CB 500 resurrection

[Bryanj]

It was the state of the 500 that put me off it, plus even the 550 looked like it needed a fair bit of work.
Yes there were a lot of extras but my garage is busting already, i offered to build it so it was worth more but the lady jusr wanted rid

[gary123]

My bike is listed as black on the v5 but it came with a nos brown tank and panels and thats how I remember them from 50 years ago.

Yes , it also came with a 550 engine, not sure why, and as the previous owner sadly died last year Ill never know.

He was most probably going to put a 550 engine in as the 500 is toast. Years ago a lot of owners changed there engines to 550's as, they thought it was a more powerful engine with 50cc more. The 500 and the 550 are the same BHP so, no benefit from a engine change.

The UK CB500 only came in Black, Gold or Brown. 

Well That did cross my mind but he went to the trouble of having the 500 covers blasted and polished so Im hoping that engine is good and the 550 is just part of his hoarding habit.

[Bryanj]

Where exactly are you? If its Wiltshire you are not far from Gloucester so i could help if you wish

[Nurse Julie]

Where exactly are you? If its Wiltshire you are not far from Gloucester so i could help if you wish

Gary is about 25 miles from us Bryan. It's a nice drive from Lincs to Gloucester though 😊😊

[Bryanj]

Better of driving to you then Julie! I looked up Moulton and it said Wiltshire.
Still trying to assemble the 400 jigsaw, its a bit of a bugger when you didnt take it apart and the last one i did was, shall we say several, years ago.
Dont think 3 hours from dynamite to mated cases is too bad!

[Nurse Julie]

Better of driving to you then Julie! I looked up Moulton and it said Wiltshire.
Still trying to assemble the 400 jigsaw, its a bit of a bugger when you didnt take it apart and the last one i did was, shall we say several, years ago.
Dont think 3 hours from dynamite to mated cases is too bad!

Not too bad at all Bryan.

[gary123]

Where exactly are you? If its Wiltshire you are not far from Gloucester so i could help if you wish

Yes, as Julie says Im a fair way from you, but thanks anyway.
Im hoping I can get the engine done myself but Ill no doubt reach out at for help at some point.

[gary123]

Some pics of work so far. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[gary123]

Im sorting out the wiring at the moment. Its going ok, I have a nos loom and the switches are new but may not be correct.
Biggest issue is the length of wires on the switches. where the eck does it all go.

[mickwinf]

wiring does vary from 500 to 550 and between different models. Original 500 the wires from the switches run inside the handlebars then meet the main loom in the headlight bucket. the 550 f1 and f2 had a juntion box under the tank so wires from switches are much longer, maybe you have those? also 550k3 is different again, external wires with block connectors, and also slight differences for different countries.

[gary123]

OK, so it looks like I have 550 switches. I have run the wires through the bars, Ill see if I can hide the excess somewhere. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Trigger]

That looks to be a CB550F/K3 switch or 400 four. On the 500 all wires meet in the head light bowl. On the 550F/K3 they all connect up in a box under the tank, so it would have longer wires 

[gary123]

Thanks for the info. Everything is working so Ill leave it for now. If a genuine switch comes up Ill think about swapping otherwise Ill just shorten the wires.

[Trigger]

UK CB500K1 four switches from 1972 to 1975

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[gary123]

Thats helpful, thanks.