Topic: Sometimes, they find you. 1971 CB500

[Stev-o]

... then passed it to my beautiful wife for the final touch up.

Does the Buffalo Trace calm the nerves for that precise painting?!

[Scott S]

 Damn sure does.

[Scott S]

 When I got this bike, I noticed that it had some oil around the head gasket. Since Fall is here and it's getting "not sweat your balls off hot" in the garage, I decided it's time to address that.

 So, time for some top end work.

[Scott S]

 You can see where it's been leaking a bit. This is after a thorough degreasing.

[Scott S]

  This bike has been sitting since the early '90's, at least. I knew the engine was free, but I was concerned about the cylinder walls. You know how they can rust when left sitting in one position.

Luckily, they all look great. The pics won't pick it up, but I can still see some cross hatching on the cylinder walls.

[Scott S]

 I'll get all the carbon off the top of the pistons before putting it back together.
 I will never understand how stuff like this gets INSIDE the cylinder when it was stored with the exhaust, carbs and full intake system intact!

[Scott S]

  The head will get rebuilt too: de-carboned, valves lapped, and new valve stem seals.
  The cam looks good, and I have a late model valve cover with the pinned rockers that will go back on.

[grcamna2]

I'll get all the carbon off the top of the pistons before putting it back together.
 I will never understand how stuff like this gets INSIDE the cylinder when it was stored with the exhaust, carbs and full intake system intact!

You're doing good by cleaning-out the firing zone Scott.
I see those acorn shell bits;must have got past the filter after a Winter of it's previous ownership.
I find mice like building nests inside the airboxes.

[newday777]

I'll get all the carbon off the top of the pistons before putting it back together.
 I will never understand how stuff like this gets INSIDE the cylinder when it was stored with the exhaust, carbs and full intake system intact!

Yup. Mices...... I have a K6 that them thar vertimits went up through the exhaust valve that was open and deposited little nuts or seeds in one cylinder and peed in another and rusted the rings to the walls. They can squeeze in through a 1/4"  hole.

https://www.modernpest.com/blog/how-mice-can-squeeze-into-your-home/

[Scott S]

 Got the pistons all cleaned up. Lapped the valves and installed new valve stem seals.
 There was evidence that this engine was run with the valves way out of adjustment. Some of the worst carbon build up on the valves that I've seen.

[Scott S]

 Got the head back on with minimal fuss. Even though the FSM says to install the cam and gear from the RH side, I didn't have enough slack on the chain against the tensioner. After three or four attempts, came in from the LH side and got it on the first try.

[Scott S]

 Installed an upgraded '77-78 rocker cover. Next up: valve adjustment and clean up the tappet covers and breather cover.

[BenelliSEI]

Nice looking work! Can you explain the purpose of the rubber bands?

[Scott S]

Nice looking work! Can you explain the purpose of the rubber bands?

 To keep the adjuster end of the rocker arms from getting into a bind on the end of the valve stems. Without them, you could possibly tighten down the valve cover with the adjuster off centered and pinched down on the retainer or side of the valve stem.

[BenelliSEI]

Nice looking work! Can you explain the purpose of the rubber bands?

 To keep the adjuster end of the rocker arms from getting into a bind on the end of the valve stems. Without them, you could possibly tighten down the valve cover with the adjuster off centered and pinched down on the retainer or side of the valve stem.

Clever!

[Stev-o]

Great job Scott!    I can relate to how nice it is working in the garage and not sweating bullets.

[HondaMan]

Great job Scott!    I can relate to how nice it is working in the garage and not sweating bullets.

Roger that! I worked out there until midnight the last 2 nights because it's so nice now...

Sorry to be late to this party!
Scott: did you use thicker O-rings in those head gasket oil port holes at the outer ends of the head gasket?
If not, chances are good that they will weep. I have installed them after the fact on already-run (not much, though) 550 engines by pulling the head (about 1") and swapping them, then retorqued the same head gasket at 15 in-lbs higher than normal.

