SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Can I try to start it yet?

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JustcallmeMrT:

--- Quote from: Lobo on September 25, 2014, 11:29:08 AM ---Just to be clear on my behalf.... Mr T has stated that he WILL strip it down; come what may.
Armed with this info I still question the 'wiseness' of an unnecessary start.

If Mr is unsure whether to press ahead with a tear down... or not... then I guess a fire up can only help with this decision.

Generally, what a PO tells you can probably be discounted, his only thought is maximising the sale. The bike might have stood 13 yrs with zip oil in the sump.... probably not... but even so it'll likely have suffered significant moisture (= rust) in the engine. (esp UK climate)

Tom... you KNOW the history of your lovely 400F... you told me it was kept in a living room! Furthermore, a cursory glance at your machine & you know straight away it's been loved...

But yep Matthew, take your valid point about stripping it & making it all worse..

A dilemma!

Simon.

--- End quote ---
It's the making it worse that I'm worried about, as I've never attempted this on my own.  However, having now watched a fair few youtube videos and thoroughly read the manual, I think I can do it... though I will need an impact screwdriver, a puller and a torque wrench.... and someone mentioned a clutch tool?

matthewmosse:
Impact screwdriver and circlip pliers are pretty well the only tools other than assorted spanners and socketts that I recall using, appart from bits that weng wrong needing helicoil. Cb550 is a good engine to learn on, quite simple. Rather than use special tools for pulling the alternator rotor to do that seal I just left that in place. Only ever seen one leak, it self cured inside thd first 1000 miles. Been a while since I tried buying bits but last time I needed an engine it was cheaper to buy a spare complete unit off ebay then buy the gasketts and seals and the rest of it. Of course this also relives the stress from potentially mucking up a rebuild or blowing an engine in service too. On the other hand it also means my loft has about 10 spare viable engines stashed in there. Every time a gearbox got stiff to change gear or whatever, out it came, in went a spare. Having this forum now means I have access to know how of the likely causes of a fair few of these issues - oly thing is I don't remember which are simply un tested and which were faulty, though there are a couple where I have a fair idea, the one with a snapped camshaft or that ate camchains are distinctive.

Lobo:
Mr T... my old dad always used to point out, "you can't make a cake without breaking eggs "; yep, obvious.  Ok, there's a chance you might make it worse... but you have to balance this off against the fun & expertise gained from the job. Chances are, and with this forum at hand, you WONT make it worse, but likely come out the other side with a fresher engine and a great sense of achievement.

And frankly, if you screw it up... at the end of the day, it's only an engine. Remember this...

I paid through the nose to have my CB400F engine professionally rebuilt... regrettable, but the only option as I live / work abroad. But the day I'm home for good the CB750 comes apart for a major...

Simon.

bomber:
I would recommend to keep it running first, if it's healthy it will run, if something is wrong you will find out soon enough.
I took my engine apart and just today managed to put it back together but it is still long way for it to run.
Mind you, without any experience in mechanics, just with knowledge from the forum and manual, you can fix it up yourself.

K2-K6:
It's easy if you are going to strip it down completely and change absolutely everything that doesn't come up to spec as you don't then need any prior knowledge of a running condition to get going on, just pull it apart and get going.

If on the other hand you intend to go toward a general "maintenance" rebuild eventually then it would be really useful to get it going for a decent as is asseement I think.

I would do a start by putting a electric fan heater toward the sump for 20mins or so to warm the motor and oil, remove plugs and spray WD40 into the bores, change the oil and filter when warm, put some oil into the cam/ tappet access covers, crank it without plugs to see if the oil pressure comes up, then plugs in and try a start.

This should let you see what you've got there and at least make a more informed decision.

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