Author Topic: CB 500 Four (1972?) Full Restoration (Read 145298 times)

rb550four · « **Reply #525 on:** February 22, 2015, 05:18:56 PM »

Why is the cam greased? What type of grease is it?

MickB · « **Reply #526 on:** February 22, 2015, 11:48:03 PM »

Probably overkill but I wanted grease on the cam to ensure at start up it'll all move smoothly, I also greased the main bearings and the ball & needle bearings in the gearbox.
It certainly won't start up metal on metal.

Bootsey · « **Reply #527 on:** February 22, 2015, 11:52:00 PM »

Are you talking grease, or some sort of assembly lube?
I'd imagine grease might be unadvisable in an engine, but I could be wrong.

MickB · « **Reply #528 on:** February 23, 2015, 12:24:46 AM »

Bootsey nice to hear from you, the grease was my thought, i put it on yesterday, I suppose it could block the oil channels (having said that I'll wipe it all off), even though I googled it and there's no talk about not using it at start up.

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #529 on:** February 23, 2015, 03:42:11 AM »

Mick,
I don't know this for sure, but I would think that grease in the engine is not a good thing. In our case, we used assembly lube for all of those places because it's thicker than the oil but will stay in the places where you put it until the oil has a chance to be pumped through it when the engine is running.

MickB · « **Reply #530 on:** February 23, 2015, 01:13:07 PM »

Thanks Resto Fan, I'm taking the grease off today.
I did read - not to use grease as it might plug oil channels (as I thought).

Bootsey · « **Reply #531 on:** February 23, 2015, 02:13:33 PM »

Hey Mick,
The bike is looking great!

Yes, plugging oil passages would be the concern I think, the assembly lubes are designed to be soluble in the oil after start up.
What sort of grease was it, and how much did you use in the bottom end?

MickB · « **Reply #532 on:** February 23, 2015, 02:22:05 PM »

Bootsey thinking about it I only remember oiling the mains and only smeared a little grease on the needle bearings and oil on the primary shaft ball bearing.

I think I'm safe, phew!

MickB · « **Reply #533 on:** February 23, 2015, 11:18:56 PM »

Someone give me a pass or fail on the timing please

No. 1 cylinder (left side) set to TDC.

Advance set - is this the correct mechanism?

Cam notch set half way

Grease off cam

MickB · « **Reply #534 on:** February 24, 2015, 01:19:54 AM »

Is it correct for the 500?

bryanj · « **Reply #535 on:** February 24, 2015, 02:36:07 AM »

Sorry been busy at work so not been on mate:--

Advancer is a 500 (note 323 number on it)
Cam timing looks good, with staic mark lined up with the T on the advancer the notch should be horizontal, a small amount off is ok as it alters with chain wear.

You look good to go, thick grease is a bit much, fill up the hollows under the cam lobes with oil and before you refit the cam cover fill the engine and fit filter then kick it over to see oil comiing up both side DO FIT THE GENERATOR COVER FIRST otherwise you will blow out the blanking plug to somewhere you can't find and put a big oil puddle on the floor.

I suspect your coils are aftermarket or somebody has repaced just one and used the wrong side---no problem only wire colour different. Black and whit double should be +ve and +ve on coils goes there -ve connects to points.

Offer still goes to help with wiring, schematics only work if all the switches, loom etc are from the same year

MickB · « **Reply #536 on:** February 24, 2015, 09:55:41 AM »

BJ thanks very much for your help, the coils are new aftermarket from 4 into 1, either coil can be used 1&4 and 2&3.

Thanks for the wiring help, all understood.

What do you mean ve?

I'll kick it over till i see oil coming up top.

Grease has been removed from cam.

I took the cover off and peeled off all the lacquer I'd covered it with and polished the cover again. I'd polished the cover then lacquered, but the lacquer made the cover very dark, unimpressed, I'd rather polish the covers.

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #537 on:** February 24, 2015, 09:59:42 AM »

Yep, your cam timing is correct. You're set to the T mark (means Top dead center, I think) on cylinders 1/4 and the cam marks are parallel to the top of the cam tower.

