Topic: Honda CB500 Four K1 weird clutch+engine turning problem

[nuwonder]

Hi!

I'm putting together a 1972 K1 motor and am about to finish the top end now, just putting camshaft in when I noticed weird problem: I can't turn crankshaft counter-clockwise at all. Well, maybe an inch but then it sticks. I tried to look inside is there something wrong (I don' have the oil pan on so I still have some access to insides) but everything looked normal. For the heck of it, I pulled the clutch off and then it started to turn normally counterclockwise too (as it wasn't engaging the primary shaft). I put the clutch assembly back to check if the problem would indeed be the primary shaft, but it still turned counter-clocwise normally. Then I put the clutch springs back and started tightening those and bam, couldn't turn the crankshaft counter-clockwise anymore. If I loosen the clutch springs, it turns again. I can turn the crankshaft clockwise all the time no problem.

What the heck?

-Sami

[754]

Check the partslist to see if you are missing A shim or washer...

[nuwonder]

Hmm now that I look the partslist, I think I've put the ball bearing inside the clutch assembly, in between the lifter rod and this piece: https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb500k1-four-general-export_model14659/peace-clutch_22838323000/#whereused

I guess the ball bearing is supposed to be in the lifter mechanism side

Never should work on the bike when tired...

[nuwonder]

Damn, that would've been too easy.

Didn't have anything extra in between the rod and clutch, everything was like it was supposed. Still, engine hangs and won't turn backwards when clutch assembly is on and clutch springs are even a tad tight. If they're loose, engine turns backwards, but if I tight them even a thread or two, no more backwards turning.

This is driving me crazy, I don't understand what could make this happen. Should the engine turn backwards at all? I think it should?

All the spacers and shims should be in, no snap rings forgotten, I can see them all through the  bottom of the engine. Nothing special happens inside when I start tightening those clutch springs. Nothing moves or anything. If I turn engine backward then, the primary shaft locks and primary chain hangs a bit loose. It's clearly the clutch what is doing this but can't understand how!

I dissassembled the clutch, checked I had all the plates right way and re-oiled them. Is there any special in clutch plate order? I have seven friction plates and six steel plates, I'm starting from the inside with friction plate and ending with friction plate before the pressure plate.

I'm hesitating putting the engine fully together before I get this solved 

[Bodi]

electric start motor being forced to turn when running backwards?

[nuwonder]

electric start motor being forced to turn when running backwards?

Yeah it turns too when turning engine backwards, but I removed the electric start motor and the problem still persists.

[nuwonder]

Problem solved!

The issue was kickstart assembly. I had put the kickstart ratchet off 180 degrees. Flipped that around and voilá. The kickstart assembly was a bit of a challenge to put back together through engine bottom but after a lot of swearing I got it

Found help from this thread: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,142568.0.html

This forum rocks! Saved me many times. Thanks for the help guys