CB400F TAIL LIGHT

[palerider]

HEY all trying to sort out the tail light on my 76 cb400f. brake light works, taillight works when ignition is in the park position, I am assuming the tail light should be on when the bike is running? thanks

 

[JustinLonghorn]

The CB400F has an on/off switch on the handlebar for the Headlight/Tail light. It sounds like a silly question, but do you have that switch on?

 

[palerider]

no on/off on my bike. just a high/low beam switch

 

[SONICJK]

Same on mine no on/off.

Taillight should be always on

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Weird, my 75 400F has an on/off headlight/taillight switch.

 

[palerider]

thanks Ill check the wiring diagram

 

[Kanticoy]

Re: Re: CB400F TAIL LIGHT

Weird, my 75 400F has an on/off headlight/taillight switch.

'twas a 75 only thing...and then only some of 'em. My 75 does but my 76 doesn't.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[SONICJK]

Yeah mines a 75 but no on off switch

 

[carnivorous chicken]

I think very few had on/off switches -- none of mine have had them.

But to get to the point -- the tail light should be on when the headlight is on, switch or no switch. If it's not, might be a connection, might just be that filament in the bulb (which would allow the brake light to work).

 

[palerider]

I am going to check out the ignition switch wiring, I do have tail light in the park position so I know the bulb is good.

 

[palerider]

brown wire from ignition has power when ignition is switched to the park position, I read in another tread that power for the tail light comes from inside the headlight bucket when ignition is switched to on, will check it out tomorrow.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

FYI, all motorcycles in the US had to have the Headlights on when the engine was running...Federal DOT requirements. All Honda's lost the headlight on/off switch for all 1976 model years and beyond.

 

[jwarriner]

Tail light should always be on. It's switched off the ignition with the brown wire as others have suggested. Whenever I encounter an old Honda with wiring problems, I know I'm on the right track when the tail light comes on. So if it's not on, you got issues very early in your electrical system, possibly the ignition switch itself.

 

[palerider]

yes brown wire at ignition has power when switched to the park position and tail light does come on, but no power when switched to the on position. there is a second brown wire at ignition but test light shows no power at either position. I suspect the ignition switch is faulty.