Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: wolfheze on May 13, 2020, 03:56:13 PM

Title: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 13, 2020, 03:56:13 PM
Haven't been on here for a while as its all been a bit quiet on the 550 front for quite a long time. Today I decided to take the bike out of hibernation and get it fired up ready for sale if its possible in the current situation we are in. Anyway it started and ran fine but the front caliper is sticking and the headlamp doesn't work. Is there a relatively pain free method to unstick the caliper and sort out the headlamp which is a sealed beam unit? Checked the fuses and they are ok.
Cheers.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 13, 2020, 04:54:07 PM
If you are selling it you really need to do the caliper properly as to headlamp does neither filament work?
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 13, 2020, 06:54:15 PM
Neither filament is working. I've got plenty of time to sort the things out but I could do with some guidance.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 13, 2020, 09:08:50 PM
If neither filament works sounds like the connection between on/off switch and dip switch isnt there.

As to caliper first loosen the 2 caliper bolts holding the halves together and see if the swinging bracket moves freely, if it does put the caliper with pipe in a bucket and use the master cylinder to pump the piston out DO NOT disconnect the pipework before doing this.
If you have to go this far post pics of the piston and await further comment.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: K2-K6 on May 13, 2020, 09:14:36 PM
You can test the headlight independently by connecting the tabs direct to a 12v battery to see if it's the light or something on supply side of bike.

Usually three tabs,  one earth,  the other two for dip/main filament.  As long as connect just two at a time you'll be able to see it works.

Don't accidentally touch the two wires together though :o

Brake caliper. Undo the two bolts that hold the caliper halves together,  undo also the fine adjustment screw,  then you should be able to assess if the arm is stuck,  ie not swinging.  If that bit is ok,  then it will usually be the piston/pad/seal corroded or stuck.  It's not that complicated but would involve a strip and clean followed by a bleed through to bring it back into use. No real shortcuts there for this.

Have a look and post what you've got for further advice. :)
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 13, 2020, 09:15:35 PM
Cheers I'll have a look Friday. The bike is a Canadian import so dosent have a on/off switch for the lights.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: K2-K6 on May 13, 2020, 09:15:42 PM
Apologies, crossed over with Bryan there while I was typing.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 13, 2020, 10:00:10 PM
If there is no on off switch chances are the starter switch innards have fallen to bits and that bit cant be got on its own so fit a UK switch then you will have an on off
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 12:55:42 PM
Front brake sorted. Turned out to be a combination of crud around the pad and piston and a badly set up adjuster. Piston had no corrosion just a layer of dried up muck around it. Had a look inside the headlamp bowl. There seems to be a black and white wire that dosent go anywhere?
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 15, 2020, 12:57:41 PM
Black and white should go to coils
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 01:25:39 PM
Wire in question
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 15, 2020, 01:38:43 PM
That wiring does not look "Honda" to me
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 02:09:37 PM
Well it definitely is a Honda! I think that wire may be something to do with the new indicator stalks I fitted a few years ago. Shame I had to reduce the size of the photo to allow it to load. I'll try and get another one up
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 02:19:56 PM
Wiring
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 02:57:24 PM
Tried the headlamp connected to a Ctek with crocodile clips. Nothing. Does it need to be connected to a battery or should a charger do the same job?
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 15, 2020, 03:37:48 PM
As long as the charger has enough output(5 amp) it should light as long as you get connections correct
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 03:50:50 PM
Cheers. I'll try it on the battery anyway later to double check.
Just reinsured it and taken it off the sorn so I'll probably take it out in the next couple of days. Would prefer it to be with a working headlamp though. Not the best time to end up in hospital when someone dosent see you.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 04:52:47 PM
Headlamp works perfectly when connected to the battery. Had a quick look at the switch. Seems intact so don't know. 😡
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 15, 2020, 06:50:49 PM
OK lets start geting complicated:-

List the wire colours comming from the RH switch and if possible split the switch and say where in the switch they go to, dont get frustrated this will take a while and a lot of to&froing.
I am assuming you have a multimeter and know how to use it!
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 08:12:02 PM
I'm afraid I don't have a multimeter and if I did wouldn't really know how to use it! Looks like I might have to learn though. Bloody annoying because it was working ok before it went into the Vacbag.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: K2-K6 on May 15, 2020, 08:24:50 PM
https://www.dx.com/p/uni-t-ut120c-portable-1-8-lcd-digital-multimeter-grey-red-1-x-cr2032-2018228.html?tc=GBP&ta=GB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImv7s28u26QIVTLDtCh1PqAihEAQYASABEgL3cvD_BwE#.Xr7r-FXTU1I

I use the above,  brilliantly small and very capable.  Will do most things you'll ever need.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 15, 2020, 08:38:29 PM
Thank you. I will have to invest in one. Hope it comes with a decent instruction book!
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 15, 2020, 09:47:38 PM
You dont need anything that good i get them for about£5 then a pp9 battery, only 2 readings you use, ohms for resistance and dc volts.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Oggie400F on May 16, 2020, 06:26:01 AM
You dont need anything that good i get them for about£5 then a pp9 battery, only 2 readings you use, ohms for resistance and dc volts.

Screwfix have one @ £9.99 and Halfords @ £8.00
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: AshimotoK0 on May 16, 2020, 07:40:32 AM
If you buy any multimeter make sure it has a 10A DC current range as that is really useful on bike stuff (some are only short duration measurement of the full 10A but that's not a problem with bike related tests)
Also low ohms resistance measurement capability for checking coils etc. (e.g. Honda ignition coil primaries typically around 5 Ohms).
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Oggie400F on May 16, 2020, 01:07:35 PM
If you buy any multimeter make sure it has a 10A DC current range as that is really useful on bike stuff (some are only short duration measurement of the full 10A but that's not a problem with bike related tests)
Also low ohms resistance measurement capability for checking coils etc. (e.g. Honda ignition coil primaries typically around 5 Ohms).

The Screwfix one is the LAP MAS830B and these are the details of  DC Voltage, DC Current and Resistance ranges from the manual.

EDIT:  It would have been nice if I had actually included the details. 🙈

Here they are:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1170224/Mastech-Mas830b.html?page=6#manual


Is this one OK for most motorcycles including the SOHC?
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: Bryanj on May 16, 2020, 03:29:40 PM
That should be fine, what you do most is check where a wire goes, resistance, and voltage at certain points in the loom dc volts. AC volts is ocasional usefull for generator output but not often.
Title: Re: Sticking caliper and headlamp.
Post by: wolfheze on May 16, 2020, 03:46:24 PM
Thanks a lot. Sure I'll get there in the end!
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