CB550 F2 Wiring

[Neilw]

I have a quick question.

On the headlight, there is a bulb holder embedded into the side of the main light - it's called the SOCKET,MARKER LT in the parts diagram pt no 33170323003.

I can't find it on the wiring Diagrams and therefore don't know where to plug the Brown wire into. There is no corresponding Brown in the headlight bowl. I guess the light is a running light or side light of some description?
 

[deltarider]

Identify your CB550F by frame- and enginenumber to find out which exact model it is and which 'area code' it has. Then consult the appropiate wiring diagram for your specific model, which you'll find in the addenda of the Shop Manual CB500-550.

[Neilw]

Identify your CB550F by frame- and enginenumber to find out which exact model it is and which 'area code' it has. Then consult the appropiate wiring diagram for your specific model, which you'll find in the addenda of the Shop Manual CB500-550.

It's a 1978 CB550 F2 Super Sport English Model - nothing on the related wiring diagram, and the headlight assembly is correct for the year and model.

[deltarider]

P.192 in the Shop Manual CB500-550 shows how it's supposed to be on the UK-European type. From the socket you have two wires: one is green and can be plugged in any green connector. For the brown male there's supposed to be a brown female*. Connect and the pilot light (aka position aka city light) can be switched on either by bringing the light switch on the RH side of the handlebar in position 'P' or by turning the IGN key switch in the 'P' position (park). The brown wire also feeds the taillight.
*This brown female is also present in the wiring of the US and Canada type but ends blind, because these models don't have this light.

[Bryanj]

I think it connects to a brown/white wire

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Does your parking light work?

[deltarider]

I think it connects to a brown/white wire

Brown/White is to the lamps in the speedo and tach.

[Oddjob]

It's supposed to connect to a brown wire that is dedicated to just that bulb. It feeds off the ignition switch. It's possible it's hiding in plain sight but lost amongst all the rest. However as Bryan says you can connect it to the brown/white wires as those are the sidelights, it will then light up whenever the lights are switched on. It's meant to be illuminated for a parking light function. However that feature seems to have been made redundant in the late 70s so maybe Honda changed the circuit to get it to light whenever the lights were on instead.

[3scs]

As Ken says it does connect to a brown wire

[Neilw]

Thanks for pointing out the correct wiring diagram; it will help in many ways!

I'll try what's been suggested.

[Bryanj]

Its been a few years since i did a rats nest, it should have a brown connector

[Neilw]

It's possible it's hiding in plain sight but lost amongst all the rest.

This, I had plugged another wire into the connector! Can't blame anyone else for this one lol!

[Neilw]

Just a quick recap - I removed all block connectors, cleaned most and replaced a couple as they were in a terrible state. I fixed some rather dodgy-looking wiring bodges and generally gave the wiring a good clean, wrap and overhaul. I've also installed a new bladed fuse box, using instructions from Hondaman and the old ones as a template for the wiring.

I've made sure that the earth connections to the engine block and frame were to bare metal, and now I've connected everything up.

Connected the battery and turned the key. 

Hmmmm, smoke is coming from the top of the Oil Pressure sensor, so switched it off and disconnected the battery.

Not quite sure what's wrong; I've traced the wire back to the headlight nest, and everything seems to be connected correctly. So I'm assuming I have a short somewhere between the switch and the light.

Got the multimeter out and it's dead, FML, battery is flat, the one time i need it! And of course it's not a nice little CR type its a MN, which I don't have. So Mr Amazon will be delivering a couple tomorrow, so off to do some polishing on the rear wheel hub with my new Dremel.

[Oddjob]

Odd one that. The sensor acts as the earth on that system so why is it smoking? It may be an internal fault on the switch itself. Try removing the blue/red wire and holding it against the engine, that should light the oil pressure light up. If it does and there is no smoking the fault is in the switch.

[Neilw]

Odd one that. The sensor acts as the earth on that system so why is it smoking? It may be an internal fault on the switch itself. Try removing the blue/red wire and holding it against the engine, that should light the oil pressure light up. If it does and there is no smoking the fault is in the switch.

Blew the main fuse when I did that,