I commute about 8 miles one way. This November morning was 54d so I decided to take the CX to work today! AND I finally got a microphone to run into the helmet, so I you can hear me instead of the wind!
Unbolt the carbs and turn them upside down. On the bottom of each carb there is a round plug in a recess. Carefully run a hacksaw blade across each plug deep enough to pry the plug off. Under the plugs will be mixture control screws. Default setting are one turn out. Turn each screw out 1 1/2 turns and your Honda will not be cold blooded anymore. Also, if you ever have trouble with the ignition components in the stator use ignitech aftermarket ignition. It bypasses the stator and brain box under the seat. Its computer controlled and even does the spark advance. I have had my cx500 for forty-one years. Great bike.
In germany we say "ist der Motor kalt, gib ihm 6 einhalb". Wich roughly translates to, and means: " If your engine is cold, rev it to 6 and a half Thousend RPM" But the thing is, this saying is not meant serious. Its an ironic statement that makes fun of people that dont know how to handle an engine right. In this case: not giving the bike any warm up time and beating the living shit out of it at the start. good luck with that engine. Its going to need a Rebuild if you ride it like this everytime.
To funny. I parked mine in my basement 15 years ago after my headlight died(wiring somewhere)! Ill get to it :) It was the perfect size bike - nice ride, plenty of power.
nice bikes. good torque & power for a 500 v-twin. excellent around town. ok on the highway. wish they would have had made the 650 for more than just 1 year. the 82 500 was the best of the 500's. the 650 was a good improvement.
I don't know if you still ride this CX500, but if you do, I have almost exactly the same bike with headlight issues. The headlight used to shut off all the time with my bike. It is the starter button killing the headlight to send power to the starter. You can rebuild and clean all the right handgrip electronics or spray electronic contact cleaner up the drain in it. Or you can tap the button (sometimes hard) - my headlight always comes on that way.
I have an opportunity to buy one of these bikes later this week, for 1500. It's a '79 custom, in near perfect condition. What do you think? I just think they look cool and would like to have one. I already have a Sportster that I've had for twenty years and it's a lot of fun, but I like old Honda's too, just never owned one.
@@sixfive0cycle Well, I ended up getting that bike for $800, after much negotiation, mainly because it didn't run, and I had no idea if the engine even turned. But it was clean, obviously garage kept, and completely original with all original equipment. I spent the past two weeks getting it back up and running, fortunately the engine did turn, and does not smoke or rattle. '79 CX500 Custom, needed carbs rebuilt, battery, air filter, clean out fuel tank (no dents or rust/leaks!). Adjusted cam chain, checked valve lash, lubed all cables, changed rear end gear oil, lubed shaft. Also had to rebuild the front master cylinder and front caliper. Flush out old fluid, replace and re-bleed. Flushed radiator, fixed small leak in core. Bike runs great, but man it feels so weird compared to my Sportster!
@@trevorjameson3213 good to hear! Old bikes can be a lot of work but well worth it, working in the front brakes of mine this week. Definitely different ride than a Harley!
I have an ear for engines and yours sounds pretty rough. Maybe you need an oil & filter change. And those valve clearances definately need sorting out.
@@sixfive0cycle I am going to check out a 1980 cx500 on Friday so just checking out videos on them. I love old bikes. Had an 84 shadow a while back but sold it years ago and want to get something small and comfy for long rides!
You notice you don't have blinker issues. Sometimes the blinker just needs a blip. Hit it for a second, my cx does the same thing. She's and old girl and sounds worn out, lots of motor noise, take it easy