By the way, the F stands for Firing mark I believe because thats when the spark plug should be firing. Which makes sense when you think about it. It fires on the compression stroke and then the top dead center is achieved right after that as the compression completes.

MickB · « **Reply #538 on:** February 24, 2015, 10:03:10 AM »

Thanks Resto Fan.

MickB · « **Reply #539 on:** February 25, 2015, 03:05:14 AM »

BJ I'll take some photos of the wiring if the offer's still there it'll be a big help having someone being the guru.
I can't believe how close this is getting.

Mick

rb550four · « **Reply #540 on:** February 25, 2015, 09:07:33 AM »

MickB, I was looking at crankcase photo, I think it was at 471, no grease in primary shaft bearings there, did you smear them before the clutch went on? You said you cleaned them out along with the cam, but my question is on the other end of the primary shaft...the needle bearings in the basket behind the oil pump...You didn't grease them too did you? I have found crusty grease there in other old engines. That grease won't break down , especially in that area. Just askin.

MickB · « **Reply #541 on:** February 25, 2015, 11:16:52 PM »

Rb thanks for reminding me, I remember smearing a little grease in the needle rollers just to keep them in position, I'm not pulling the motor out to see.
The rest I mustn'tve put any on, it's a long time ago and at my age I've forgotten the exact specifics of what was greased, but it all sounds like it's worked out.

bryanj · « **Reply #542 on:** February 25, 2015, 11:48:00 PM »

+ ve and - ve relate to the battery as in positive and negative mate, you have to remember we are two nations separated by the same language!! ( you say Ground we say Earth)

MickB · « **Reply #543 on:** February 25, 2015, 11:50:08 PM »

You aught to have been transported like my relos, then no probs, plus you'd get decent fish and chips.
Ground in auto, earth in houses, go figure!

MickB · « **Reply #544 on:** February 26, 2015, 01:09:37 AM »

BJ I put the generator cover back on and as suggested kicked it over till oil came up to the cam bearings and filled the little catchments., all good, oil coming up beautifully.

bryanj · « **Reply #545 on:** February 26, 2015, 08:25:22 AM »

always good to know, not far away now mate

MickB · « **Reply #546 on:** February 27, 2015, 12:44:16 AM »

I've only got the tappets to do tomorrow, chain is on and adjusted, pretty much all the mechanicals are complete. I need to check each nut and bolt is tight.

Then to start on the electrics, of which I've been procrastinating. Then do the points.

Waiting for the new clutch rod to arrive, hopefully next week.

Also to put the rest of the carby tubes on and correctly route the starter cable.

MickB · « **Reply #547 on:** February 28, 2015, 02:00:47 AM »

Well you never get done what you want, there's always something else to be restored.

Electrics arn't my strong point, but I've got to finish the electrical heart of the bike, so far.…

I haven't been able to find the correct 9 blade pin plug anywhere, anyone have advice? I bought some from Eastern Beaver, very unhelpful no sizes given, the 9 pin I bought is tiny and won't fit the plate. The bloke wouldn't help so I ended up with the wrong part.

Cleaned the rectifier and installed new pins on the wires from the rectifier, the electric plates I have some that are blades and others have pins, this is goings to take some time to restore and work out. The new wiring loom has blade connections and the best connections I have are pin. I can't find a 9 pin blade connection that'll fit the plate aaaah!

MickB · « **Reply #548 on:** February 28, 2015, 12:27:36 PM »

Thanks Cal, after rereading my thread I didn't make it clear enough.
1st I'd rather find where to get a 9 blade type connection that fits.
2nd I bought a 12 pin connection that sort of fits, it'll do the job but I'm not happy about it.

Valhad · « **Reply #549 on:** February 28, 2015, 07:28:30 PM »

Mick, if I read that right, you're after the sub harness with flat connectors? Cause I've still got one of those of you need it.

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Author Topic: CB 500 Four (1972?) Full Restoration (Read 145298 times)