Honda CX500 Ignition and carburetor problems - The Final

The final part of the mini-series all about the carburetor and ignition problems I ran into with the Honda CX500 "Daily Rider." It has been a struggle, frustrating at times but in the end the best way to learn all about this vintage motorcycle. We begin where episode 4 left of, with the engine finally having spark again, it ran, but the replacement carbs are overflowing big time.
The ultrasonic cleaner really helps and I can never go without anymore.
An ultrasonic cleaner can really clean the inside of the carburator like the pilot jet, main jets and other small channels. Cleaning these mikuni carbs on my CX500 with just carb-cleaner just isn't enough.
I hope you enjoy my video's and you can also find me on Instagram (@dutchedshedbuilds) and on Facebook.
If you like to support me in making my video's you can get merchandise (hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, mug) from my E-bay store: www.ebay.com/usr/dutched-shed....
The ultrasonic fluid I used in the video can be found in different stores. I got mine here (non-sponsered):
www.ultrasoonreiniger.com/tic...
#hondacx500 #honda #cx500

[@PurpleHazeT150V]

Thanks for your helpful video. I bought a nice eBay '82 CX500 and rode it 200km home with fuel leaking from the left carb all the way. Didn't find out until I I stopped. Got the carbs off, cleaned them and changed the float needles. All good so set off on a 300km ride but went onto one cylinder not far from home. Limped back. Carbs off again. Float needle stuck. Cleaned and reassembled and now running great. This seems to be a rite of passage for CX500 newbies 😂

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Seems like it my friend. These types of bikes need attention and love. Not a problem if you like a bit of wrenching every now and then. Glad to hear you got your bike running, you learned along the way, and thanks for watching!

[@chrisv678]

I have a 1980 CX500 Deluxe and it has been one hell of a voyage. I feel like I am living the same life as i watch your struggles. I have removed the carbs about 2,999 times. I am hoping that buying an ultrasonic cleaner and doing Larry's rebuild guide will be my saving grace. Thanks for documenting everything, it is a huge help!

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Just keep at it, you will get there. Spend the money on a good carb set, and ultrasonic cleaning is aost mandatory. Glad my video helped you 👍

[@johnrocker2986]

Coils are a major source of problems on older machines and I usually always change them as a matter of course as testing them properly is not as easy as folks think!

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

@@johnrocker2986 coils were at my attention but just swapping out (potentially good parts) is something i wanted to avoid. The video is a while Ago and the coils themselves where not the issue and are still working fine to this day.

[@johnrocker2986]

​​@@DutchedShedBuildsthe thing with coils is spark degradation over time usually caused by age but checking needs very expensive and precise equipment and cannot be tested by eye, but can throw up numerous running issues unless they are 100%

[@Jasperducati]

gaaf filmpje! heel leerzaam! heb 2 maanden geleden een cx500 gekocht en ben stap voor stap alles aan het opknappen en afstellen. genoeg kleine dingen die er aan te pakken zijn. de banden waren 23 jaar oud toen ik hem kocht dus hij zal weinig gebruikt zijn en er valt genoeg op te frissen. enorm leuk en leerzaam project, en een relatief makkelijke motor aangezien ik nog geen sleutelervaring had.

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Dank je wel - de cx500 is inderdaad een fijne motor om aan te werken. Succes met het sleutelen en hopelijk kun je gauw erop rijden. Want dat is toch het leukste!

[@Jasperducati]

Gelukkig rijd die al!! En probeer er elke week van te genieten. Maar zoals je wel zal herkennen, koude start soms wat lastig. Koelvloeistofreservoir is best vies van binnen. En zo zijn er nog wat kleine dingen. Tussen elk projectje door ga ik altijd lekker toeren. En dan op naar het volgende kleine projectje.

[@graemeyetts3465]

This was the best colour, wheels and radiator shroud, IMO. I had 2 and a 500 Turbo. Great work!

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Thank you !

[@gerardcullen5131]

Well done great to see it finished cx are a very good bike

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Thx! It is a lovely and very easy bike to ride! Absolutely love it

[@paulcooper5610]

you have the patience of a saint with those carbs, not sure I could of kept going that long. I only took mine apart 4 times before getting it to run on both cylinders and to not leak. Still satisfying feeling when you get it running. Mine also had issues starting when left for a few days, I just sprayed contacts and kill switch with contact cleaner and that seemed to resolve it for the time being. I love the CX, It was a very advanced motorcycle in it's day and still performs really well today. I look forward to seeing more videos.

