CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics)

Well, I counted it out and I counted it back.

First big shock was haviung to *hammer* it to the hotel after getting
off the boat, because the boat was half an hour late and I knew what
time the hotel's restaurant shut.

Nothing goes as fast as TOG who's afraid he might miss his dinner.

Anyway, I wound it up to an indicated 90 and headed down the autoroute
for Abbeville 80 miles away, covering the distance in one hour. The
shock was running onto reserve at 73 miles.

That was about 30mpg, max. It *is* a thirsty bike. It doesn't seem to be
running rich, it just drinks fuel. Cruising it at 70-75 gave 43mpg later
in the weekend, but the moment you start using the revs above 6000rpm it
dives to below 40mpg. My four-piper K3 was never this bad. I *think*
they changed the carbs for the K3, because of economy issues with the F.
I'll check the Haynes BoL.

And it has a titchy tank - 2.5 gallons to reserve, or 100 miles. This
was a pain.

On the plus side, comfy, handles surprisingly well for a 25 year-old
Honda, and got me to ChateauRenault on the Loire in good time. Weather
was warm, and with a lot of luggage, it used a bit of oil, consuming a
litre over the whole weekend's 900-odd miles. Nothing untoward there.

It attracted some attention from the French Japanese SOB fiends (there
were a couple of CB750K7s there, an XS1100, a nice little GT125 twin,
and one or two other Japs) and some pitying glances from people who'd
ridden down on modern machinery. Generally, though, anyone who sees it
says: "Blimey, that's nice!" or "Blimey, I haven't seen one of those in
ages." Or, in one case, "My Dad had one of them." which really made me
feel ancient.

Tiniest of weeps from the r/h fork seal - just enough to stain the fork
stanchion, and not enough to dribble.

Only prob was switching on the ignition on Sunday morning - on came the
oil light but not the neutral light. I thought I'd knocked it out of
gear, but I hadn't. And the electric starter button wouldn't work. Eek.

It started on the kick, though, and the neutral light reappeared. This
intermittent fault persisted and now neutral light and electric foot are
utterly absent. No probs with the kick. All other electrics present and
correct.

It's not the bulb and I swapped the ignition switch over with the 400
Four and checked it's not that. Not the fuses either.

The CB550 *only* starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now
is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock
has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the
wiring through the loom to the ignition switch.

Anyone else got any brighter ideas?

--
Trophy 1200 750SS CB550F2 CB400F GT380 ST70 YTC#3
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 IHABWTJ#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 OSOS#1
BOF#30 WUSS#5 Home page awaiting transfer to Pipex

chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com (The Older Gentleman)
wrote:

>The CB550 *only* starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now
>is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock
>has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the
>wiring through the loom to the ignition switch.
>
>Anyone else got any brighter ideas?

Is there a clutch sensor as well so you can start it with
the clutch in, in gear?

On 8 Jul 2003 10:23:37 GMT, deadmail@burnt.org.uk wrote:

> chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com (The Older Gentleman)
>wrote:
>
>
>>The CB550 *only* starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now
>>is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock
>>has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the
>>wiring through the loom to the ignition switch.
>>
>>Anyone else got any brighter ideas?
>
>Is there a clutch sensor as well so you can start it with
>the clutch in, in gear?

No.

Or at least, I'm 99.9% sure it's the same as the 400/4, which doesn't.

--
Ace (bruce dot rogers at roche dot com)
GSX-R1000K3, CB400F2
BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, UKRMSPC#1, DFV#8

On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 10:29:40 +0000 (UTC), "Dr Ivan D. Reid"
<Ivan.Reid@brunel.ac.uk> wrote:

>On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 07:51:45 +0100, The Older Gentleman
> <chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com>
> wrote in <1fxroxf.1rc1ct21b7dv1xN@[192.168.0.2]>:
>
>> The CB550 *only* starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now
>> is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock
>> has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the
>> wiring through the loom to the ignition switch.
>
>> Anyone else got any brighter ideas?
>
> Neutral switches of that era were notoriously unreliable. The
>plus side is that they were simple, and easily played with. Check the
>cable first before diving into the switch -- it could have been cut by a
>flailing chain. (Note my experiences are with Suzukis; I'm postulating
>that Hondas were probably similar.)

Did they have sidestand switches ? ( showing lack of knowledge) Does
it have a sidestand ?

--
Klaatu

Gort! Deglet Ovrosco!

On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 12:50:06 +0100, Klaatu <Klaatu@NewPlanet.com>
wrote:

>Did they have sidestand switches ?

No, those were the glorious days when you could ride off with your
sidestand down.

