Electric trouble

[dgreen]

I have a 1975 CB550 that I am trying to put back together and I'm a moron and put the battery in backwards. Some wires near the starter solenoid started smoking and now the bike doesn't have any power going to the head light or turn signals. My rear lights are all disconnected is it possible that is the problem or did the reverse battery trick ruin everything?

 

[Big R]

Ouch. I know switching polarity on the system can screw stuff up, but don't know to what extent. Any chance it's just a blown fuse? I'd say either try to put the battery in the right way and find out the extent of the damage or start checking continuity between components.

Kinda unsure about just hooking up the battery though....

 

[DrJ]

Check your bulbs for blown filaments.

 

[bobjohnson]

Yeah the main fuse should have stopped this from causing any real damage, but, if wires started smoking, whatever was on fire needs to be replaced... Start pulling the wires out and see what they look like... If it was smoldering youll be able to see the damage.

 

[mixmaster]

Gotta start somewhere. Put the batt in correctely. Check fuses and ground wires. The bubs will not blow just because you hooked it up bassackwards. But the regulator and other delicate electronics may have got fried.Good luck

 

[crazypj]

Regulator should be OK as its mechanical (if stock?)
You can pull cover and see if points are welded
Rectifier realy doesn't like being connected backwards and will probably be burned out.
If it is, when you connect battery correctly it will feed into alternator and burn out field windings.
If alternator is magnetic with ignition off you have bad rectifier.
Use a 0.003" feeler gauge, just move it close to alternator cover, it will bend if its magnetised (turn ignition on and check it moves if first part of test is OK)

PJ