[72cb500]

i'm new to the whole motorcycle thing, my dad is giving me his old 1972 honda cb 500, it'll be my first bike. i'm pretty familar with aircooled volkswagens and bicycles so in theory i should have a decent idea of how to work on it. anyway, my dad has had this bike since the early 80's, and it's been garaged as long as he's had it. unfortunately it sat with bad gas in the tank for several years so the fuel system will be the first thing i'll need to tackle. the tank i'm not worried about, but it's the carbs that i'm afraid of. it has the 500 four cylinder with quad carbs, and i'm afraid to touch them because i don't want to have to synchronize them. other than the fuel system i don't know what else i would need to do to get it roadworthy. it's not been on the road for at least 10 years. i've never ridden a bike before either. i hope this site is a step in the right direction. i'm not so much into performance or racing(yet,)i just want to get this thing fixed up and back on the road. i'd be happy with it being bone stock. if i'd be better off posting these questions on a different site i'd greatly appreciate your reccomendations. now, here's the pics:

 

[Chikor]

ok well after you clean out the tank you need to clean the carbs!! yes take them apart and clean them torughly.....i have been restoring VW's for over a decade and i am currently at AMI, i going to open my own cycle restoration and custom place someday....anyway sync'n the carbs is not that hard and it is very nessary to the proper running of the bike, espically since it has sat for so long. if you don't want to get into the bottom of the engine i suggest you drain the oil out and put in new oil with a tablespoon of marvel mystery oil...use motorcycle oil, not car oil! also do that to the tranny...good luck with it, that is a collectable bike....i love 'em...

also repalce all the rubber lines (gas, brake) !!!! this should be done every TWO years...

"Ride Fast and Take Chances"


Edited by - chikor on Apr 10 2004 08:14:40 AM

 

[Rad350Hog]

Ha, thats funny, I saw your bike on the VW Vortex page yesterday. This is the site for advice though, good luck

-JP

 

[Chikor]

one more thing.....put a teaspoon of the mystery oil in the gas tank every other full tank of gas.....

"Ride Fast and Take Chances"

 

[joe c]

you should take those pipes off and replace them with something else. you can send me those. i'll even pay for shipping. (nice pipes by the way) you should pull those off and put another set on. if they dont have any rust or dings, they are worth some nice cashola. find a dry place to hang them up. and hang them, dont leave em on the ground. sweet bike. it wont be as bad as you think. if things are pretty good, a few hundred bucks, and you'll be cruisin'


jc

 

[72cb500]

sounds like i'm on the right track then, cool.

rad350hog, yeah i posted this on the vortex last week. my screen name on there is vwuberalles. small world!!

1972 honda cb 500

 

[JD]

nice bike. drain the tank and get new fuel lines and an in-line filter. you never know how much crap might be in the tank. don't be scared of the carbs. you can clean them up pretty good without removing them from the rack and messing with the linkage. lots of carb cleaner to get all the gunk out. make sure all the passages are clear. take a thin strand of wire to clear the jets. refer to old 350twin post about float height. I'm in agreement, as long as they're full but not overflowing you're all set. take the drain tubes off the bottom so if one is too high you'll know which one. before you put them back on sync them by eyeballing the slides, if they all go up at the same time you'll be relatively close and can sync them for real later if they need it. check for cracked rubbers around the carb intake and manifold. any leaks here are bad. change your oil and filter, and do the same to the tranny, just don't go nuts looking for that tranny filler hole. seriously, it's a unit engine, only put oil in one place. I don't know what they're teaching chikor at ami about hondas. get a new battery and charge it before putting it into the bike. get new plugs and gap them to spec. check your plug wires and make sure they're in good shape. at this point assuming the bike's wiring is relatively unmolested she'll fire right up. if not the timing could be off or you messed up the carbs so go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200. if you get it running check your chain and sprockets, tighten and/or replace. and most importantly once it's running make sure your brakes work and the tires are in good shape. if you can't stop or blow a tire you'll wish you never got it running to begin with. if you don't have one, get a manual. clymer or haynes are both good. good luck and send some more pics when it's on the road.

 

[JD]

quote:
sounds like i'm on the right track then, cool.

rad350hog, yeah i posted this on the vortex last week. my screen name on there is vwuberalles. small world!!

1972 honda cb 500

I'm a little surprised at how many vw guys have shown up here. I've had a couple myself and make it to the vortex from time to time.

 

[Rad350Hog]

Yeah, I just recently got a motorcycle but Ive owned a 1981 jetta, 1992 jetta, 72 bug and a 69 bug. Now i drive a dodge, BAH!

-JP

 

[JD]

I've never owned an air-cooled. over the years I've had 91 Jetta, 87 Audi Coupe GT, 84 GTI, 86 Golf, 83 GLI, 87 Golf, 00 GTI, 90 GTI in that order. don't think I forgot any. I have a dodge van, and I love it....wait, I mean I hate it.

 

[IagianstI]

For the record im a VW guy too 74 bus yo!

 

[Chikor]

quote:
seriously, it's a unit engine, only put oil in one place. I don't know what they're teaching chikor at ami about hondas.

um dude.... i suggested the Marvels Mystery Oil and just a teaspoon in the gas tank because it is the shit!! it will help keep the gas tank from rusting out and will help every where esle in the system....but i guess you would need to know the wonders of Marvel's to understand and if you are a vintage VW nut and you don't know about Marvel's then you just need to trust me on this, that and i had an hour lecture on how great that stuff is....so just do it and it will increase the life of your old bike or car or even your old VAN....i'm out

"Ride Fast and Take Chances"

 

[JD]

yes, marvel mystery oil is supposed to be great. but that's not what I was talking about. I busting your balls for
"if you don't want to get into the bottom of the engine i suggest you drain the oil out and put in new oil with a tablespoon of marvel mystery oil...use motorcycle oil, not car oil! also do that to the tranny"
put it in the engine and the tranny? I wasn't knocking your advice. it would have been a lot funnier if you got it.

 

[joe c]

it was that whole "unit engine" thing i bet. you gotta be a brit guy i guess. hey, 72 bug here, only by default, my girlfriend wanted it.


jc

 

[Chikor]

sorry, i guess this whole school thing is getting to me....only 3 1/2 months more!!!! i can't f'n wait to get home!! i miss "my little gesha"....

"Ride Fast and Take Chances"

 

[JD]

don't start apologizing now, I was just messing with you. that sun is getting to you. It's been proven in numerous studies that too much exposure can cause delirium and excessive use of MMO (marvels myster oil) <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

 

[72cb500]

chikor, i know exactly what you mean about the school thing, i'm getting ready to graduate college at the end of this month. i can't wait!! this bike is gonna be my after graduation project. well, that and trying to find a job haha.

as far as the vws i currently own a 67 microbus, a 73 superbeetle, an an 83 rabbit gti, and an 88 golf gti. i've previously had a 69 bug, 87 scirocco 16v, 84 scirocco 8v, as well as 2 87 jettas and an 82 scirocco as parts cars heh. maybe we should get a vw thread going since there's so many vw guys here?

1972 honda cb 500