Author Topic: cb500 stalling and starting issue  (Read 1475 times)

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Offline vonvendetta

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cb500 stalling and starting issue
« on: November 19, 2014, 01:26:48 PM »
Video below showing that it will not stay running. I am about a day away from riding it and I have this happen. In the past when putting the bike together it would idle great but now I am having issues with it staying running.
Think this is just a simple carb clean?


I have a shorai battery but use this monster when testing.

Offline vonvendetta

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2014, 01:59:25 PM »
Cylinder 3 is cold but getting spark. Fuel?

Offline Hot500

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2014, 02:11:30 PM »
Are you using any choke? Is the bike cold? The motor spins up very fast, like there is a lack of compression. Checked the valves lately?
CB500
SL350
KTM 990 Superduke
DR650 (sold)
DR250S (oldie but a goodie)

Offline vonvendetta

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2014, 02:17:26 PM »
It is cold yes and I was not using the choke. I have not checked the valves.

Offline Hot500

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2014, 02:34:37 PM »
The carburettors on these old bikes are a pretty simple affair. They dont like to idle when cold. Use the choke. Turn up the idle screw and let the motor warm up. If you can get it that far you then need to syncronise the carbs so that they are all operating the same.

If no. 3 pot is cold then there is no combustion taking place. Probably a stuck float. Give the float bowl a tap with something to loosen it up.
CB500
SL350
KTM 990 Superduke
DR650 (sold)
DR250S (oldie but a goodie)

Offline dave500

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2014, 01:47:44 AM »
your not making the correct facial grimaces?how much fuel is in the tank?

Offline bjbuchanan

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2014, 08:02:54 PM »
The carburettors on these old bikes are a pretty simple affair. They dont like to idle when cold. Use the choke. Turn up the idle screw and let the motor warm up. If you can get it that far you then need to syncronise the carbs so that they are all operating the same.

If no. 3 pot is cold then there is no combustion taking place. Probably a stuck float. Give the float bowl a tap with something to loosen it up.

Disagree, don't touch the idle screw, leave it where it is and manually warm it up. If a cold motor, choke it to start and remove the choke pretty much after startup. Much more than that and you are just fouling plugs unnecessarily. Try it, you might like it.

I agree with the float tap, its probably hung up. If it sticks, is cold, pisses sometimes, sticks again other times make sure you have no gasket interfering with the float. IDK if that model uses the o-ring type, I'm used to 750's and 400's
The dirty girl-1976 cb750k, Ebay 836, Tracy bodykit
Round top carbs w/ 38 pilots, middle needle position, airscrew 7/8ths out, 122 main jet
Stock airbox w/ drop in K&N, Hooker 4-1

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Offline Stev-o

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2014, 08:43:34 PM »
The carburettors on these old bikes are a pretty simple affair. They dont like to idle when cold. Use the choke. Turn up the idle screw and let the motor warm up. If you can get it that far you then need to syncronise the carbs so that they are all operating the same.

If no. 3 pot is cold then there is no combustion taking place. Probably a stuck float. Give the float bowl a tap with something to loosen it up.

Disagree, don't touch the idle screw, leave it where it is and manually warm it up.

+1...don't play the idle adj game.  Take 2 min to warm it up and then your off. 

Have you done the full 3000 mile tune up?
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline dave500

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2014, 12:28:58 AM »
ive never tried but I doubt mine will start without choke in summer without a long crank and fart around?ill try it tomorrow just for the experience.
« Last Edit: November 21, 2014, 12:35:28 AM by dave500 »

Offline vonvendetta

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #9 on: November 21, 2014, 08:08:18 PM »
I'm about to do the 3k tune again. It sat for about three months not running so I'll do a quick clean to carbs as well.

Offline dave500

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2014, 08:26:20 PM »
id go over your ignition fully first?i feel carbs get removed over and again for no reason?if they've been cleaned and good to go that's all they need? unless you get gas from a a third world toilet?

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2014, 11:14:39 AM »
id go over your ignition fully first?i feel carbs get removed over and again for no reason?if they've been cleaned and good to go that's all they need? unless you get gas from a a third world toilet?
that's a good and accurate description of U.S. 10% ethanol gas, Dave.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline vonvendetta

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Re: cb500 stalling and starting issue
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2014, 07:05:15 PM »
Turns out one of the float springs was not springy enough. Replaced it with a spare, adjusted the float and changed a loose wire. Boom!

Now to get the signals and lights on to get it on the road this week.