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Author Topic: 73 CB500 clutch won't engage or shift  (Read 1083 times)

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Offline acpmadness

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73 CB500 clutch won't engage or shift
« on: September 24, 2014, 11:12:26 AM »
Hello,

My buddy and I have been trying to figure out why my CB500 won't shift. It has slowly got worse over time. About two years ago I could shift fine, about 1 year ago I could only shift into N when the bike was stopped and my hand was off the clutch lever. It got to the point recently I could only shift into 1st. Now I can't shift at all the clutch doesn't engage when you pull the level all the way down. We weren't sure what was the issue so we replaced the lever, clutch cable and clutch plates. That didn't change anything, still the same issue. The clutch cable is as tight as it can go and it will not engage. We noticed there are 2 balls at the end of the rod, is that correct? We are thinking a part might be missing but not sure which part. Does anything have an idea what it might be or have a diagram of the clutch setup?

Thanks in advance.
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Offline calj737

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Re: 73 CB500 clutch won't engage or shift
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2014, 12:17:49 PM »
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb500-500-four-k2-1973-usa_model461/partslist/E++09.html#results

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb500-500-four-k2-1973-usa_model461/partslist/E++11.html#results

There should only be a single ball bearing, under the left side cover. There is a full length rod that traverses the engine. Is this rod intact? It has a habit of breaking as the ends are steel pressed into aluminum shaft.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline acpmadness

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Re: 73 CB500 clutch won't engage or shift
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2014, 01:26:17 PM »
We pulled that 3" rod out that looks like a bearing is between, but maybe that is the rod that broke?
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Offline calj737

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Re: 73 CB500 clutch won't engage or shift
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2014, 02:25:39 PM »
Should be about 11" IIRC
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline heyitsrama

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Re: 73 CB500 clutch won't engage or shift
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2014, 06:47:53 PM »
the push rod was broken on my bike, thats why i got it so cheap, the dude could not figure it out, that and he was on is way to Peru. 8)

drain the oil, and take the other crank case off the bike so you can get to the other part of the push rod. I was at a bike shop the other day and the dude was saying how he used JB weld to get them to be in one piece, but I'm not too sure if thats a good solution. and cannot speak to how well that works, unless someone else has attempted it. There are threads on here about people making their own pushrods.

I have this saved in my bookmarks, it should be a close diameter for the push rod if you want to attempt to make your own. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=619-1662&PMPXNO=16719418

EDIT | links to threads about pushrods|
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=84249.0

550 has a hydraulic clutch?
« Last Edit: September 25, 2014, 06:57:18 PM by heyitsrama »
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72' cb500
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Offline acpmadness

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Re: 73 CB500 clutch won't engage or shift
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2014, 06:50:37 AM »
Thank you guys for the tips and links, I appreciate it.
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