Motorcycle Repair: Electric start, honda cb 500, honda cb 500 four

Question
The little button off my 1973 Honda Cb 500 four electric start is missing. I would like to relpace it because currently I can only kick start it. Where can I buy this button or the whole assembly? I tried EBay but no success.
Is there a company who sells vintage CB parts.

Answer
Joseph, the handlebar switches aren't broken down to parts that small from Honda dealerships.

http://sohc4.us/node/178 for a wiring diagram in PDF. The starter button on the early models just grounds the primary windings of the starter solenoid via the yellow with red striped wire. You can probably start the bike with a small tipped screwdriver, right now, by pushing it into the hole to touch the center switch contact and grounding the shaft against the starter switch housing.

Try any old M/C salvage yard for a similar switch from that era. The pre-75 switches for the 350-500-750s were all about the same and the buttons should all be the same size, if you can find an old switch that they will sell cheaply. You will need the return spring, along with the switch button to make it all work properly.

All this assumes that the wiring is all okay and functioning in your bike. If the missing button is the only problem then you should be able to repair it all pretty cheaply. You will have to disconnect the throttle cables, in order to release the switch from the switch housing in some cases. You need small hands/tools and some patience to get the little parts back into the switch housing. You will have to loosen/remove the small phillips head screw that holds the retainer down for the switch contact plate, then insert the button and spring. If the spring is tapered put the large end in next to the contact plate side. Drop the contact plate down into the little slotted area and wiggle the spring over the contact so it surrounds the contact but doesn't touch it. The metal tip on the end of the button will touch the central contact when depressed, grounding through the spring to the switch housing, which energizes the starter solenoid circuit when the ignition switch is ON.

There are various companies that sell some vintage Honda parts, like www.ohiocycle.com and www.olypen.com/retro in Washington.

Just found this now on Ebay...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Handle-switch-NEW-Honda-CB175-350-450-750_W0QQite...
It may go for big dollars, as it is a CB750K0 series switch that restorers really want.


Bill Silver