Blame it on the rain…

Zip ties to the rescue once more friends.

A non-firing cylinder produced all sorts of worries yesterday as the CB500T coughed and sputtered forth under gray and sullen skies. Running alternately at full power with both cylinders blasting and then, seemingly out of the blue, wheezing and coughing on one strong but singular lung. There was no rhyme or reason here and educated guesses as to the cause of the problem included water in the gas, a funky spark plug, and/or a shorted coil; all owing to the drenching rains that we’ve been receiving this past week. Friends were coming over soon for yet another end-of-the-world/going-away bbq bash and I had to dash any plans I had of delving into this inopportune problem.

Of course, I thought about the Cb the entire time and was unable to enjoy my bbq. Even after 10 beers.

…so I came directly home after work today and got to work, stripped that bitch down and systematically eliminated all possible culprits. A quick points check revealed no spark on the right cylinder. But why? Check the coil. Yes, there it is, a broken connection. Bah, we’ve found the problem. Simple really, but I’m at my apartment and my extra electrical bits are not here. The female Y-connector has shed part of its receptacle and will no longer accept its male compatriot. We need a good connection here to make sparks and go forth into the promised land. This is nothing man. Necessity is the mother of invention and a temporary fix with some wire and a couple of zip ties was all that was needed to get the beast going again. See you in Alaska, dog.

See it?

CB500T Resurrection update

Know that nothing is more satisfying than hearing a dormant engine come to life, no matter how many kicks.

A recent trip to the parental compound yielded some garage time with the venerable CB500T. A fierce winter has prohibited much face time with the CB, but thankfully we are dealing with a 70’s Honda here, albeit the most cantankerous of the lot, and there is not much fuss to be had. Many kicks and many moons witnessed the CB sputter and start. A tune-up and down will need to be had: the carbs cleaned, points set, and valves checked before she is to roar once again.

She was not properly put to sleep lo so many moons ago and the discovery was made of float bowls full of gasoline, although there did not appear to be any gelatinous deposits; for which the motorcycle Gods can be thanked.

NMBP

She would not hold a throttle, and as such will require some tenderness.

The following work will need to be completed in order to right this ship:

• Clean Carbs
• Tune up: set valves, set points, set timing
• True Wheels
• Fix Headlight/Shore up electrical system
• Install New Chain
• Tune Down
• Square Away Brakes
• Fix/Weld exhaust flange

Non-essential but important nonetheless:

• Change fork-oil and toss-on fork gaitors
• Drill front rotor
• Remove starter, garner and install block-off plate
• Source CB450 headers and toss crossover box
• Tires and tubes

Important spares to garner and carry:

• throttle cable
• clutch cable (have already)
• rectifier/regulator (running one from OMP but best to be prepared)
• points (have (gl1000 points are the same))