Headlight bucket wiring

[e3steve]

Thanks for info, I'm going to switch (no pun) from theoretical to pragmatic approach here, install it with new old four-wire switch, which Ed is sending, finish up and get bike running, and see what happens when I turn on light switch.

Cool. With a new switch you'll have no problem, especially since you've repaired the dimmer switch.

Old speedo had a hook on bottom for a spring that went to bottom of bucket,

Ah, as per '61-issue, with the cluster ring in the upper steering yoke (triple-tree)? See pic.

My four-wire switch has only two positions, on and off. Turning ignition switch to far right leaves tailight on with key removed, that's the only parking light.

Riiiiight, gottit! So the first models had no 'parking lights only' position; that makes my email, that I sent you, incorrect for your bike and explains the 4-wire configuration. The pink & yellow remain as stated: they carry AC and are (independently) joined when the lightswitch is operated; the black 'makes' with the brown and presents 12V to the dimmer switch.

I guess, then, your dimmer switch has the 'parking lights only' position at the centre detent? Late '62-on models, with the 5-wire switch, must have been a modification, perhaps because riders were maybe using the parking lights (without the headlight) and overcharging the battery. I'm logically guessing here, but it stands to reason to me; battery technology, way back then, would've been inferior to that which we now enjoy.

There's one error, already mentioned in Bill's HNRRG, on page 9, regarding the unfused charging wire (red or red/white?) from the battery +ve to ign sw terminal wire CH; the Honda manual shows this wire incorrectly connected to terminal wire HL (green).

I think I may have spotted another within the bucket, but I could be (probably am!) wrong. I need to move some of the crap in my garage and play with my switches with a meter to hand, but I don't see the green wire, that links to the brown from headlight switch terminal HL, as being correct. But, as I say, I'll prove or disprove my theory in due course.

Earthing

I've run a separate, green wire (differentiating each end with a 10mm length of white heatshrink) from the headlamp / meter lamp / parking lamp earthing double-ferrule, out of the bucket (but within the harness tubing) and grounded it at the ignition coils' grounding screw. That way, the paint between the bucket and mounting ears needs not be breached for the sake of grounding. CBs have a short, braided grounding-strap between the engine hanger bolt and the coil bracket to ensure equipotential grounding of the ignition system, so that's a good -ve point of reference.

[e3steve]

....as promised.

[jleewebb]

Hi steve, thanks for your efforts. My old dimmer switch had a position in middle where power wire contacted to neither headlight wire. so I guess that would work as a parking light, owners manual just says "setting the switch to the neutral position turns off the headlight." That would leave the dash lights and taillight on. Somebody, maybe the dealer or the guy who sold bike to me said that position with headlight switch on would charge battery faster. I gather from posts here that's not such a good idea. Moot with my new dimmer switch, which puts power to one or other headlight wires, but not to neither.

Re reference to cluster ring in upper steering yoke. Looks like bike in pic is older style with speedo ring built into top triple tree cover. Mine's not that early but apparently method of holding speedo in with spring carried over to new arrangement for awhile.

That's an awesomely perfectly beautiful bike. I particularly like the correct "Dream250" badges. They must be pretty rare. I'm jealous of the chrome brake and shifter linkages, I'm gonna have to do with paint for now. Not to mention the unmarred tank panels and mufflers. Or unrusty rims. I want some just like that!

Re glaring wiring error, that's in shop manual, not wiring diagram, right? Nice job on color coded diagram btw. Can you email me a jpeg or explain how to download from here as a jpeg rather than a web page (showing my ignorance again?)

Re earthing/grounding, that's exactly what I planned to do. White shrink next to terminals is a nice touch, makes it match green/white ground wires in bucket. So I'll incorporate that, thanks.

Thanks again, all my questions are well enough answered at this point so I'll be proceeding pragmatically. Thanks one more time, Lee

[e3steve]

I ran mine all season in the parking light position, with the purpose of increasing the charge rate. My battery hasn't suffered at all. Neither have I found the need to top its electrolyte. Today's battery technology has improved, evidently.

The CB72 is owned and was restored by Dennis Lodge of VJMC(UK); it's the most beautiful resto I think I've ever laid eyes upon, with Wordman5's CB77 yomping home a very strong 2nd. He's also a full-on Hondaguy and is right into CBXs as well.

Martijn Elserman, in Holland, makes the badges: martijne@gmail.com ; see pics. Not cheap (€185, + secured delivery) but virtually imperceptible from OEMs. He'll inlay in gold (colour) at no extra cost, although special order only. I have the gold ones, and I have a l/h OEM http://www.honda305.com/forums/ads_sear ... me=e3steve ~ you'd struggle to tell them apart.

My 'glaring error' with the wiring diagram, surrounding the short, green wire to the lightswitch brown, is possibly in my own mind, but I shall clarify my findings. The over-drawn colour wiring diagram is much easier to follow; I wish I'd done it long before now. It took me no more than 90mins, whilst watching TV.