Topic: 72 CB500-4to rebuild or not ??

[CBR1100XXX]

Hello to everyone,

New to forum, I just had a 72 CB500-4 given to me that has been sitting for a good numbers of years. The bike is in excellent condition the previous owner had lost interest an has it sitting in his airplane hanger for years.

The engine is amazingly clean and I was wondering if I should tear it down and just try and fire her up and seeing from there. Is there anything I should be looking for on the engine which is normally a trouble area.

I'm looking to set her up as a cafe style, lower bars, pipe and rearsets, yet stay with the stock paint for the true look. When I was a kid I use to look at the Honda 4's and just think one day I will own one and by accident I do.

I want my son to use her as a daily rider, it will be his first street bike and I think I'm more pumped then him.

Any advise would be great

Thx Brian 

[dusterdude]

brian,welcome to the forum.i dont know nothin about the 500,but you will get lots of advice on how to proceed.i would do the checks and adjustments that other members will tell you to do ,then start that sucker and see how it runs.good luck

[Tim.]

PICTURES - WE LIVE FOR PICTURES!

Just fire it up and see what comes out the rear end    Just make sure nothing is seized before you start cranking on it.  How are the electrics?  Lights etc work?

[SteveD CB500F]

Welcome back Tintin...   where ya been?

I wouldn't rebuild the 500 unless there's something wrong with it.

Buy a manual and do a full service and tune up.  See how she runs. 

[grumburg]

500 and 550 engines are so robust I swear you could bury them for 10 yrs and dig them up and start them. Carb are not so robust. Would change fluids, oil filter,clean carbs and ride and enjoy. May have to fix oil leaks later, but I have had several leaks stop when the seals swell from use. They seem to have healing qualities.

[CBR1100XXX]

I'm thinking tha's the route I'll take
Start with cleaning the carbs and changing the fuilds and check the plugs and fire her up.

The engine is so clean you could eat off of it, so any leaks will be easy to spot.
I'll try and take some photos this weekend

What, if any is the weak spot on the CB500 (just for something to watch for)

Thx again, Brian

[SteveD CB500F]

What, if any is the weak spot on the CB500 (just for something to watch for)

The clutch - that's why they changed it for the 550...

They have a habit of slipping if abused.

[bryanj]

From one Bryan to another--even if yours is spelt wrong! Forget any problems with the 500 there is no consistent thing that goes wrong--I have several. I have heard of just about anything going wrong on the odd bike and seen a few oddities but there is nothing regular, not even the clutch, years back i severly abused one for 3 years and it was the same at the end as it was at the begining!.

Get a manual. (email me direct if you want to buy an original on CD) do the basic service with all the greasing and see what happens.

[motorcycleclaude75]

Hey Guys,

All I got to add is that the 500 engine is quite tough.  I've been running mine for 14 years without major problems.

The seal around the gear shifter is notorious for leaks and I had some issues with the clutch adjuster but that's all that comes to mind.

If you have any problems, it will be the carbs.  Make sure they are clean, you might have to get them synchronized sometime down the road.  Once you get it running, you'll know if the carbs aren't set right.

Claude

[dusterdude]

PICTURES - WE LIVE FOR PICTURES!

Just fire it up and see what comes out the rear end    Just make sure nothing is seized before you start cranking on it.  How are the electrics?  Lights etc work?

tintin,you dont know how funny your post was,when i started my bike last year,after it had sat for about 15 years,i blew rust out of the pipes all over my brothers garage.he wasnt too happymbut i thought it was rather funny.

[martin.g.g]

Like all the other guys say full service clean the tank out. Keep an eye on the carb's for leaks as the main jet rubbers can perish allowing neat fuel to be dumped into the cylinder. As liquid does not like being compressed it can blow the engine. Don't forget about the front brake, as being a hydraulic disc the fluid will have gone off and need changing, plus check the seals for leaks (slave and caliper piston)

[BruceA cb550]

Ive got a 74 550 that sat in a barn for 20years.  Cleaned tank, rebuilt carbs, new plugs & points, and an oil change.  Fired right up and runs like a champ.
I say go for it.