Thingy that sits under my coils

harleybane

New Member
Been trying to find what this is and I'm hoping someone would help me out. What is it and what should it be plugged in to? Its not on a single wiring diagram for my bike so having some trouble with it... thanks in advance

20200104_224843.jpg
 
Measure its resistance and I'd say it will be between 1 and 3 Ohms. In which case it is the ballast resistor. Should be in series with power to the coils when key in Run and the Start button not pressed on may Hondas. Purpose is to reduce coil current (thus heat) when running by reducing the voltage to the coils.
 
Measure its resistance and I'd say it will be between 1 and 3 Ohms. In which case it is the ballast resistor. Should be in series with power to the coils when key in Run and the Start button not pressed on may Hondas. Purpose is to reduce coil current (thus heat) when running by reducing the voltage to the coils.

Thanks for reply, Ohm was at 1.1.. BUT last season I had a headlight issue which the main beam didn't work, the left of these cables were loose and a friend added it back on which makes me think it has to do with the light or is it in series with ignition? Just weird a thing like this isn't in the wiring diagram.

Edit: i do have a black box marked transistor and some other tex which isnt readable anymore on the side of the coils, thinking if that might be the ballast?
 
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ok so after a couple of hours of trying to test stuff since im making a new harness...
Fuse goes into this thingy>cable goes out to mainlight switch.
was that simple.. bit stupid i feel but hey i figured it out myself /flex
 
Weird. I didn't know the KZ400 used a ballast resistor. That's usually a feature on larger displacement bikes like the XS1100, Goldwings, etc.
 
I doubt that it's a ballast resistor. They are usually ceramic to insulate the heat that they generate.

And why would anyone wire it between the fuse and the headlamp?

It looks like it might say Radio ShacK on the component.

The headlamp switch should get power from a fuse in the fuse tray via a single connector.


I would take it off and throw it in a corner and connect the headlamp (dimmer/dip switch straight the fuse box like it;s supposed to be - without that think in the middle.
 
I doubt that it's a ballast resistor. They are usually ceramic to insulate the heat that they generate.

And why would anyone wire it between the fuse and the headlamp?

It looks like it might say Radio ShacK on the component.

The headlamp switch should get power from a fuse in the fuse tray via a single connector.

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I would take it off and throw it in a corner and connect the headlamp (dimmer/dip switch straight the fuse box like it;s supposed to be - without that think in the middle.

I've seen ballast resistors used to simulate a high and a low beam, before. Not recommended, however.
 
Without pulling it out of that steel jacket to see what it really is, it's hard to tell. None of the wiring diagrams I looked at had anything remotely similar but I didn't look at an FSM to see if it's in there.

OP said it's in line between teh headlamp switch and fuse, so it applies to high and low beams. Maybe a PO thought the headlight was too bright. I'd throw it in a corner and see how the lights work without it. maybe a KZ440 owner has seen one before, but sure looks like radio Shack part.
 
Could it be for a passing light?
this seems likely. i tried going around this thing and i couldnt use passing light. High was far stronger than before though. so im guessing without this you wont notice a difference in the light beacuse its already at max capacity and thus cant shine brighter, so its been used so you can use pass. Question is however, is there any law on having passing light?

Edit: it appears i cant start the engine without having this thing plugged in either haha.
solenoid just keeps buzzing when i try without it.. WTH is this thing...
 
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