Topic: Honda CB 500 K1 fork problem

[BSA_Mikael]

  Got brand new inner fork tubes from David Silver for my K1 1971, dismantling the ones that sat on the bike and it turns out someone likely replaced the forks. I dont have the assebly with the rods that go up to the top of the inner tubes, in the rusty ones mounted there are 2 short, about 200 mm long pistons that rest on an edge in the lower part of each inner tube, and that the outer fork leg is screwed on to the usual way with bolts through the front wheel axle surface. The inner tubes has a "waist" on the surface lower part, but no hole for oil flow like the genuine Honda Nos ones I got from David Silver. I guess my alternatives would be:

1. Get the right pistons with rods + assembly (Nuts and washers etc) but they dont seem to be listed as spares on David Silver. makes me think they may be hard to get..

2. Send the inner tubes that I got from DS back to them and ask them to replace with the ones with a waist and edge inside and use the parts I have (Seem to be in Good condition)

I would go for nr 2, but the fact is that I dont even know if these inner tubes are Honda CB 500 four, or something different. May be from a complete different bike?

Anyone knows, any hints, tips and tricks??

[jaknight]

Hi Mikael

     You might try going to a couple different Honda sites and checking out their drawings and parts lists for your model of bike.  See what they list as stock and then compare to what you have.

    www.morgantownhonda.com

     or

     www.servicehonda.com

     Good luck,

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[BSA_Mikael]

Thanks a lot!!! I looked at your first link and found a drawing that match the fork assembly on my bike, it is exactly the same assembly as the Honda CB 550 of 1975 years make, so now I know what the fork is, and can decide easily what to do. Great! I just love this forum.

[jaknight]

 

     Hey Mikael, glad to know that you'll be better informed to help you make your final decisions,

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[BSA_Mikael]

Yes, the site you linked me to is a goldmine, I can see they changed the fork assembly between 1973 and 1974, from -74 they use the newer assembly so now I have to c´heck with David Silver what is the best, send the tubes back and replace with -74, or order the works except the springs and top nuts for the -71 assembly. Again, thanks!

[jaknight]

By The Way,

     You can also pull up drawings here:

     www.cmsnl.com

     There are several others.  Some sites are easier to work with than others.  Check them out as you get the time and pick which ones you like working with the most............

     Take care,

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[bryanj]

The forks with rods are the K0 forks, the ones without are all other 500/550, i suspect you have an earlier bike than you think. Send me the frame and engine numbers and i will try and ID it for you.
Also if its a US model you should have a "vin" plate on the RH side of the headstock giving you the date of manufacture.

All you need to get are the dampers from the later forks with seal rings and ends as the sliders will work.
If you look at the 550 front cushion page in the parts book numbers 12, 13, 16 and 17