Topic: cb500 - Complete carb kit or gasket set?

[Grebnaws]

I am gearing up to rebuild the carbs on my 1972 cb500 and would like some advice. Is it better to order the full carb kits or just buy all the replacement gaskets and O rings? The bike has not run in a few years and has aprox. 15k miles. Z1 Enterprises is my usual source for parts when the local dealership cannot order or is not competitive on prices. Do they sell the best carb kits or should I be looking somewhere else?

[JBMorse]

If you've got the carbs apart take a look at the sharpness and overall shape of the needle valve as well as the jet needle.  These can wear down a little and become dull.  If they all look okay, I would just get the gasket kit.  It will save you some money.  You don't need to replace the jets and everything else can be cleaned and reused. 
Here is the Honda part number for the gasket set: 16010-323-315
It should cost at most $15 per kit. 
And if you're interested there's a nice walk through that Motorcycle Classics did.  Download it through this thread:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=56997.0;nowap
Good luck!  These carbs aren't nearly as difficult to work with as some people seem to think.  Just do a bench sync before putting them back on the bike and an actual sync is good once you're done with everything.

[Grebnaws]

Thank you for the excellent link! I have not removed or disassembled the carbs yet as I'm waiting on other parts to arrive first. One thing at a time. The only carbs I have really rebuilt were a set of Tekei-22 (if memory serves) from my kz550 and once I tore into them they were quite easy to service. Nice no BS mechanical carbs. These cb500 carbs are starting to remind me of them a little. Hopefully they turn out to be easier than the later dohc I've done a little work on. Those carbs were a nightmare compared to my old kz550 and I never did completely break them down.

[Bankerdanny]

@15k you should be able to get away with gaskets only