[Scott S]

 I just used the O-rings that came with the gasket kit. I did use some copper spray on gasket stuff. I torqued the head and let it sit overnight, then came back and retorqued it. If had good luck with that in the past.

[Scott S]

 Progress on this one has been non-existent. I bought a new battery so I could adjust the points and fire it up....and that's as far as I got.
 The engine turns over with the starter. Hi/Lo beam work and the idiot light works. Horn works. Brake/tail lights work.
I *THOUGHT* that the oil and neutral idiot lights didn't work and planned on pulling the sprocket cover to check. But... then I was cycling the key switch last night when it was dim in the garage and saw them flash, but only when I'm in between detents on the key switch.
  What would cause the oil and neutral idiot lights to flash when I'm in between detents on the key switch but not stay illuminated when the key is in the RUN position? They also flash briefly when going from RUN to the PARK position on the switch.
 (My turn signals are also non functional at this point but I haven't started troubleshooting them yet.)

 And here's a pic, just because.



 

[newday777]

Dirty contacts in the switch.
Spray electrical contact cleaner in the switch and cycle the switch multipletimes,  spray againand repeatswitch cycling(disconnect the battery 1st)

[Scott S]

Dirty contacts in the switch.
Spray electrical contact cleaner in the switch and cycle the switch multipletimes,  spray againand repeatswitch cycling(disconnect the battery 1st)

 The key switch? I can just unplug it from the harness.

 What do you guys think of Deoxit D5?  I bought some to use on the vintage Hi-Fi stuff. It's a contact cleaner but it supposedly leaves a thin film of some type of oil when it evaporates. Traditional contact cleaner leaves a really bare surface.

https://reverb.com/p/caig-deoxit-d-series-contact-cleaner-5oz?hfid=46432960&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=17693785417&utm_content=campaignid=17693785417_adgroupid=144335397531_productpartitionid=1719139466335=merchantid=240017526_productid=46432960_keyword=_device=c_adposition=_matchtype=_creative=609240158140&gclid=CjwKCAiAlp2fBhBPEiwA2Q10D2aJilXQSEs7kafnWa5AF0EElj1SY1eb20r4TAf99isQg4TPHTJxPBoCQDQQAvD_BwE

[newday777]

You can try it. I haven't used it though have seen it mentioned by others. I just use plain ecc.

[grcamna2]

Dirty contacts in the switch.
Spray electrical contact cleaner in the switch and cycle the switch multipletimes,  spray againand repeatswitch cycling(disconnect the battery 1st)

 The key switch? I can just unplug it from the harness.

 What do you guys think of Deoxit D5?  I bought some to use on the vintage Hi-Fi stuff. It's a contact cleaner but it supposedly leaves a thin film of some type of oil when it evaporates. Traditional contact cleaner leaves a really bare surface.

https://reverb.com/p/caig-deoxit-d-series-contact-cleaner-5oz?hfid=46432960&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=17693785417&utm_content=campaignid=17693785417_adgroupid=144335397531_productpartitionid=1719139466335=merchantid=240017526_productid=46432960_keyword=_device=c_adposition=_matchtype=_creative=609240158140&gclid=CjwKCAiAlp2fBhBPEiwA2Q10D2aJilXQSEs7kafnWa5AF0EElj1SY1eb20r4TAf99isQg4TPHTJxPBoCQDQQAvD_BwE

Scott,I've been using it for years;it does what's advertised.
I turn-down the adjustable spray nozzle to way below the minimum because it sprays Way too powerfully;disappears.

[Scott S]

 Cleaned the key switch the best I know how and still getting the same results; N and Oil dummy lights only work between the detents.
 I did test the turn signals and now they're working!

 Any other suggestions on getting the Oil and Neutral lights to work when they're supposed to?

 Man, I really ought to adjust the points and try firing this thing up. Maybe in a few weeks when warmer weather gets here.

[newday777]

Have you tested the oil pressure and neutral switches?