If we were to make you a list of electrical tools needed for your vintage Honda motorcycle, the test light would be at the top. Not only is it an essential tool to set the ignition timing, it can also be used for a myriad of other electrical troubleshooting tasks. A test light used in conjunction with a good battery can diagnose any problem within the entire electrical system.
Best Jobs for a Test Light
- Ignition Timing
- Diagnosing faulty circuits
- Testing Individual electrical components on the motorcycle (etc. brake light switches and sockets)
- Testing for a proper 12v+ connection throughout the harness
- Testing for a proper connection to ground throughout the harness
In its simplest form, the test light is a movable, quick connecting complete electrical circuit. When connecting the alligator clip to ground (aka the negative side of the battery and / or the frame, engine, etc), electrical current travels through the wire to the light bulb in the test light (the load), out the probe, and back to the positive terminal of the battery when diagnosing a typical DC circuit. Keep in mind that in a DC electrical system, the electrical current travels from the negative terminal of the battery (starting line) to the positive terminal (finish line).
It is important to note that the battery and many other electrical parts on a motorcycle have both negative and positive side connections in the electrical system; the test light however, does not. Thus, the test light can be connected in reverse and used for diagnostics from positive to negative in a circuit.
Link to buy:
To learn how to use a test light in action on your vintage Honda motorcycle, check out our motorcycle-specific ignition timing videos and our electrical troubleshooting series linked below:
Electrical Troubleshooting 101
- Understanding the positive circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Understanding the ground circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Taillight circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Horn circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Neutral light circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Ignition circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Turn Signal circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Early Pre-Safety Switch electric starter circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Late Safety Switch electric starter circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Early style headlight & gauge light circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
- Late style headlight & gauge light circuit: Electrical Troubleshooting 101 - coming soon
How To Set Ignition Timing
- How do I set the ignition timing on my CB175 / CL175 / SL175 / CB200 / CL200
- How to set the ignition timing on the Honda CB350 / CL350 / SL350
- How do I set the ignition timing on my CB360 / CL360 / CJ360
- How do I set the ignition timing on my CB450 / CL450 / CB500T
- How to set the ignition timing on the Honda CB500K / CB550
- Setting Ignition Timing on the Shockwave Electronic Ignition System
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