Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: florence on September 11, 2008, 10:02:27 AM
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I felt I should share a scary experience with you because I don't want it to happen to anyone else.
Basically, whilst going round a corner in the dark last night all of the electrics went out, lights, engine, etc. It was a very dark, rainy night and there was no moon or streetlights to help. Luckily for me I knew the road well and wasn't going too fast and there were no cars around so I managed to blindly get round the bend and stop safely. If it had been a sharper corner I would have ended up in the hedge.
On inspection the fault turned out to be with the ignition switch. The barrel seems to have become worn because when I wiggled the key everything came back on again.
I would say that anyone who hasn't replaced their ignition switch recently should have a look. Switch the bike on then apply slight pressure to the key. If it goes off you will see what I mean. This is obviously very dangerous and until last night the switch had seemed perfectly ok so be warned.
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On my 500, the solder connection on the back of the ignition switch fractured. Similar results.
Tried everything to solder it back on but ended up with a new switch.
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Thanks Steve, I'm going to look at it today, probably replace it with a toggle switch for the time being until I can get the proper part. Luckily for me 500/4s in a condition like mine are not really a target for bike thieves. Having said that someone did try to hot wire it once and messed up all of my coil wires; so annoying.
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Huzzah, I have found an old ignition switch from an Austin A35 which will be just the job!
Re-use is more efficient than recycling after all ;)
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Thatl do it as long as you dont want to leave it with side lights on----which i always thought was a damn stupid idea anyway
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My 550 did this on a motorway but in daylight so not so bad, wd40 down the ignition barrel sorted it, fuse went on my 500 in the dark once, wasn't fun, I've still got a spotlight that I intend to fit on a seperate fused circuit, one day ::)
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That happened to me a few years ago on a CB750 so I removed the lock part and opened the ignition switch up and found the the contacts in the switch bit were burnt out.
Tried to get the just the switch from a scrappy but they were adamant that the lock part didn't separate from the switch bit so I had to have the whole unit. Got it cheaper cos there was no key.
Once home I did what they said was impossible and removed the switch. The switch was in excellent condition so I fitted the old lock to it and all was well again and still is to this day.
I would imagine if the contacts hadn't burnt out they could probably have been cleaned up.