Topic: hi there, newb here (cb500four)

[citrusvanilla]

whats up all,
   new here, first post, just picked up a 72 cb500four black in socal for the ultimate goal of riding into my parents driveway in ohio and giving my mom a heartattack.  never touched maintenance before and i'm starting the odyssey the proper way, from the ground up.  im not gonna think about leaving the state until i know how this ga'damn thing works.  so first things first, the bike's breaker plate is bent from a drop and the points constantly need readjusting and i haven't attempted to fire her up yet but aside from that the bike i apparently ready to go.  so i will first perform the full tune-up as per the clymer and then trouble shoot from there, but i also need to score some tools since i have a nice empty two car garage.  aside from that, i have to deal with the DMV as the previous owner lost the title from a different state and provided me with a contract (bill of sale) and previous registration information.  since im in cali, can i just waltz into the dmv with the bill of sale and no title?  and secondly, suggestions on locating tools would be awesome.  im excited to start up!

-justin

[Duke McDukiedook]

Welcome, somehow I don't think California will be too generous with just a bill of sale as proper documentation for you to get a title.
Maybe someone else will chime in from CA with some more accurate info.

[gmonkey]

If CA is anything like MA and it's very likely that it is, I think you might have the heart attack dealing with the DMV to title the bike well before your mom does from seeing you ride it up her driveway.

I saw your other post.  Why did you order the bike from so far away?  The 500's were a bit tougher to find than 550's but I didn't think they're that rare.  If you get tired of trying to get a title for your 500, consider buying a titled 550 junk bike or just the frame and swapping everything off the 500 onto it.  Pretty sure the frames are the same so it should just be a matter of taking everything off the 500 frame and putting it onto the titled 550 one.

[Gaither]

citrus

First, I know nothing!

May I suggest you email the Calif DMV [NOT the local DMV] explaining the background of your situation and asking how to proceed in obtaining a title [may not work].

In TN, I had a similar situation - with absolutely no paperwork. Since the bike was over 25 years old, the DMV explained how to proceed, and even emailed the proper forms. The local DMV didn't like it but issued me a new title. They weren't about to buck the folks in Nashville. Had I started locally, I would NEVER gotten a title.

In any event, good luck - with the bike and the paperwork.

[tramp]

thier going to want to check to see if it is stolen
from now on don't buy a bike without a title
let the owner do all the fighting at the dmv
good luck on your rebuild

[citrusvanilla]

thanks all for the 2 cents, turns out the guy is a pretty nice dude so we filled out paperwork to obtain a new title in MI, we just have to wait for it to come...

anyway, i am going through the suggested tune-up and i am getting to cam chain timing and my clymer's suggests i remove the sparkplugs to turn the engine over by hand easier... am i supposed to obtain new plug gaskets when i do this and are these gaskets standard/available an an autoparts store?  thanks guys

[Gaither]

Citrus

'Hope the title deal works out OK.

Good luck tinkering with your bike.

[zanorak]

Yes, but make sure you buy some elbow grease while you're there. You'll need a dab to get the gaskets to seat correctly. I usually take my left handed screwdriver and gently pry the gasket down about 12/100 of an inch and squirt the grease in with my syringe.....

[zanorak]

Totally kidding by the way...

[Lenny55]

As far as the bent points plate goes, do yourself a favour and throw a dyna-s ignition in.  There are many debates on this subject around here, and I think I read them all before I went with the dyna.  It was probably the easiest upgrade I've done to my bike ('73 500).  I wanted to keep the original points just for the sake of learning to tweak them and I think I was pretty close, but I have to say that the bike runs better with the electronic ignition.

Hondaman makes another alternative that allows you to keep using the points, but I think the installation is a little trickier than the dyna, so if you're a complete newb, the dyna is probably easier.

Just my 2cents.......

[citrusvanilla]

thanks everybody for the advice, although after a week of waiting for a craftsman 18mm socket i never came any rubber gaskets while removing/installing the plugs.. i will look into the electric ignition in the future, i just replaced the whole contact assembly-

so good news, i came home today and and the mail was....

well let me begin by saying today i woke up and worked out and thought it was gonna be a great week.. well i heard this weird noise coming from outside i hadnt heard in months, turns out it was raining in los angeles, go figure.  so the morning commute was interesting.  anyway i get to work at my new job early still, and try to tackle some work before the admins come in.  i click through some update garbage on the autoCAD program i use and chug along with a smile.  turns out i inadvertently bought a $4000 dollar license for the program with a single click of the mouse- my boss is pissed and i feel like #$%* because the office will lose all that without getting it back.  anyway, i cant focus and drop the ball on my other administrative work.  its still raining when i leave work at 6:45pm..

..so i get home and i got a letter from michigan and inside is the duplicate title.  THANK YOU STATE OF MICHIGAN.  for the same arduous process in california, i am sure the terminal result would be me standing in defense in front of a judge.  somehow.

so now i need to get plates in california- does anyone know how transfers occur across state lines?  do i need to just take the title completed to a CA dmv or do i need to go through MI again?

[KeithTurk]

Title is easy take your junk down to the DMV and they will sort it out ... sounds like your square there now...

Does the bike have the original Tool kit under the seat?  that plug wrench is one of the better ones for getting to the plugs...

Depending on funds... I'd start with the factory tool kit then if I was poor the first kit I'd get would be a cheapy 20 dollar China job.... after that a $100 Craftsman set would be nice...  then you can start working your way up the tool chain...

Fun stuff wrenching.....  Enjoy

[citrusvanilla]

Guys,

I am flying to LA on June 1st to finally complete my goal of getting my bike up and running so that I may take it up to San Francisco. I spent the Fall of last year tentatively trying to make things work, and I was a total green thumb about it, I knew no one that was into motorcycles so I was trying to fix my bike all by myself. Needless to say, I didn't get far. I bought a 1972 Honda cb500 four from a chef near my location (culver city) that was running when I bought it. It has been garaged for the last year at my grandmother's. Here's my plan: I'm flying in Friday the first, and am planning on getting it up and running Saturday and Sunday, then paying the registration at the DMV early monday. This is the ideal situation, but I built in Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to fix the bike if needed. So my inquiry is this: Is anyone willing to help out a fellow redditor with a lust for open roads get my baby running on the weekend of June 2nd? I am a good listener, I learn quickly, I am a hard worker and I love life. I take risks, but I'm not stupid and I have a clean driving record, I respect motorcycles to no end. I am even willing to compensate your efforts up to a couple hundred bucks. This is my only shot at this for the next 365 days and I've been dreaming about it for the last 365. I likely won't be able to do this by myself and if I can't get out of LA by bike I'm going to be paying out the rear for a plane ticket. I'm going all in, SF or bust. Help this guy out!

Also, if you know anyone who would be willing to help me out, I would be much obliged. Further, if you have advice for me I would love to hear it. 





citrusvanilla AT gmail .com

[LesterPiglet]

For gods sake someone help this guy.

Unless he only comes every two years....ahh Uncle Andy.