Topic: Honda CB 500F Restore

[Mo]

Thats a gorgeous looking bike! Thanks for the motivation! 

[Mo]

Okay so I'm almost done rebuilding the carbs, and had a quick question. The rebuild kit I purchased included 4 slow jets, however one was incorrect and didn't fit.

Is it okay to use 3 new slow jets and one of the old? Also, do the slow jets have a hole through them? They've been soaking for hours and I tried running compressed air & a brush wire through but nothing seems to expose a potential hole.

Thanks!

[LoVel]

So I pulled the carbs, the airbox, and the engine out (holy crap that was heavy).

Sorry not an answer to your slow jet question but I love the heavy comment.  I still have scars from the header bolts and I put my engine back in almost two months ago.

[Mo]

Okay so (another) update!

Got the carbs put back together (used the old slow jets since I was able to clear em). and they look good to go now!

The engine is pretty much kicking over consistently now so I'm thinking a top end job might not be need right now.

Next step, pull the rear wheel, and get it unstuck. Once thats done, and my new cables arrive, I'll putting it all back in and hopefully breathing her back to life!

[Mo]

So I'm gearing up to start this baby up but I had a few questions regarding the process.

Since I don't want to pour money into this baby too badly until I know the engine works correctly, I was planning on just installed the carbs, airbox, engine, tank, and related cables and then check to see if it will start. I know my rear tire is punctured and the wheel is stuck. My questions:

1. Can I start the bike with the rear wheel/chain disconnected at the block? (I don't see why not but you never know)
2. If I do get it started and let it idle/run for ~30 min, will this heat the engine block adequately enough for a decent compression test?
3. Will I need a battery for this?

My goal once the bike runs is to evaluate the engine's performance, get new tires, fix the rear wheel and then ride it around a little and see what else needs to be improved. I just don't want to dish out $300 for tires, chain etc without knowing the engine at least fires up.

[Scott S]

 You will need a battery. I wouldn't let it run for that long without a fan blowing on it.

[Mo]

So I'm in the process of rebuilding the top end. Cleaned the pistons and the cylinders. They looked good and the clearances were well within spec. I put the cylinders back in and had a quick question.

I put them back in and upon turning the shaft to make sure all is well, they pistons squeak a little. Is this normal? I spray some PB blaster for sume lubrication but I was wondering if there was something else I should do.

[Mo]

Hello All:

So I have most of this thing put back together. Engine rebuild done, carbs done, tank lined, new fuel lines, etc etc.

I am trying to start it up but something is off. First, there is gas flowing from the tank to the carbs as I can see it from the fuel line. The lights are working (there was a bad fuse but I replaced that). I have two gallons of gas in the tank.

I don't have a clue as to where the electric starter button is, but using the kickstart, nothing happens. Kill switch is set to on. How do you start this thing?

[SohRon]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=109551.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=5135.0
http://www.hondahobby.no/Engine-Emergency

Just a few of the results I got using the search function and the phrase "CB500 won't start". They'll get you headed in the right direction; you might try the search yourself. After you've completed the steps outlined in these posts it should start. If not, come back here and let us know.

To try to help clear up some confusion, the "F" on the side panel ("CB500F") refers to the fact that it's a CB500F(our), or a four cylinder engine as opposed to the CB500T(win) with a two cylinder engine and, in fact, nearly all of the SOHC/4 bikes use the "F" for "Four" on the side panels - some of the later ones actually spell it out. However, the actual model, if it's a first year 500, would be a "K0", or "CB500K0" (technically, it would be a "CB500FK0", meaning a "CB500 Four, model K0", but nobody actually uses this convention).

Honda threw a monkey wrench into this simple code by introducing the "CB550F0" in 1975, a sport bike based on the CB550K, so nowadays whenever someone refers to their "F" bike it is understood to mean the post-'75 sport bike (which, since it's a SOHC engne, would technically be a "CB550FF0"). Confusion arises when refering to a CB500"F" as the CB500 had been discontinued (at least in America) years before the actual "F" models were introduced.

Now that I've made things clear as mud, carry on and good luck with the project! 

[Deltarider]

Best to name them by their Parts List names.
 For the 550's:
CB550, CB550K1, CB550K2'76, CB550K3 and CB550K4 (all 4 in 4)
CB550F, CB550F1 and CB550F2 (all 4 in 1).
For the 500's:
CB500, CB500K1, CB500K2, CB500K2 [ED, F, G], CB500K3.
Differences can be detected in the Honda Shop Manual to be found at http://www.honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/shop-manual and the respective Parts Lists (except CB550F1 and CB550F2) also te be found at our Italian brothers: http://www.honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/parts-list
I do not know of any Honda documents that refer to K0 models.