CX500 GL500 650 Global

I have been a proud owner of a 1978 CX500 Custom for the last 8 years. I am originally from Indiana (great seasonal weather for bikes) but moved to Arizona in 2004 (year round riding, weather is brutal for bikes, rots and wears batteries). I rode my bike in the Arizona heat in July and found out what it was like to ride an air cooled bike. I found out that my bikes radiator was 80% blocked. I tell you it sucks having your bike over heat and quit in downtown when the temp is 115 degrees and your in full riding gear. I got it fixed and continued to ride until about 2006 and then had to park my bike due to the cost of insurance and registration here in Arizona. I recently got in back into running condition last month and am now having fuel issues. It was running fine at low speeds but when I took it above 50 for a prolong period she would start to studder and finally die. I could sustain it for a short period by pulling the chock out but it would finally die. I had a friend work on the carbs and it still did the same thing. We finally figured out that my intake tubes were making the mix lean due to cracks. We rapped the tubes with M4 tape and clamped them. After a few other fuel supply issues now we are having problems with the floats. The 78's are suppose to have plastic float with a metal float arm. I have an all metal one. So the mix is still lean and we think it is due to the floats not being able to be adjusted. My friend is a motorcycle mechanic but CX's are sensitive bikes. Any help?

Joshua

See this link on setting float heights.I've even been able to reset the full plastic ones,

http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=110

Also carbs do come up on Ebay quite a lot,

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=cx500+carbs&_sacat=See-All-Categories

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I read your post on floats. Thats why I joined the community. I am looking to put it into use this week. I would love to find a set of carbs from a 78 so I could restore them and them replace my old ones. I dug through the salvage yard for 2 hours yesterday and found a lot of CX carbs but all from 80 through 82.

Are you sure you can't use any of those other carbs?AFAIK the only differences are the how wide they are e.g the GLs carbs are not as wide.If you can find a set that fits a across the Inlets then you can soon make sure they have the correct jets.However you my be right that the Customs are a bit different.Internally I think most of the parts are the same.

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I dropped off my floats today to my friend. I'm dissapointed I can't be there to help him tonight. Thats one reason I want another set is so I can rebuild them myself.
I did find a lot of GL's as well, and the carbs are the same. The brace is closer together than on the CX model. I'm curious to know if you swapped out the bracket and the fuel tube if it would work just a good. I'm really axious to rider her again. I don't think I could ever switch to another model after a CX.
Thanks for the help.

Joshua

What is the number on the side of the carb bodies?

The stock CXs are 36A 0D7

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Ok. I got my CX back on Sunday. I have found out that my bike is a '78 with a custom tank that did not come out until '79 and a fuel valve that did not come out until '81. I do have the newer style cabs that came out in '80 however. This I think may be part of my problem. The guy that was working on my bike is not framilar with older bikes and I think that this may be part of the problem as well. She is running worse than when I took her to him. I can now only take it to 45 mph before the float bowls run out of fuel and she stutters and evetually dies.
I do not know the tube routing for the newer carbs. I have a fuel line, a vacuum line, and a vent line on the fuel valve. The newer carbs also have two ports on the inside of the carbs, he had the vacuum line connected to the one on the left carb, the other was left un-tubed. when I tipped the carbs to the side when they were removed, fuel came out of both of these ports. Where does the vacuum line connect to? what are these ports?
Please help, I need to ride soon!

joshua,read this thread...
http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/141202/ShowPost.aspx
good luck

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uk 1982 gli silverwing
uk,1981 gl troublemaker

when i feel the need,i do it

The link help a lot. Unfortunetly, I do not have a diaphram spring, o-rings, or the spring seat. I'm going to call the guy that worked on my bike to find out if he has them. I know he has my petcock filter. I did order a rebuild kit for my pitcock just a moment ago. hope it gets here quick.
Any help on the carbs?