'76 CB550 No Spark
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Champaign, IL, USA
'76 CB550 No Spark
I'm looking into buying a 1976 CB550 from a guy close by. "It was running when parked 5 years ago" you know the story. Anyway, after looking the bike over and questioning the guy a bunch about it, I find out that he's done a little bit of work to the kill switch on the right handlebar, so I crack it open and take a look. The wiring is kinda jacked up in there. Twisting and some poor soldering.
Black to black, big yellow to little green, red to red, and a small yellow wire that's not connected to anything.
I tried connecting it a few places but still couldn't get spark. What's the wiring supposed to look like under there? Is there a quick way to bypass it all so I don't have to mess with it? In case this isn't the problem, what other places should I check in order to get spark? Everything else looks pretty good on the bike, so I'm hoping once the spark issue is solved, it won't need much more than a tuneup.
In advance, thank you for your responses,
-Chad
Black to black, big yellow to little green, red to red, and a small yellow wire that's not connected to anything.
I tried connecting it a few places but still couldn't get spark. What's the wiring supposed to look like under there? Is there a quick way to bypass it all so I don't have to mess with it? In case this isn't the problem, what other places should I check in order to get spark? Everything else looks pretty good on the bike, so I'm hoping once the spark issue is solved, it won't need much more than a tuneup.
In advance, thank you for your responses,
-Chad
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: RIP Craig Jones
Re: '76 CB550 No Spark (chadheins)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chadheins »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there a quick way to bypass it all so I don't have to mess with it?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, +12V straight to the ignition coils under the fuel tank (black/white wire). Just run a wire from the battery.
If its been sitting... it will need a carb rebuild too, and possibly a fuel tank cleaning.
Yeah, +12V straight to the ignition coils under the fuel tank (black/white wire). Just run a wire from the battery.
If its been sitting... it will need a carb rebuild too, and possibly a fuel tank cleaning.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4
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From: Champaign, IL, USA
Re: '76 CB550 No Spark (.RJ)
Solved the problem, I opened up the kill switch, the red part and it was all busted up inside. Soldered up the Black and Black/white wires and it runs like a top now. Anyone know how quick these bikes are supposed to be? It feels a little sluggish compared to my CB200T. Doesn't seem right...
cthulward
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,685
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From: people's republic of CA
sorry to spam your thread, but i noticed you're in champaign. surf on over to http://www.ridingillini.com - it's a local forum 
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 30,826
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From: RIP Craig Jones
Re: '76 CB550 No Spark (chadheins)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chadheins »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It feels a little sluggish compared to my CB200T. Doesn't seem right...</TD></TR></TABLE>
Carbs, ignition, etc... lots of things can be wrong or out of adjustment on an older bike. Go through all of it.
Carbs, ignition, etc... lots of things can be wrong or out of adjustment on an older bike. Go through all of it.
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