Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: jj205mi on October 15, 2015, 10:10:46 AM

Title: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on October 15, 2015, 10:10:46 AM
Hi lads,

Just signed up as I have a friend's bike in to get running, the bike has registered 2000 miles from New but has been stored away with fuel in the carbs, looks like they had tar poured in the bowls and are not in serviceable condition.

I am looking for a decent clean set if possible. Let me know what you have.

John
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on October 15, 2015, 10:11:51 AM
Also meant to add I'm in the UK (Scotland)
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: JamesH on October 15, 2015, 10:39:00 AM
John - post some pics of the existing carb float area - are you certain you can't save them? Not teaching you to suck eggs, but you'll be amazed what can be done even with the most gummed up carbs. The only issue will be if there's corrosion in there as well.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: Bryanj on October 15, 2015, 11:30:15 AM
There is a man on ebay who regularly sells refurbished set but they are about £200
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: Chris400F on October 15, 2015, 12:17:23 PM
Here is a clean and rebuild service which also comes in at £200 including parts and return postage:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carburettor-Carb-Rebuild-Service-Includes-ultrasonic-cleaning-/321886572162?hash=item4af1ef4e82
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on October 15, 2015, 01:09:48 PM
I'm willing to try anything lads, the bowls are really bad I've stripped a few carbs over the years (motorcycle tech at a Honda/Suzuki dealer for 10years) now working at an a tv service centre. But these ones have stuck the float bowl pins  to the float hinge, the needles are stuck in the guides, I told the owner easiest way would be find a better set but as I said I'll try it. Just not my money I'm spending, so that's the issue.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: Chris400F on October 15, 2015, 02:59:39 PM
You could always drop the guy on eBay an email, with a photo or two, to see what he thinks.
Reading the listing again I see I got it wrong - price doesn't include parts, only fitting of supplied repair kit,
but these are not too expensive from Cruzinimage.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: JamesH on October 15, 2015, 03:29:49 PM
If you can, post up some pics on here so we can advise you properly.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: Spitfire on October 15, 2015, 05:06:05 PM
I left my F1 in the garage for 10 years while I was working overseas, when I came back I wondered why I could not operate the throttle, when I took them off it soon became clear what the problem was, the needles were stuck in the gum, not nice stuff but they cleaned up well.

(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/carbs/P1010002.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/carbs/GUMMEDBOWL-GALL-6.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z244/DennisMcc/carbs/carbsafter-2GALL-9.jpg)

Cheers

Dennis
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: hondaking on October 29, 2015, 12:29:11 AM
Try having them sonic cleaned I do quite a few for people and they come up real well
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on November 04, 2015, 09:54:54 PM
Hi guys and sorry for the lack of updates!

Heres a photo of the carbs that came on the bike
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/jj205mi16/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/IMAG0062_zps4bm1zgby.jpg)

The jets were stuck in, the pins that hold the float were solid, i removed 2 by heating the pin with a soldering iron/very small gas torch and pulling on it with pliers. the last two wouldn't move. The throttle was also stuck.

So i picked up another set, they look as if they have been rebuilt, bowls are immaculate, the main jets in 1 or 2 were pretty loose (small o-ring worn?) anyway i got the bike fired up running on 3 found 1 plug to be knackered so i replaced those anyway. So now its running on all 4, although pretty poorly.

Its sooting plugs up and now wanting to idle, seems very rich, idle air screws are set to 2 turns out, i guess next thing is to set float heights, check needle settings.

Heres a Photo of the bike in question

(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/jj205mi16/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/IMAG0061_zpspiwem3xm.jpg)


Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on November 04, 2015, 09:59:02 PM
Id like to add my garage isn't always as untidy, I'm having work done in the house and my garage seems to be getting used as a storage area  :'( and my old car is sitting outside in all weathers! not happy about that at all.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: matthewmosse on November 04, 2015, 10:07:47 PM
Got a use for the old carbs? I have an incomplete set and might be interested in a cheap set to pillage for bits....
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on November 04, 2015, 10:43:12 PM
Not really buddy, id like to get it running properly first incase i need anything mind you. there isn't much worth using in the bowls anyway. are you desperate? id be hoping to have this running within the next couple of weeks, after that ill give you a shout
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: matthewmosse on November 05, 2015, 06:40:38 AM
Not an urgent need, just a spare set I have kicking around incomplete that if the right bits turned up, might prove usefull.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on November 08, 2015, 05:55:55 PM
well after having a think about it, i decided to do a compression test...

(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/jj205mi16/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/IMAG0063_zpspig4vbo4.jpg)

so between 85 and 110psi dry, a wet test seen them jump to 155 and 160psi, so thats a little worse, i guess its a rebuild on the top end.

Can anyone move this to the technical section?
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: Bryanj on November 08, 2015, 06:07:33 PM
Before you strip that down get it MOT'd and run it for a while as it could just be sticky rings that may well free off
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: Trigger on November 08, 2015, 06:22:10 PM
Bryan is right, get it nice and hot, give it a good trash as it will loosen the carbon from the rings.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on November 08, 2015, 06:30:42 PM
it won't run well enough to take it anywhere lads, I've had it running a fair bit revving it out etc but still no joy. it can't hold an idle etc
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: Trigger on November 08, 2015, 06:42:11 PM
Not ticking over will be the carbs or points on these old girls most of the time.
Title: Re: CB500/4 carburetors
Post by: jj205mi on November 08, 2015, 07:46:12 PM
The Honda manual says the compression to be 150-170psi, i thought the bike would be running poorly due to the lack of compression low down rpm. Damn points were before my time lol, i prefer electronic ignition and fuel injection all day.

ill have a look at the contacts, but i don't imagine it will run well with only half the compression it should have, you fellas will have more experience with these machines than me so as i said I'm open to suggestions.
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