20 Most Recent 1981 Honda CX 500 B Questions & Answers

get your valves adjusted

If the battery charged before the "chop job/ignition bypass" and afterward does not, the you have left out a circuit that excites the alternator field. This was most likely part of the original ignition wiring, and you will need a Honda wiring diagram of you bike model and specific year in order to identify the wiring correctly. Otherwise, restore the original ignition wiring and switches, and see if the battery starts charging again. Then work backwards removing only the wiring that you know is not part of the charging system. Through the process of elimination you will discover which wire powers the alternator. It will take time and patience.

click on to the posted website link below and about half waydown that web page is directions and photos of your bikes petcock and noted connections for the fuel line

http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/96728/ShowPost.aspx

hi, the rocker cover gasket can be reused if is not damaged in any way you may want to apply a small amount of sealent to it, when tightening the rocker coverbolts when you feel them stop use only a slight amount of pressure to tighten, as they tend to break when overtightened, i am not sure what part you refere to exactly but if you mean the ruber ring that fits in the rocker cover then this is a simple job, do you have oil leaking from the weep hole in the side of the cylinder head?this ring fitted to the rocker cover stops this,

I would considering they are all the same age if you do one now you might be doing another next week. with high temps and age they dry rot.

The deluxe model has two latches one on either side of the seat, if you flip both levers at the same time and lift, the seat will come off. The custom model has two bolts that hold the seat down, near the back, one on each side. Remove the side covers, take off the seat bolts and lift the back of the seat pulling toward the rear of the bike.

under the carbs there is a little black screw turn this by hand anti clockwise until 1-1500 revs if this doesnt work the choke may not be going all the way off or pilot screws under float bowls in recess been adjusted too far screw gently all the way in DO NOT over tighten then unscrew approx 1.5 turns out on both carbs if your experiencing flooding from carbs the bowls need to be removed and the pilot jet attached to the float needs replacing hope this helps steve

lookon the steering stem part of the frame, you may have to turn the handlebars from side to side to find the best angle to see the compliance plate.

Without the book you can look at the wire color including any secondary marks like the different color line on the side of some of them,at the start lets say in the headlamp connector,note what they are and look along the wire harness untill you see these same gague and colors you started with test to be sure, no battery power should be hooked up while u are doing this.as u need to be able to use multimeter to test for continuity, ground or open circuit. first thought i had was check fuses.if they are good test for 12 volt on headlamp wires, if they have power the bulb may be bad. to test lamp with meter set to cuntinuity watch for signal between the low and high beam terminals and the ground in the center, if none a bad bulb is what you have.

you definately have a fuel problem .
clean your tank first as deposits in the tank might have made way to the carbi .
the fuel/air mixture is one thing but your bike may have also oil burning issues .
try first by making sure the carbies are clean , fuel tank clean , the air mixture adjustment is tricky but usually screw the air mixture screw on the carbi all the way in and undo it 1.5 turn back and no more .
try that first and see how you go . the vaccum menbrane in the carbi may be defective too and may have to be changed .
have a look at all that and see how you go

try a cut down seat instead.

The tool kit for this bike is located under the rear passenger seat - right behind the tail light. You'll have to open both of your saddlebag locks/helmet locks and unlock the seat to access it.

Use a soft punch and gently drive the axle shft out, they do get stuck pretty tight, but is the nuts are off nothing else holds it in but a poss worn bearing race, so try the punch and a hammer. I have owned many bikes includiong Honda's I know this info for sure.

Hi,
You bike is equipped with a 12 volt battery. The best way to charge these is to use an automatic charger that will shut off when battery is fully charged. I usually charge mine on the 2 amp setting (trickle).
Depending on the charger, you may need to pick up some smaller clamps as most chargers' clamps are too big to clamp on motorcycle battery posts.
Hope this helps

Gary,
Pull the bowl from the left carb and remove and clean the float needle and jet. It sounds to me that this passage is plugged. You might as well clean the whole set since you have it off.
It is a common problem for those carbs on the older bikes for the jets to plug up from old gas, or material such as rust in the tank. Check your fuel filter if you have one. If not I would suggest you install one when you are done.

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Is it getting fuel? Are the plugs wet when you remove them after trying to start it? It could be the Diaphragms in the carbs, they are made of rubber and do perish over time which causes a running problem,leading to a starting problem.