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Thank you so much for watching, glad you liked them. Those carbs gave me hell but in the end it resolved it and i learned a lot along tje way. The cx runs great and i ride it daily. It will not be my last 😉

[@bushidoal916]

Stoked for you mate!! I'd every faith that you get it sorted out eventually. It's definitely a gorgeous bike for what you paid. Now go ride it & enjoy the Utrechtse wegen. 😉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤘🙏

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Thanks Al, pretty stoked myself!

[@cobbleup]

My GL650 was not getting fuel on the idle and mid circuits after cleaning the carbs as best I could without proper tools. Note: it ran beautifully for a half hour or so, then the left side would starve for fuel in slow circuits. What I ended up doing was taking it out on the road and quickly bringing it up to 8500 RPM under load in 3rd gear and quickly pull the choke and let it pull down with the choke on. I repeated this procedure 5-6 times and the jets cleared themselves. My theory is that the procedure I've described would create maximum and sustained vacuum at the jets and suck out the crap that was still lodged in them. I've put well over 1000 miles on Her with absolutely zero problems. Hopefully this will help someone. Also: When I'm cleaning the carbs I use a dab of toothpaste on a cotton swab (Q-tip) and spend a minute twisting the toothpaste and swab in the needle valve seat to shine it up. Just be sure to remove and remaining toothpaste from the fuel intake gallery.

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

I guess you and I know that the carbs are the biggest problem-makers on these types of motorcycles. Keeping those jets clean and not-clogged up is the biggest task. And I to did end up clearing the carb of final bits and pieces just by riding it for an extended period (if i runs well enough of course). Thanks for the tip and sharing your experience!

[@cobbleup]

I forgot to mention that I drained the left carb and filled it with carb cleaner and let it sit for a few hours before doing the aforementioned process.

[@ronreiff3991]

That's how I do it!😊

[@garydunn3037]

The floats work much like a toilet cistern. When they rise, they cut off the fuel supply. When they fall, the needle opens up the jet, and fuel comes in. Either your needles are stuck, or the floats are taking in fuel.

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Needles could have been a fault also but clearly they worked fine. It all worked out good!

[@tristannichols2560]

Do you recall what coils you used when you replaced the originals? I have a CX with a misfire and I'm pretty sure it's a coil issue. Replacement originals are nowhere to be found!

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

I never replaced the originals with aftermarket ones. The ones I used to test them were originals also. And in the end I never swapped the old ones as they were not the issue in this case. Dont know where you live but here in Holland they are fairly easy to come by (second hand and new)

[@tristannichols2560]

Ok thanks for getting back to me. I’m in Canada and they’re tough to come by here. I’ll keep checking - I definitely am missing spark sometimes.

[@ScrapSurvivalist]

Hey mate I have a cx500 and it goes pop in the right cylinder what fixed yours

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Another good clean of the entire carb, new o-rings on the intakeboots, good strong clamps on the airbox and intakeboots, and last but not least… all cylinders firing a.k.a. Fixing a bad connector near the TIA iginition modules

[@carlosgooglemaps94]

Waiting to overflow with the bowl removed and both jets needles closed?

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

Nope, waiting to see if the needles drip.. same as i assumed the bowls didnt leak (which one did)

[@carlosgooglemaps94]

@@DutchedShedBuilds 👍🏻

[@michaelperkins5746]

your HT leads are miles to long

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

What should they be according to you and what will the difference be? The bike runs fine now…

[@michaelperkins5746]

@@DutchedShedBuilds I had a cx 500 for 10 yrs great bike The groves on the valve cover box is where the Ht leads should sit

[@allanhughes7859]

Tell you what just bought a silver wing does not tick over forks leaking oil gears seem very very stiff and what will I do just ride it and ride it again I will only fix when it breaks never before and this system has saved me many many hours of work I will have to do the forks because they are broken but the rest just go with the flow and I tell you what yet again 9 timesout of 10 they will just keep going but not as you want ???? When you want old old bikes to run smooth and like your newer bikes forget it they never will because like me they are old and old things need some space and a little gentle touches at times just like me.. So dont waste money and time after perfection unless you are showing the bike for some mad reason !!! With all its fauts I would still ride this bike around Europe with a good set of spanners and A.A. or R.A.C break down cover.. Who gives a toss if it will not tick over as it should who gives a toss if neutral is a bastard to select "just stay in first" !! hope you get my drift but that chap in Holand does know his stuff !!

[@DutchedShedBuilds]

He sure does