Ignition problem

[Maax1200]

Hi.

First time forum post here and i am looking for some help.

I am about to finish a restoration of a 500 four -74 and have run into some problems.

I have installed a new main wire harness and was wondering what the cable in the photo is? Doesnt seem to have anything to do with egnition coils.

This wire wasnt connected to anything on the old wire harness when i bought the bike so i have no clue what it is.




Second problem i have is that the bike started for the first time just a few days ago and all looked and sounded fine. After that i was diving in to my third problem witch is tha the turn signals refuse to work, no static light no blinking, nothing. After i failed to fix that issue the bike would not start, no spark. Seems like iv checked just about everything and im running out of ideas. Previous owner installesd elecronic egnition but like i said, the bike worked just fine the other day.

Is it possible to mess up the egnition coils when fiddling about with the turn signal loom and relay? No fuse has blown or anything.


Thank you for any input.

/Magnus



https://photos.app.goo.gl/PCZ9QbDvCWdm4k6Y7

[Bryanj]

Cant see any pic, put as attachment not link, sounds like you may have accidentaly disconnected a wire or turned the kill switch off

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Have you checked the power connection to the electronic ignition mine is powered from the stop lamp I think.

A new loom will not have that connection it's one you make when converting to electronic ignition.

Have you knocked the engine stop switch?

[Maax1200]

Will check if any wires have come loose.

The electronic ignition is wired so that the kill switch still works. Well, at least it did the other day. Have tried to bypass the kill switch by connecting it straight to a ignition on wire (like the mentioned stop lamp)

 
No luck so far.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Where the black (female) cable is hanging free in your photo to the left it looks as though there is a black cable with a white trace connected to plain black with a free male black cable with a white trace hanging spare if you get my drift?

[Johnny4428]

You would have had to raffle about in the “birds nest” of wire connections in the headlight whilst trying to sort out your indicators, maybe disturbed kill switch connections? Bit bewildering sometimes. With ignition on and kill switch on is there power at coils/electronic ignition? Good luck!

[Maax1200]

Where the black (female) cable is hanging free in your photo to the left it looks as though there is a black cable with a white trace connected to plain black with a free male black cable with a white trace hanging spare if you get my drift?

Sorry, my fault. I just messed around with those wires when i took the photo. The black ignition wire (braided black) is connected to the 2 black/white ones from the coils to make the kill switch work. Iv tried connecting it strait to a black wire but still no go.

[Maax1200]

You would have had to raffle about in the “birds nest” of wire connections in the headlight whilst trying to sort out your indicators, maybe disturbed kill switch connections? Bit bewildering sometimes. With ignition on and kill switch on is there power at coils/electronic ignition? Good luck!

I havent got the tools to check that. Looks like i may have to get it.

I'll keep checking for faulty/loose connections. Im just afraid that something bad happend with the coils.

[Maax1200]

Btw, no take on what the lose black wire on the original picture is for?

Regarding the kill switch, as far as i can tell, that is bypassed if the ignition wire is connected straight to a power on black wire. Is that correct?

/Magnus

[deltarider]

Btw, no take on what the lose black wire on the original picture is for?

Magnus, can you be a bit more specific about your model bike (area code). It's not unusual to find a 'blind' black wire on the CB500. Mine has one too. This has to do with differences in wiring scheme in various markets, like the arrangement for the horn. Where have you bought your new wiring harnass? Do you have the correct wiring diagram for your model?
Best way to identify your model is to compare the engine- and framenumber of yours with those listed in the first 4 pages of the various parts lists. They are all here: http://www.honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/parts-list/parts-list-cb500

[mickwinf]

yes the spare black wire is normal, sometimes used as a horn feed as Deltarider says in some markets.

[Maax1200]

Thx for the link.

Seems the engine and frame is K2?

Engine: CB500E - 2152850

Frame: CB500 2064103



The new main harness is a copy of the original harness that came with the bike. Iv checked and the black wire is present on the old harness to. Looking back it feels like i cant even be sure the old harness is the correct one for the bike. When i bought it it was just half complete and ALOT of parts was missing. Whos to say he didnt replaced the harness from another bike at some point (i doubt it though). Need to point out that it is not possible to ask the last owner since he sadly passed away.

In all honesty, i cant swear the new harness is the correct one but it looks like it and maby im just starting to get paranoid .


One thing this bike tought me is that next time around i will stay clear of any project not 100% complete. A new handlebar is fine but most other stuff is a pain in the a** to find. Especially when it has to be Year/model specific. The more i look into it it seems the bike is a miss mash of K1 and K2. Partly because of the parts i was able to find (like the fuel tank that is from a K1)

On the positive side, i did have it working the other day so thats allways something. If i get it running again i will hold of with the turn signals until after first test run on the road.

[Maax1200]

yes the spare black wire is normal, sometimes used as a horn feed as Deltarider says in some markets.

Ok, thank you. One less thing in the equation is allways good.

[deltarider]

If your model has only one fuse and two grease nipples for the swingarm (one on each side), I'd say yours is a K1, as sold in Europe. At the end of the Owner's Manual there are 4 different wire diagrams. For you that is probably the -ED type. Unless your bike has been imported from elsewhere.  http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_libretti/500/CB500_k1/CB500_K1_4.pdf

[Seabeowner]

Yes, if it's a bike that was registered in UK new, it is a K1. All K2s are imports (USA usually). The numbering system on SOHC4.net is for US models.
Post a pic.