Motorcycle Repair: I am an idiot - Nighthawk 650SC taillight, shop manual, nighthawk

Question
Hey,
   Horribly stupid question, but I have an '85 Honda Nighthawk 650SC and I can not for the life of me figure out how to replace the taillight. I can't see any screw holes or anything. I took off the seat to see if there was any access from the back side, but found nothing. Any help would be much appreciated. Like I said, I fell like an idiot for asking a question like this, but thanks for your assistance.

--Jon


Answer
According to P. 198 of Clymer shop manual #M345 (CB550 & 650 Nighthawk 1983-1985):

1. Remove both side covers and the seat as described in Chapter Eleven.
2. Reach into the rear cavity of the rear fender (Figure 32). Push in on the bulb socket assembly and turn clockwise until the socket assembly disengages from the assembly.
3. Remove the bulb from the socket assembly.
4. Replace the bulb and install the socket assembly. Install the seat and side covers.

If you don't have a shop manual you should get one - your bike is an antique and you will have a hard time finding a shop that will work on it. The sad fact is that a lot of the mechanics working now are too young to remember bikes this old and aren't interested in learning about them so that they can do a proper job since yours may be the only one they see this year. This means that you will have to do most of your own work, and working on a bike without a good shop manual is just not worth the headaches. (My bikes are from the same era - that's why I fix them myself.)

I recommend that you get two manuals - a Factory Shop Manual and a Haynes or Clymer. That way when you don't understand the explanation in one you will probably figure it out when you have read the other too. If you spend some time on Google you might even find a factory manual available for free download.