Topic: '73 CB500Four Fresh Off the Truck

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I got my new-to-me 73 CB500Four home yesterday after a journey of about 428 miles...a couple of pics before I cleaned her up -
DSCN2681 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr
DSCN2680 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr
DSCN2682 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

The PO said he rode it into the shelter it was stored in in 2015 and hasn't moved it since because he developed a serious back issue. It looks like a good start - it has a key, the engine turns over with the kick starter, the tires hold air when I inflated them to make it easier to put it in neutral and get out of the rut it was in, enough to get it to roll and up on the truck by myself, which was Fun...

Right off the bat I want to get rid of those ape hangers and the Harley Davidson sissy bar and get a proper set of handlebars and a grab rail back on it - if anybody has either one and want to trade for a vintage set of ape hangers and an HD backrest, please let me know.

"But Wait, There's More"   So I take it outside today to clean her up, degrease her and do an assessment. The bike is in Neutral; I roll it backwards down the driveway a bit so I can use the degreaser on her, I wash her up, take some steel wool to what brightwork is there and just generally see what's what. I take her down off the center stand, push her back up to about six feet in front of the garage door and set her back on the center stand. Do a bit more cleaning here and there, yada yada yada, go to take her OFF the center stand and find out she's in gear! Okay, no problem - I pull in the clutch - and the cable pulls out of the adjuster! The rusty cable popped the little lead retainer off and There Ya Have it! I went through all the gears trying to find neutral but she just did NOT want to budge (Thank God that didn't happen at the PO's house, four hours away)!

Having some experience with horses in my past, I finally wound up pulling the bike into the garage by her ape hangers, where she now sits awaiting a new clutch cable. Is there any way to find neutral again? I've tried pulling on the exposed cable with some pliers, but No Joy...

SO...! TWO questions - does anybody want to trade me/sell me/send me a regular set of handlebars and a grab rail they don't want or need, and TWO: is this an example of the 'false neutrals' I have read this bike is prone to??  The overall plan is to tear her down completely anyway, but I've never had a clutch cable come apart like that; very weird.     

[BenelliSEI]

Put it upon the centre stand and rock the rear wheel back and forth as you operate the gear selector.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

A-HA...! A moment of clarity: it wasn't stuck in gear...the front brake is frozen! I must have grabbed it somehow, reflexively possibly...and it clamped onto the disc. At least I have a starting point! 

[M 750K6]

That bike is fighting you from all ends! Got to ask why we do this to ourselves .

Good luck, you'll get there, no doubt.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Well - it's like my wife says - admitting I have a problem is the first step...I mean, how many is Too many...? I only have ten...

[HondaMan]

Ten!?
Piker...
It actually sounds pretty normal for having been dead-still all those years. The brake rebuild will probably be harder than the engine overhaul! The clutch plates may be stuck together if there was moisture in the oil - that sort of makes a rusty paste on the steel plates that pulls the cork of the other plates.

Clean and grease that clutch lifter right off the bat: if they have crud in them (like rust) and you start using it (on a live engine) it can quickly damage the lifter ramp (screw body) inside that lifter. Clean 'er up and regrease: I usually tap in a normal USA-style grease zerk on the cover so you can actually put some grease into the lifter, as the old JIS one, once plugged, will just push the grease gun off the nipple when trying.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Yes, ten...I'm coming to the realization I may have to thin the herd so I can move around in there - (Hmmmm...or maybe get a Bigger Garage ). My friends tell me the same thing, but as I ask them, "Which one of your kids would you sell first...?"

Re: the clutch lifter, I'm wondering if - after I clean the lifter and put it back together - those ape hangers won't allow me to re-mount the clutch cable because of their length...that's why I want to get a regular set of bars, so I can use a regular-size clutch cable... (plus, I'm just not an 'ape hanger' kind of guy). Speaking of which, who sells a (affordable) regular-sized set of bars for the CB500, or what measurements should I look for?

[calj737]

David Silver Spares or CMSNL are two very popular sites for genuine product. But they are both in Europe. Many prefer to use Norman Hyde “M” bars as a stock replacement. They’re a bit lower and slimmer. If you’re after fully authentic, it’s off to Europe I’m afraid.

You’ll need new throttle cables, brake lines and a clutch cable when you swap out the apes. Worth every penny in my book.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

"You’ll need new throttle cables, brake lines and a clutch cable when you swap out the apes."  Oh, yeah, this I know; luckily those are all pretty cheap. As far as the bars go, they don't have to 'authentic', just something more in line with the regular appearance of the CB500. I've noticed that 'authentic' tends to tack on an extra zero at the end of the price.

[calj737]

Then grab a set of Norman Hyde bars. You'll like everything about them.

[CycleRanger]

It Came From The Seventies! 

..with all the typical modifications. 

Nice score!

