Honda-SOHC

General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: SteveW on October 29, 2017, 05:10:46 PM

Title: New Member
Post by: SteveW on October 29, 2017, 05:10:46 PM: Hello from Bucks, Just bought a 1974 CB550 US spec, non runner.

Ive had it 2 weeks, carbs full of crud and numerous electrical issues.

Borrowed an ultrasonic cleaner, cabrs are now gleaming and bike starts and runs.

Now the fun begins, trying to sort all the electrical problems and getting an MOT on it.

Steve.
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Nurse Julie on October 29, 2017, 05:23:14 PM: Welcome Steve. Where in Bucks are you?
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Trigger on October 29, 2017, 05:24:05 PM: Welcome to the mad world of the SOHC, loads of helpful members on here that know a lot about electrics, I am not one of them :D
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Moorey on October 29, 2017, 05:25:27 PM: Sounds like your of to a flier . Welcome and have fun.
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: paul G on October 29, 2017, 05:26:02 PM: Welcom on board Steve.
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: mike the bike on October 29, 2017, 06:03:08 PM: Welcome to the forum Steve. Loads of helpful advice on here, you come to the right place. What's up with electrics them, previous owners being too clever?
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Green1 on October 29, 2017, 06:08:14 PM: Welcome we like pics.
Not many of these old girls have been lucky enough to escape the DIY Sparky four years on I'm still removing crappy red crimps.
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: SteveW on October 29, 2017, 07:09:22 PM: I'm just by Junction 5 of the M40

Pic attached.

Someone has moved the ignition switch from the side to between the clocks. They have extended the wires by cutting the existing loom in half and inserting randomly coloured bits of wire from god knows what. wires twisted together and a small bit of insulation tape.

Same with the horn, more random wire twisted together.

Best one, i've just found. The main cable to the starter crushed between the engine case and the chain cover. No wonder i was getting whisps of smoke when i tried to start it ::)
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Green1 on October 29, 2017, 07:14:06 PM: No crappy red crimps at least ;D
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: petermigreen on October 29, 2017, 09:46:06 PM: Welcome, sounds like you know what you're doing anyway.

This is what I found in my US 500's headlight bowl.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Johnwebley on October 29, 2017, 10:06:15 PM: welcome to the sohc,

as the others say,its fun here,love of bikes and life in general.
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Trigger on October 29, 2017, 10:18:37 PM: Quote from: petermigreen on October 29, 2017, 09:46:06 PM
Welcome, sounds like you know what you're doing anyway.

This is what I found in my US 500's headlight bowl.

(Attachment Link)

Looks like a BT engineer has been in ;D
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: matthewmosse on October 29, 2017, 10:22:49 PM: Ooh electrical horrors, I just love an old vehicle a previous owner has modified the electrical on - Not! I guess you'll just have to work through the loom slowly, fixing each horror at a time, or you could try building a new loom from scratch using new connectors, I had to resort to this once with a cb550k3, only bit of its wiring to survive was the idiot light cluster, a year later I had wiring issues, spent ages taking my home built loom to bits wondering where the fault lay in my loom. Guess what, it was the ****ing remaing bit old old loom up in the idiot lights. Doh! I found vehicle wiring products had everything needed including the correct coulor wires except the multi block connectors by the charging system are worth holding onto originals and just 're fitting new terminals. Don't bother with their high performance wire either, it's not as nice to use and too stiff really. Oh and I too have been driven nuts by those horrid pre insulated terminals, they attract rot and in my books any vehicle sporting any looses a few £100 off it's value as they always spell trouble. Sounds like you are well on the way to sorting the bike out though.
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: SteveW on October 29, 2017, 10:33:31 PM: This was part of the extended loom to the ignition switch:
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: hairygit on October 30, 2017, 07:03:46 AM: Ooh, quality bodge, perfect for starting a fire!

Sent from my X6pro using Tapatalk
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Laverda Dave on October 30, 2017, 09:36:00 PM: Welcome Steve, enjoy the forum.
Old electrics, a great way to spend endless frustrating hours, so easy to bodge and forget and leave to the next owner to sort out! Good luck with the problem solving.
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: philward on October 30, 2017, 10:26:15 PM: Welcome to the forum - sounds like your on to a flyer with your new project! Plenty of 550 'guru's' to help on here.
Enjoy the forum
Phil
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Rob62 on October 31, 2017, 08:21:44 PM: Welcome in. Wiring looks a bit of a nightmare but hopefully wont be expensive to fix. You have the motor running so off to a good start.. Good luck!
Title: Re: New Member
Post by: Yamahawk on November 03, 2017, 11:45:27 PM: Quote from: SteveW on October 29, 2017, 10:33:31 PM
This was part of the extended loom to the ignition switch:

OMGoodness! He was a butcher for sure lol. But, a little wire, a little TLC, and a few OEM bullet connectors, and you should be OK. I found my local shop stocks the OEM style connectors, in most configurations, and I purchased a set of PICO crimp pliers for the pins inside the 2-4-6 pin connector blocks on most Japanese wiring harnesses. Along with the occasional spade connector, and bullets, I am able to repair with a good amount of success, most previous owner faux pas wiring. It beats going to the local auto parts store and buying those connectors...
BTW, the 550 looks good!
Charlie