New take on the main fuse mod

[Pony Ruiz]

I see the cb600f solenoid has four pins.

Any info on which wire goes where?

thanks

[Sidecar Bob]

I imagine it would be the same as on the original solenoid.... 2 are for the solenoid coil and 2 are fused power

Solenoid.jpg

[BlueThunder]

Yes. The two inside terminals (AA) go to the starter switch. Makes no difference as to which terminal. The outer terminals (BB) are connected to the main wiring harness.

[Pony Ruiz]

thanks!
This is on my list of things to do to get my 78 going/upgraded. This area has been molested by a PO. Since ya'll posted up I'm tryin to sort it out / learn / double ck / see how my existing wiring relates to the new solenoid setup. I can hook up wires - understanding what is going on - different story. That's why I am here. Maybe someone else can learn from this too...?

I have two green (PO?) wires coming out of the + bat terminal (of solenoid) the rt. one goes to a red(ig. switch?). The left wire w/fuse goes to wires coming out of the plug next to the rectifier. Wiring D. appears to show those wires going to rectifier.

20150816_185551.jpg

20150816_185558.jpg

So I am assuming (next pic) the two colored wires in oem connectors go to the starter switch AA terminals. The two PO green go to the BB terminals. Not sure about the existing fuse tho.. As was stated before order isn't an issue. If I am reading it right the wiring diagram I have shows the m. fuse is inline on a red wire. The PO has the fuse inline to the plug. The bike did turn over but din't start when I bought it i.e. starter/solenoid worked. So I am assuming the two existing green PO wires go to the BB terminals - not important which one /order correct? They both seem to hook up before the fuse. Is that blade arrangement standard for a 4 wire plug available somewhere? Thank you Thank you!!

20150816_195059.jpg

[Pony Ruiz]

Oh and do think a used oem (guaranteed to work) on ebay would be ok or just bite a bullet and spring for a new oem cb600 ($75) one? thx

[jdvorchak]

In pic 2 tell me that isn't an indoor wire nut!!!! Get that out of there and throw it as far as you can. Either crimp on connectors or solder and tape. But indoor electrical wire nut?

Probably some speaker wire hooked to the ignition as well... Jeesh....

[Sidecar Bob]

I would be more concerned about green wires used obviously not for ground.

[cklamer]

Yeah we have a guy that just bought a 1984 GL1100.
Rough shape is putting it mildly.
But he was buying the cheap solenoids and has gone through 4 of them so far.
He also in the process of jumping the bike off caused issues with his starter and has already replaced two.

So yeah I cringe every time I see one of those solenoids being used.

[Sidecar Bob]

I have removed the cheap solenoid for now.

I ran out of gas the other day as I was turning the corner onto my own street. I was not moving very fast and didn't get it switched to the other tank in time so it stalled. While I was cranking the starter to pump the gas through it suddenly stopped cranking. When I removed the side cover I found that the battery's negative post had melted. A neighbour helped me push it home and I repaired the battery post by bolting a copper bracket onto it but it still wouldn't crank. There was no click and no voltage at the starter motor so I re-installed the old solenoid and it seems like all is well again.

BUT when I checked out the new solenoid it worked perfectly. When I connected power to the coil terminals it clicked loudly and almost jumped off the bench. I tried again with the ohmmeter connected to the B & M terminals and they went from open to short exactly as it should.

[desertrefugee]

Well, sir, at least it failed relatively painlessly.

OEM = 30+ years
Chinese replacements = 6 months or so

I think we have another believer...

[mrtwowheel]

With the Hondas that I am riding and the ones that I am working on, I am two OEM solenoids short at the moment. I've had my share of failures with the green plastic aftermarkets, different sources and different plastic molding. Next solenoid will be an aftermarket Ford type.

Scott

[Sidecar Bob]

Well, sir, at least it failed relatively painlessly.

The thing is that it didn't actually fail. I don't know why it wasn't clicking when it was in the bike but it clicks solidly and appears to work perfectly now. I would be more likely to blame dirt in the Start button that moved out of the way after I pushed the button enough times while testing.

And I don't see any way that a solenoid that is not switching at all (no click) could melt a battery terminal. It is far more likely that I didn't torque the battery terminal bolt securely enough, allowing a loose connection which heated up.

But after I went to the trouble to change to the original I am not likely to change back until & unless I have it apart for some other reason.

[desertrefugee]

Yes, that is odd. But, now that it's out, I'd recommend leaving it out. By the way, if you put the original OEM back in, why did you take it out in the first place (or was it a spare OEM that went back in).

Either way, there are enough negative testimonials on the Chinese solenoids (in addition to my rotten experience) that it just makes sense to look to alternatives.

[Sidecar Bob]

After I fixed the carbs I was having trouble getting the engine to start I remembered this thread http://cx500forum.com/forum/technical-h ... rting.html so I bought a couple of the cheap solenoids. As I said earlier in this thread, people on CX500forum.com have had nothing but good to say about these solenoids. I eventually figured out it was the 1 year old battery that was causing my problem. While installing the new battery I bumped the inline fuse holder's wire and the ring lug broke. This was the second time I had a problem with one of these tiny lugs in the last year and I had the new ones on hand so I put one in instead of replacing the lug.

[skydog]

Watch the fuse area of these too!Had wierd problems on the 85,turns out the fuse area was warped,loseing contact,fuse was cheap,came apart in 2 pieces,plastic and metal,but the fuse itself wasn't blown!Watch the wires supplied too,too small of gauge,have some issues there too.Put in a new fuse and all is well but going to retro-fit a 1000 solenoid,like I should have in the first place but those china ones are cheap!Live and learn.