New comer with an old one.

Just got a '94 haven't even hit the start button yet. Fingers crossed it's not a turkey.
Pav.

welcome to the forum pav hope you get the bike fired up ok

It won't be a turkey - CB500's are as hard as nails.

welcome to the forum pav
hope all goes well with the Bike.
They go for ever & a day I know some have had over 130,000 miles.
all the best
Regards
Martin.

lol mine didnt but i still love them

Thanks fella's - spent hours today looking at it in detail finding out clues about history etc. - got a scottoiler - that's good, 66000 showing - lot's of cobwebs - been stored for a while then - twin pot nissins seized up - disc looks O.K not too thin - only two bolts holding rear rack, not good, choke lever snapped off at bars, no headlight bulb - rear avon just passed it - front Metzler passable - seat will need recovering - plastics a bit tired.
Having said all that, have got a good feeling - hope it won't be a waste of cash.......patience, patience.

Hello!

Sounds like it could be made good.

Personally I'd get it running/riding well (or at all) before spending too much...

Mine is/was in quite a state but has recovered/endured well, so there is some luck.

If they do go wrong it is normally due to gross abuse eg. running with no/low coolant, no oil etc

Welcome Pav, keep us posted with your progress!

Charged the new Yuasa - stuck it in, hit the button - nothing.However, like a t**t after a coupla hours checking fuses, wiring for shorts, sidestand switches, spagetti in the headlamp -realised that in all the excitement I'd caused a tiny sparking event while rushing to install battery so rechecked fuses - thanks to this site found out the main fused is rather tucked away - obviously blown. hope I haven't stuffed up the reg/rect. with new fuse in position turned on and .................................... neutral and oil light came on - almost as good as Carol Vorderman coming to live with me in the biblical sense.
Hit the starter button and after about 12 seconds she fired ( first time for lots of months I think). Sounds tappety so shimmings a priority- but should be on the road after a week or two. Front nissins going to need a lot of love though - so pleased. TBC.

Excellent news!

In case you didn't know, the clutch can make one hell of a rattle on these bikes when in neutral and idling. Doesn't seem to be a problem, apart from the noise.

So if you are hunting for the source of strange noises it is worth pulling the clutch in and seeing how much of your noise goes away...

I checked/changed the valve clearances on mine the other year - it isn't too bad and once you've done it you probably won't need to do it again.

schoolboy error - took it to a local mechanic for an MOT and a sort out, got burned 460 quid - will be interesting to see how he justifies this ( seat recover, new rear , front caliper, bit of welding oil filter ) some other odds and sods. f###.

welcome to old bikes,lol. well worth it tho,the smile gets bigger and bigger

paviland wrote:schoolboy error - took it to a local mechanic for an MOT and a sort out, got burned 460 quid......

Ouch! That must've stung!

Welcome along, sounds like there's a usable bike in there with not too much fixing. Older bikes are more fun!

I'd recommend buying a Haynes manual and doing the servicing schedule (pretty simple stuff) as at the end of it you'll have a well checked over bike that'll be good to go.

As to the £460 ! sounds like your mechanic is on the make ! I'd certainly ask for an itemised bill and list it on here, see if it stacks up, I'd reckon not from what you've said.

atb

m1

Thanks once again for your kind messages - guess who's definitely sorting out the cam - chain tensioner, changing shims etc. himself ?
There's a renntec rack on the back I don't need - anyone need one ?

An update on the romance - almost certainly been despatched - but I've been flying round for a coupla weeks now and it's a total beaut. Has turned me into a hooligan again at times - bloody great.Ordered a CCT from Tippets ( thank forum ) put it in myself really straightforward, solved the ticking immediately. Really cultured machine - got a bad earth on the sidestand switch, light permanently on and a couple of little glitches. But I have seen her face and I am a believer, metaphorically speaking. Wrap up.

Nice!
Now let's have a bit of warmer weather for some decent riding!!!

Good to hear you're enjoying it. Pictures?