[newday777]

"You’ll need new throttle cables, brake lines and a clutch cable when you swap out the apes."  Oh, yeah, this I know; luckily those are all pretty cheap. As far as the bars go, they don't have to 'authentic', just something more in line with the regular appearance of the CB500. I've noticed that 'authentic' tends to tack on an extra zero at the end of the price.

Congrats on getting it home.

David Silver has a USA warehouse in Pennsylvania to buy from.

https://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB500K2-FOUR-1973-USA/

[MauiK3]

Nice one!!
Ahh, the old ape hangers, I never understood or understand them. I see them here on V-twins all the time. Looks uncomfortable and I imagine it negatively affects handling, especially in high wind.

[Stev-o]

No need to order expensive handlebars from Europe!   Get 'em here, superbars are great, a little lower than stock though.   

https://4into1.com/handlebars/

When it comes to cables, get genuine Honda, but not available for your bike.  Determine the part number and use it to shop for proper part...

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/models-with-no-year/cb500k2-a/left-handle-switch-cable

22870-323-020

Maybe get a package deal...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176200536118?itmmeta=01HQNK14625788Q9G9ANCA25K2&hash=item29065ed036:g:2WEAAOSw5QRlrwm2&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwFYw60K5ApgB2xqxYVtb1qEF7Wt0NmPa1ftzewy1yAAj0M8piukeVlkoqkAKkVW42TlixD2Udt34lCQvvLt9OXpXTz%2FpwC8dKhVNjUPRRA9gV3Umynwcvd3GiTqaBWRESlmQOaSQHoTlosZSz6Snv6LoI9LPbJ%2FnaFKk8JFAw0rXySB03UM6YmlUD510%2BMD7elfuO7aPDNa5yz%2BEunBuKKkCIrLWzIgGOJU2VUef3uq1mTdjyBk61otAfCAB2xkq0Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5DDhLO9Yw

[drodg33]

Oh man that looks like some work.  I too have never understood ape hangers.  I watched a guy in southern Indiana yesterday coming down the interstate on a new Harley with them and it just doesn't look appealing.  Anyhow good luck with the 500!   

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Hey, Steve-O thanks for the link! I just ordered that package deal - that's a nice price for those!  Which handlebars from 4into1 would you suggest? The 500 and 550 are essentially the same bike except for the engine size, right?

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Drodg33, that's what the PO said, that he had a Harley before and switched 'em out along with the sissy bar. I asked if he had the originals, but no, unfortunately.

[BenelliSEI]

Hey, Steve-O thanks for the link! I just ordered that package deal - that's a nice price for those!  Which handlebars from 4into1 would you suggest? The 500 and 550 are essentially the same bike except for the engine size, right?

Make sure they are pre drilled for your switches if the wires run through the bars. Vintagecb750.com sells them too.

[Stev-o]

Which handlebars from 4into1 would you suggest? The 500 and 550 are essentially the same bike except for the engine size, right?

Yes, they are basically the same bike but the 550 also had a Supersport model [that is what I currently have]

The Superbike bars are a good deal at 20 bucks but they are lower than stock [stock cables will work]

https://4into1.com/chrome-superbike-handlebars-7-8/

The 550F bars will work too, 35 bucks...

https://4into1.com/chrome-handlebars-53100-390-000-honda-cb550f-super-sport-1975-1976/

[grcamna2]

I see the PO had a 16" drop-center chrome rim laced to the rear hub w/ that MT90?x16" fat tire;that's the custom look from back then,and goes along with your other mods.

Member here 'Gurp' may purchase it and your other custom parts;he's into building vintage choppers.

[Stev-o]

I see the PO had a 16" drop-center chrome rim laced to the rear hub w/ that MT90?x16" fat tire;that's the custom look from back then,and goes along with your other mods.

Put that on the list to change back to an 18" wheel!   

BTW - be very careful when removing the plastic side covers, I'm sure they have become very brittle and can crack if not gentle.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

grcamna2 - I thought that rear wheel looked funky! Pass this info on to Gurp, I'll trade him the handlebars, sissy bar and wheel if he's got a 500 wheel, handlebars and grab rail. Or anybody else for that matter. I was probably just going to put them up on FB. The chrome on the wheel is a bit rusty though, but it's not eaten through or anything, just surface.

[bryanj]

Be carefull with rear wheel, during the life of the 500/550 there were 2 different assemblies where the brake plates do not transfer even though the shoes are the same.
If you get the complete wheel WITH axle spacers you can guarantee it will fit, otherwise its suck it and see

[Gurp]

Be carefull with rear wheel, during the life of the 500/550 there were 2 different assemblies where the brake plates do not transfer even though the shoes are the same.
If you get the complete wheel WITH axle spacers you can guarantee it will fit, otherwise its suck it and see

Learned this the hard way!!

Frankenstein I probably have some stock bars I'll look in the shop tomorrow or the day after for you. I'll gladly swap you out bars if you'd like. I collect anything Honda schooler I can get my hands on as I am able too.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Hey, Gurp! Sure, let me know what you have!