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CB500/550 / Mid-Suffolk CB500 Update & Parts Enquiry
« on: March 27, 2023, 11:28:19 AM »
Morning all, it's been a while since I last posted so I thought I would update after the first proper ride out after a lot of tinkering.
Saturday was pretty much the first dry weekend day for ages so I took the CB for a shake-down trip - approx 30 miles around various lanes and a bit of dual carriageway. When I first got the bike in January it wasn't running well and was very reluctant to start. Fearing a blockage in carbs after I cleaned the tank, I stripped the carbs, ran them through the ultrasonic cleaner and re-built with Julie's o-ring kit (thanks Julie - excellent service and very good price!). The floats were all over the place so set them all to 22mm and vacuum balanced when all back together.
I also fitted 4 new plugs, new battery, changed oil & filter and checked & adjusted valve clearances.
The bike still doesn't want to start easily but once fired-up, settles to a nice even idle. However, during the ride on Saturday, when pulling up to junctions and waiting at traffic lights, the idle hung around at 2000 (ish) rpm before settling down and felt like it would die at any moment. I pulled on to petrol station forecourt and it did indeed die. It fired-up again having filled up and while riding, responds well to the throttle, pulling very nicely throughout the rev range with no hesitation well up to 8000 ish - any ideas why it may struggle at idle? I wondered about an air-leak but have sprayed carb-cleaner over all the inlet rubbers and no change in revs. It has the DSS electronic ignition which is set correctly.
Also, rather annoyingly, I lost the generator cover plate during the ride - I can get one from DSS but £90.... anyone have a spare or are they so rare that the price is the price?
Cheers, Phil
Saturday was pretty much the first dry weekend day for ages so I took the CB for a shake-down trip - approx 30 miles around various lanes and a bit of dual carriageway. When I first got the bike in January it wasn't running well and was very reluctant to start. Fearing a blockage in carbs after I cleaned the tank, I stripped the carbs, ran them through the ultrasonic cleaner and re-built with Julie's o-ring kit (thanks Julie - excellent service and very good price!). The floats were all over the place so set them all to 22mm and vacuum balanced when all back together.
I also fitted 4 new plugs, new battery, changed oil & filter and checked & adjusted valve clearances.
The bike still doesn't want to start easily but once fired-up, settles to a nice even idle. However, during the ride on Saturday, when pulling up to junctions and waiting at traffic lights, the idle hung around at 2000 (ish) rpm before settling down and felt like it would die at any moment. I pulled on to petrol station forecourt and it did indeed die. It fired-up again having filled up and while riding, responds well to the throttle, pulling very nicely throughout the rev range with no hesitation well up to 8000 ish - any ideas why it may struggle at idle? I wondered about an air-leak but have sprayed carb-cleaner over all the inlet rubbers and no change in revs. It has the DSS electronic ignition which is set correctly.
Also, rather annoyingly, I lost the generator cover plate during the ride - I can get one from DSS but £90.... anyone have a spare or are they so rare that the price is the price?
Cheers, Phil