Topic: Bringing around an old CB450 that has sat idle for 30 years

[gregwaits]

I have a '70 CB450 in remarkably good condition. It has less than 7 thou on the odometer and no rust in the tank.

The last time it was registered was 1982, so I assume it has been that long since it ran.

I took a chance and put gas in the tank, slapped on a battery. The electrical system seems to be fine. The headlight, turn signals, gauge lights, etc work fine.

So I tried to fire her up with the electric start. It sound as if it wanted to come around, but the starter would disengage after a second or so.

I suspect the rings aren't completely freed up after all this time sitting idle. What should I do next? It was suggested that I remove the spark plugs and squirt some Berryman's oil inside and let it seep down the cylinder walls and get this baby lubed up and ready to run.

[dave400]

You must write some $hit if you have all them posts and don’t think a little carb clean might help. 

[Johnie]

Might want to pull out a plug and ground it just to be sure you have spark.

[mystic_1]

Not entirely sure what you mean by "It sound as if it wanted to come around, but the starter would disengage after a second or so."  Did the engine rotate at all?

mystic_1

[mlinder]

remove the drive shaft cover and see if you can turn it with a spanner, like you would if you were setting timing.
While you're at it, check out the points.

[markjenn]

I'd first confirm the engine is completely free.  Pull the plugs (replace with new later), squirt some oil into the cylinders, and use the kick-starter to exercise the engine and make sure it is spinning over without major problems and has compression.  If it does, then I'd put a fresh battery on it (or jumper with a car battery), and see if the electric start can spin the motor over briskly with the plugs still out, fuel off, and the kill switch on.  If not, you probably have a bad relay, bad starter clutch, or bad motor.  But you could ignore that for now and just try and kick start it. 

If the starter motor will spin the engine with no plugs, you should be able to assess if you have oil pressure.  I'd change the oil at this point.

Next would be to get the fuel sorted, pulling the bowls and seeing if they look reasonably clean.  If they are, perhaps the jets are unplugged and you could attempt a start.  If the bowls looks awful, I'd just do a carb clean right off the bat.

Basically, take a stepwise approach to it rather than just attempting to light a fire first thing.

- Mark

[lordmoonpie]

...and you did check the oil of course didn't you - gave it some nice clean new lubey juice?
After the change, undo the front right cylinder head nut, the one with the copper washer and run up and down with it in gear until oil comes out - but don't start that lovely bike with the cams running in plain alloy in the head without first doing at least that. Oh lordy!