Honda CB Bad Ignition Condenser Test

Here is a quick test to see if there is a bad condenser is on your vintage Honda CB or CL Scrambler. Run your bike with the points cover off in a dark environment and watch the points open and close. See how the left ignition point is sparking excessively but the right one is not. The left side condenser is bad. If you do see a very small spark every 2 to 3 seconds that is OK, but this large bright spark every time the points open indicates that the condenser is faulty.

This video was taken on a CB550, however the same will apply for any of the vintage Honda's. The CB350, CB360 and CB450 family of bikes use a condenser that is a single unit but is actually two condensers on a common bracket. If one side is bad then the whole unit will have to be changed. On CB550 and CB750 models there is a condenser for each side.

Honda CB350 / CB360 / CB450 Condenser:https://www.common-motor.com/honda-ignition-condenser

Honda CB550 / CB750 Condenser: https://www.common-motor.com/honda-ignition-condenser-cb550