CX500 GL500 650 Global

Who I am and what I do and doing? OK I am currently a log truck driver because I love driving. I was a pipefitter mainly for nuke plants where I was in line to become a field engineer. Before that I drove cross country and while I liked that it cost me a wife so...... Before that I worked in a plywood mill at every job they had. Before that I drove short haul in La. and befor that was in the Army.

My first bike was a 1984 250 enduro that I ran the wheels off of. While in the army I got a 1979 Suzuki gs1000gl and rode it till it fell apart(Yes it was a prototype bike and zero replacement parts to be had). My first 2 wives hated bikes so I was dry till about 4 years ago when my new wife rode a Harley Ultra and we brought it home. It burned up and she had the bug too so I got her Scoobie, A 2008 Roketa Bali 150 scooter that she rode everywhere and got her MC endorcement with. Then she got me a 1981 GL500(Silver) and I found one she could reach ground on a 2004 CMX 250 Rebel(Johnny). Then she got Streak, a 1979 CX500C for me. a year later we found 2 more bikes, Bella and the next day Trixie, Both 1983 GL1100I's with 60K and Trixie has a voyager kit so she can ride a big bike now. I just acquired a 1980 suzuki GN400 as a basket case to chop.

Currently I have Silver in the livingroom dressing her and Streak in the shed undressing her along with Suzy. Bella has an oil leak on valve covers needing fixed and Trixie needs starter clutch cleaned but both are mobile. Scoobie has sat so long neglected I have doubts she will start on her own but Johnny goes all the time. We have a lot of remodeling to do on our new to us frame house that bikes get worked on slowwwwly. But most weekends I do manage to find a little time to tinker until house is done.

I seen some interesting ideas on here for streak and even suzy but me biggest problem with Suzy is the 6 volt system with magneto. One day I can fix that. For now my goal is wiring and carbs on Silver and get her riding again.

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Edmond Burke"The only thing necessary for the advancement of evil is for good men to do nothing".
79 CX500C, 80 GN400, 81 GL500s, 83 GL1100i, 83 GL1100iVoyager, 04 CMX250 Rebel, 08 150 Roketa Bali

Welcome.Also have a look at Chopper Charle's forum as it get busier than here and is mainly North American contributors,

http://cx500forum.com/

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My Music
http://www.reverbnation.com/pauldouglas

Thank you Admin, thats how I found this one. The Army and working in nuke plants taught me redundancy and so I am on 3 CX500 sites, 3 GL1100 sites, Have Honda, Clymer, and Haynes manuals for each bike and Clymer, Haynes and Chilton manuals for each truck. Am I anal or thorough? haha

_________________
Edmond Burke"The only thing necessary for the advancement of evil is for good men to do nothing".
79 CX500C, 80 GN400, 81 GL500s, 83 GL1100i, 83 GL1100iVoyager, 04 CMX250 Rebel, 08 150 Roketa Bali

You can never have enough info for cross referencing

In the 6 years I've run these bikes I've dispelled a lot of myths that some of the,"Old Guard" may not have taken kindly too.

Very early on within 3 months of ownership I cured the common starting problem of firing on one cylinder.There were lots of false reasons given for this such as the Cylinder configuration among other things.I've been messing with bikes since I was 14 years old and the 1st thing I did was strip the carbs and clean them properly.Then stripped the starter motor and serviced it and made sure I have a good charged battery and also fitted an in-line fuel filter.I also cleared out the Vent hole in the Petrol can to help prevent vacuum lock as I noticed the tell-tale sucking sound on a hot summer day as I released the cap to fill up at the petrol/Gas station.

Apart from the above I have also retro-fitted an Electric Fan system
http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Efan.htm
and also promoted an in-bike mechanical seal fix thus preventing having to remove the engine.
http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Mseal.html

I've also promoted the use of Cheap 15w40 semi-synthetic made for diesel engine cars motor oil.I was put on to it by other UK riders.It's by far and away the best oil or these bikes.You don't need fully synthetic expensive oils.Stock 10w40 as recommended by the manual is fine but the oil above makes the gearboxes really smooth.

http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl ... Change.htm

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My Music
http://www.reverbnation.com/pauldouglas

Nice work Admin, keep it up it helps the rest of us. I have used Rotela T 15W40 in all my bikes including the Harley. If it can handle a 12 liter 1k torque motor it is good for bikes. My big trucks go 1-2 million miles on it with few problems so maybe I can get close on bikes. I also use seafoam for storage (seldom here) and at the first of spring I run 100 miles( around the block) with a can of seafoam in crankcase with new filter and then change oil and filter( I get filters by threes). During the winter I drain coolant and flush with distiled water and refill. My 1100's never reach fan cuton unless idling for 30min in 100 degree heat and I have yet to get CX fan to come on and the gl only once(intentional check). I am always reading these forums for more ideas to try out. If one does not work I have no problem doing a complete overhaul pronto to fix it. Keep it up and thanx.

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Edmond Burke"The only thing necessary for the advancement of evil is for good men to do nothing".
79 CX500C, 80 GN400, 81 GL500s, 83 GL1100i, 83 GL1100iVoyager, 04 CMX250 Rebel, 08 150 Roketa Bali

Your CX and GL 500s have a mechanical fan unless they have been changed.Only the 650s and the Turbos had electric fans.

I don't recommend the use of,"Seafoam" or any other similar product in crank cases unless the engines have been regularly done this way from new.I've ruined an engine using these kinds of products as they removed the needed build up of crud around the big-end shells.For most people it's safer to just use some cheap 20w50 mineral oil as a engine engine clean.Run for say 30 miles and then change.After this just change oil and filter between 3,000/4,000 miles and there will be no need for internal engine cleaning products.
Also a good coolant system flush is worthwhile,

http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Coolant.htm

Especially on older machines and low mileage little used machines as the coolant can crystallize over time blocking the coolant passages/Rad cores as in this extreme example I saved for a friend,

http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl ... Flower.htm

_________________
My Music
http://www.reverbnation.com/pauldouglas

Yes, they have mec fans now but that will change. Good idea about the vinegar. I started the seafoam from fresh rebuild to keep sludge off starter clutch and internals. I see where you are going with old motors and the old adage about being held together by the rust. I would not put seafoam in old motor until I see internals. Maybe MMO if starter clutch is questionable until tear down time. I like the writeup on moly grease. We used to put STP on internals when rebuilding 350's. Sounds like I will start using Moly instead.

ATM we have to remodel house as funds come up but I am always tinkering on one of the bikes. Currently I have Silver in the livingroom and just need to get fairing wired up and carbs working then I can start on Streak. Meanwhile I have to get Trixie's Starter clutch working and fix a valve cover leak on Bella.

Also, I only do the seafoam after a long(2+ months) layup. Oil seems to change to acid when it sits very long.

_________________
Edmond Burke"The only thing necessary for the advancement of evil is for good men to do nothing".
79 CX500C, 80 GN400, 81 GL500s, 83 GL1100i, 83 GL1100iVoyager, 04 CMX250 Rebel, 08 150 Roketa Bali