anything but keep you from snagging a rag while cleaning.

Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #33 on: June 08, 2011, 08:55:37 AM »
Right that is all well and good you guys, I agree that looks kind of unsafe. But if we could give me a little insight as to why my electric starter still wont work even though I bent that clip back so its functional...I checked all the fuses and they are fine. I checked the wiring to the starter motor and they are intact. Should I do some electrical troubleshooting now? Check voltages at specific areas to sort out the issue? When I press the starter button, my headlight dims, but the motor wont crank over.

Offline vorhese

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #34 on: June 08, 2011, 09:37:32 AM »
This is what my motor looked like when I cleaned the oil off for a rebuild


Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #35 on: June 08, 2011, 12:33:33 PM »
Thanks for the tips, I'll get workin on this a little later after lunch

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #36 on: June 08, 2011, 01:00:01 PM »
Dave...I'm thinkin' but don't know for sure...so maybe this could clue you in to some searches that pertain to your particular bike...that there is a neutral safety switch that is somehow tripped by that neutral indicator light...if the switch was somehow damaged by your chain, no sparky and no starter cranky...try looking at a wiring diagram specific to your year and model.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #37 on: June 08, 2011, 01:12:54 PM »
That neutral safety switch that is by the chain is what got bent. And it is that switch that trips the neutral light to come on. So I got it bent back and the light now comes on but still no start. Or might you be suggesting something else Sean?

Offline TwoTired

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #38 on: June 08, 2011, 01:22:31 PM »
Still waiting for year and model information....
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #39 on: June 08, 2011, 01:36:56 PM »
Oh hi Lloyd, sorry about that. '76 550F

Offline TwoTired

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #40 on: June 08, 2011, 01:53:06 PM »
Do you have a voltmeter? ohmmeter?
Test lamp?
Test leads?
Good battery?

Have you seen your solenoid terminals lately?  How many did you find?  What colors?
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #41 on: June 08, 2011, 02:11:52 PM »
The starter switch is the one with the green/white and yellow/red wires right?

I have a digital voltmeter, test lamp and my battery voltage reads 12. But I put an auto charger on there and it looks like its charging it up. I had an analog volt/ohmn meter but can't find it.

I started pulling all the electrical connectors and cleaning them, figured I would while I work on this. What grease was it that you put on the connectors before you reconnect them? Dielectric grease right?

Solonoid terminals...I'm looking at the parts diagram and I'm not sure what you're talking about Lloyd  :-[ 


Well there is power to that thing pictured above. I'm no expert at electrical testing, so where else should I stick this circuit tester other then my nose?

By the way, I heard no clicking at all from that starter switch. Does it click when I turn the ignition on, or when I press the start button? Does neither.

Maybe there is a problem at the starter motor itself?
« Last Edit: June 08, 2011, 03:02:30 PM by Dave-and-his-550 »

Offline TwoTired

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...
« Reply #42 on: June 08, 2011, 03:22:15 PM »
The POS battery cable runs to a device with two huge post terminals on it.  That is your solenoid.
The other big post should have another large cable and that goes to the starter motor.
To test if your start motor is working and your battery good enough to operate the motor, you can bridge the two posts with a thick piece of metal.  Pliers handles will do the job.  But, expect sparks, and a mark on the handles where it got hot making/breaking the circuit.
Also note that this bypasses all safeties, so if the bike is in gear and the rear wheel on the ground, it can lurch forward.  Won't matter if the key is on or not.

If the motor didn't spin, either the starter motor is bad, or your battery is flat.
If it does spin, then test the solenoid for operation.

There are two small wires on the solenoid.  One is Yellow/red the other is Green/red.  Disconnect them and jumper each to a battery post.  The battery power should activate the solenoid and the stater motor spin.  If so, the solenoid is good and you can move on to bike wiring issues.  If not, the solenoid has failed, and needs replacement or a rebuild.

If solenoid has proven good.  Then leave the Grn/red jumper on the battery NEG terminal, reconnect the Yel/red, key switch on, and press starter button.  The starter should engage.  If so, then the Grn/red circuit is suspect.  If not, then the power distribution is suspect.

You can reverse roles, too. instead of reconnecting the yel/red to the wire harness.  Connect the Grn/red to the bike's harness mate terminal.  Then each time you connect the solenoids Yel/red to the Battery POS terminal the starter should engage.  If not, the Grn/red circuit is suspect.  If the starter does work then the yel/red is suspect.

The troubleshooting branches are now spread in several directions.  I don't want to describe them all now.  Report your findings and we can proceed to find root cause of failure on a more direct investigation path.

Cheers,

Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...now no start?
« Reply #43 on: June 08, 2011, 03:39:20 PM »
Lloyd you're like the Mr.Brain of this forum  :)  If I could hug you I would. Ok give me a minute while I try all these things. I started testing the terminals with my test lamp, and the bottom one (In the picture with three yellows, one red, one green) does not seem to have any power to it at any wire. The other one was plugged in by the way when checking. Maybe thats the terminal controlling the turn signal/buzzer/horn stuff.

(By the way my horn does not work, and the horn has been tested good, but maybe that I should work on next)


Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...now no start?
« Reply #44 on: June 08, 2011, 05:02:27 PM »
I don't know what I did but it works now lol...I went through it how you said. I jumped the terminals with a pliers, it worked. I connected a wire to each wire off the solenoid to each post on the battery and it worked. I then left the green/white wire hooked up to battery NEG and the yellow/red plugged back in and it cranked over via start button. I then hooked up the green/white back up and it also worked...I guess maybe the battery wasn't charged enough after all? It's weird though, I know after it said charged I still tried to start it... ???

So moving on...Thanks for the lesson Lloyd. I made two 12 gauge wires with alligator clips on each end to use next time I'm troubleshooting this electrical stuff so I got those now.

Thanks for all the help, I think I'm gonna work on this horn problem next. Then hopefully go out for a ride  8)


Offline TwoTired

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...now no start?
« Reply #45 on: June 08, 2011, 05:11:17 PM »
Glad you got it working.

Have a nice ride!
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...now no start?
« Reply #46 on: June 09, 2011, 03:32:47 AM »
...killer...people who listen are fun to help! :)
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Dave-and-his-550

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Re: So my chain came undone as I was riding...now no start?
« Reply #47 on: June 09, 2011, 10:58:12 AM »
*sigh*  :(

Well I took it out for a spin around the block. It was very noisy like the tappets where hitting, or something. And when I brought it back the top end (Cam Cover/ tappets) seem excessively hot. Also, it wouldn't start again after it cooled down ???

I still think I did something wrong on the top end rebuild. Maybe a plugged oil orifice to the cam shaft area? I'll just make another thread I suppose. Again thanks for all the help on this topic. It was fun riding for 1 minute lol ;D