Topic: Leaded Fuel

[drag0n]

Alright guys I've  got a very specific question for you , After reading everything on this website about the qustion of whether or not to use leaded or unleaded fuel and all the arguments turning from that topic into premium or regular unleaded arguments I still don't know if MY bike should or should not have a lead additive in the mix .
What I do know is this , earlier this week I was running my bike with premium unleaded in it and after an hour or so of riding I lost the 2-3 cylinders  and was running only the 1-4 pair (this is unacceptable)  I naturally assumed I had some form of electrical problem and tore into the tracking down of why this was happening , after checking the output of my coils both at hot and cold(found to be within normal operating parameters) , checking to see if my plugs were fouling out(they werent), checking to see if the engine may have somehow managed to slip out of time (it was good),checking the points gaps(they were dead on ) I finally gave up and put everything back together and went for another ride  guess what it happened again about an hour to an hour and a half into the ride so I got to thinking the only other time I ever saw this problem it was on my grandpas 1953 international farm all tractor and the problem was that after he passed away none of the family realized that the tractor needed Leaded fuel we dropped a little lead additive into the tank and the problem dissappeared , SO, I reasoned that if the tractor engine was having the same problem as the bike engine and the problem was solved by throwing a little lead in the tank that it couldn't hurt to try  so on my way home I stopeed by our barn swiped a little additive off the tractor and put about two tablespoons in a half tank of gas  mixed it up and tried one more time and guess what the problem disappeared  so it prettywell has been decided that I need leaded fuel by trial and error ( IE the bike runs very well with it and crappy without it) 

MY question is this does anyone know for sure whether or not A 1972 cb500 K1 required leaded fuel?  I say it does  but if anybody has  information ,not opinions, that says otherwise i would like to know so i can start tracking down whatever my problem may be

Understand guys that i'm not trying to be a butthole or anything , both this website and the advice that i've been given have proven invaluable over the last couple years I just need to know for sure as I've been working on this bike for the last five years and now at the point where it  is ready to road  I don't want to leave anything  to chance !

For the Love of GOD does anyone know for sure?
Does anyone know if running it with the additive will hurt it if it isn't required?

Peace Out !
Jimmy

PS I dont know if any of noticed it or not but I'M SCARED  STUPID THAT I'M GONNA SCREW THIS BIKE UP  SO CLOSE TO  BEING FINISHED WITH IT!  there i've said it , I'm a coward and Im out of my element!

[Gordon]

All of the sohc4 Hondas were made to run on UNleaded fuel, and that's not an opinion. 

The following is an opinion:
The fact that your mystery problem went away when you introduced the lead additive is a coincidence. 

From what you've stated so far about the problem, my first guess would be a bad condenser on the 2-3 side of the points plate which gives up when it gets hot enough.  Put a good spark plug under your seat, ride the bike until it happens again, pull either the 2 or 3 plug wire and insert the good spark plug, hold it against the engine and see if it's sparking. 

 

[drag0n]

I've done that trick the coils are working great giving a nice hot blue spark. The bike has new points and condensers as of about 200 miles ago (Probably not even that much I forgot to write it down) as I stated I cant find any kind of electrical problems, I have and know how to use an electrical meter as I said the bike was still having the problem after I went through the electrical system again and I tested ALL the electrical connections with the bike running (still on two cylinders) I even checked a dwell reading and it was dead correct  I just cant find any evidence that points toward an electrical problem.  Is there anything I could be missing? hell the bikes even got a NEW spark advance assembly so it isnt that the bike staying in time  I'm just losing fire on the 2-3 cylinders (til I put the lead in it and now the bike run like a scalded dog , I'm getting better throttle response, its far more torquey, and behaves as though its getting better compression ) Damn those Gremlins!

thanks for the input
Jimmy

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

If it were due to the fuel it should happen on all 4. The fact it is 2 & 3 I believe it has something to do with the condenser for 2 & 3 as Gordon mentioned or the coil for 2 & 3 since it seems to be heat related. I might consider the points for 2 & 3 but I don't believe the heat would affect the points like it could affect the condenser and/or coil. Keep in mind that 1 & 4 are paired and 2 & 3 are paired which makes it kinda convenient when diagnosing. Switch your coils around and see what happens. Switch your condensers around and see what happens. Frustrating, huh?! I finally gave in and went Dyna electronics and coils. That also eliminated the bad/marginal old plug wires on all 4 and bad/marginal caps on all 4 and have't had to reset anything in 20 years. Good luck! 

[hymodyne]

I've got a '72 500K1 (Now a 605cc overbore) and have been running unleaded with no issues related to the fuel I use. I had good points but upgraded to dyna Ignition and accel coils and have not noticed any power loss.

"runs like a scalede dog"  can I use that?

hym

[drag0n]

I've got a '72 500K1 (Now a 605cc overbore) and have been running unleaded with no issues related to the fuel I use. I had good points but upgraded to dyna Ignition and accel coils and have not noticed any power loss.

"runs like a scalede dog"  can I use that?

hym

You may in fact use that    but i'm no longer having this problem i think i may have had a bad connector to the 2-3  condenser so thanks to all who pointed me that way i found it about an hour ago (yeah my neighbors hate my guts ) looked connected and was sending power part of the time but i poked it with my finger and it came completely unplugged  hence the problem has been solved and tommorrow nught that entire bundle of connections will be replaced or reworked as needed
thanks to all who helped me out
Jimmy