Topic: New 73' cb500 Owner From Los Angeles, CA

[jDamian13]

 I've been following this site for a while now and a buddy of mine and I have decided to get into old sohc-4 bikes.
He purchased a 74' 360 and I got myself a 73' 500. The bikes are in great condition but i would like to have someone with more knowledge about these great motors take a look at it. I personally think it needs the carbs synched, a valve adjustment and have the ignition timing done, who knows? maybe not, but I'm skeptical on riding my bike without getting this checked since its been a long time since any work was done to this bike. Any person living in or near the Los Angeles/Pasadena area with expert knowledge and a willing to help a fellow rider, please PM me 

[westondc]

I personally think it needs the carbs synced, a valve adjustment and have the ignition timing done, who knows? maybe not, but I'm skeptical on riding my bike without getting this checked since its been a long time since any work was done to this bike. Any person living in or near the Los Angeles/Pasadena area with expert knowledge and a willing to help a fellow rider, please PM me  

First off welcome to the forum, this is a great place to find all the information you need to get your bike on the road. Personally i think your going to be better off in the long run if you take the time to do the motorcycle maintenance yourself. I didn't know a think about working about bikes a couple years ago. Bought myself a very-nonrunning 73 CB350 and spent a summer tinkering with it. learned alot and a year later i bought a non-running 72 CB500. a carb sync and full tuneup by a pro could run you $200+ and you'll need it done every year or so... or you could get a $40 carb sync gauge, some tools, free downloaded shop manual and some help from the guys on the forum. good luck with the bike and looking forward to seeing you around the forum. if your interested here's a link to my CB500 project, its been lots of fun and keeps me occupied during the winter http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=64499.0. by the way, any pics?

edit: i may have read your post wrong, are you looking for someone else to do the tune-up work or are you planning on working on it yourself?

[jDamian13]

Thanks westondc,  I do plan on doing the maintenance myself, I do have a clymer manual and a "shop manual" and I've been doing a lot of reading and research. I just want to get an opinion from a knowledgeable person about my bike, and start from there. I'm also skeptical working on the engine because this would be my first time working on one. I'm eager to learn but It would be awesome to have someone walk some steps with me and show me fist hand some pointers than looking at a manual and dissecting the engine by myself.
 

[westondc]

sometimes just digging into a bike project and asking questions as you go is the best way. depending on how long your bikes been sitting you might want to start with a carb cleaning. carb synch, a valve adjustment and ignition timing are pointless if your carbs are dirty. its a project in itself just getting the carbs off. just follow the shop manual. once the carbs are cleaned and put back on things like synching and adjustment seem like a sinch.

[CALI500]

where are you at with the bike??  Hit me up if you want me to cruz over for an extra pair of eyes...plus extra hands to hold your extra beers..=)