--
Champ : A welcome patch of grey in a black and white world
GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX-7RR Endurance Racer (nearly finished)
GYASB#0;BotToS#2;BOTAFO(T|F)#35;UKRMFBC#2;IHABWTMM J#3;MCT#5;WG*#1;BONY#40;DFV#8;IbW#17;SBS#34;BHaLC# 1
Racing : www.team-ukrm.co.uk. Vanity Publishing : www.champ.org.uk

On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 17:22:14 +0100, Champ <news@champ.org.uk> wrote:

>On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 12:50:06 +0100, Klaatu <Klaatu@NewPlanet.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Did they have sidestand switches ?
>
>No, those were the glorious days when you could ride off with your
>sidestand down.

Ahh happy days...
--
Klaatu

Gort! Deglet Ovrosco!

Dr Ivan D. Reid <Ivan.Reid@brunel.ac.uk> wrote:

> On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 07:51:45 +0100, The Older Gentleman
> <chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com>
> wrote in <1fxroxf.1rc1ct21b7dv1xN@[192.168.0.2]>:
>
> > The CB550 *only* starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now
> > is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock
> > has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the
> > wiring through the loom to the ignition switch.
>
> > Anyone else got any brighter ideas?
>
> Neutral switches of that era were notoriously unreliable. The
> plus side is that they were simple, and easily played with. Check the
> cable first before diving into the switch -- it could have been cut by a
> flailing chain. (Note my experiences are with Suzukis; I'm postulating
> that Hondas were probably similar.)

You're right!

I zoomed in on the neutral switch earlier this evening. It works via a
cam on the end of (I think) the selector shaft, which, when the selector
shaft turns, operates the switch. It just wasn't making contact. Remove
switch, and see it's just a copper tang which bends under the cam and
makes contact. It was evident a piece had broken off.

I thought about it, and used one of those spade connectors (female
half), which I crimped onto the remaining tang, and then bent it until
contact was perfect.

Result: working neutral light and electric start. Cost: 40 minutes' time
and zero pence. I feel rather chuffed at a correct diagnosis and a neat
repair :-))))

--
Trophy 1200 750SS CB550F2 CB400F GT380 ST70 YTC#3
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 IHABWTJ#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 OSOS#1
BOF#30 WUSS#5 Home page awaiting transfer to Pipex

The Older Gentleman said:

>I zoomed in on the neutral switch earlier this evening. It works via a
>cam on the end of (I think) the selector shaft, which, when the selector
>shaft turns, operates the switch. It just wasn't making contact. Remove
>switch, and see it's just a copper tang which bends under the cam and
>makes contact. It was evident a piece had broken off.

Oil change to remove (hopefully) the broken off bit? IIRC there's no
oil filter on those (apart from the centrifuge on the end of the crank).
--
Simes

Simon Atkinson <$imes@raunds.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> The Older Gentleman said:
>
>
> >I zoomed in on the neutral switch earlier this evening. It works via a
> >cam on the end of (I think) the selector shaft, which, when the selector
> >shaft turns, operates the switch. It just wasn't making contact. Remove
> >switch, and see it's just a copper tang which bends under the cam and
> >makes contact. It was evident a piece had broken off.
>
> Oil change to remove (hopefully) the broken off bit? IIRC there's no
> oil filter on those (apart from the centrifuge on the end of the crank).

No, the switch and cam are outside the crankcases, behind the sprocket
cover. Very handy. I was surprised they don't give more trouble (chain
goo and stuff flying around) until I saw that the cover has a casting
that actually separates the unit from the sprocket and associated gunge.
A remarkably simple and neat form of engineering. I mean, it's lasted 25
years before failing.

And yes, it has a proper oil filter, on the front of the block. Even got
the (near-essential) 17mm-headed aftermarket oil filter bolt, too.

--
Trophy 1200 750SS CB550F2 CB400F GT380 ST70 YTC#3
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 IHABWTJ#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 OSOS#1
BOF#30 WUSS#5 Home page awaiting transfer to Pipex

On Wed, 9 Jul 2003 07:09:04 +0100, chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com
(The Older Gentleman) wrote:

>And yes, it has a proper oil filter, on the front of the block. Even got
>the (near-essential) 17mm-headed aftermarket oil filter bolt, too.

Oh christ, I remember those - famous for rounding of the original 14mm
item, weren't they.
--
Champ : A welcome patch of grey in a black and white world
GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX-7RR Endurance Racer (nearly finished)
GYASB#0;BotToS#2;BOTAFO(T|F)#35;UKRMFBC#2;IHABWTMM J#3;MCT#5;WG*#1;BONY#40;DFV#8;IbW#17;SBS#34;BHaLC# 1
Racing : www.team-ukrm.co.uk. Vanity Publishing : www.champ.org.uk

On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 21:50:50 +0100, The Older Gentleman
<chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com>
wrote in <1fxsrm7.8wz19p1n7ybciN@[192.168.0.2]>:
> Dr Ivan D. Reid <Ivan.Reid@brunel.ac.uk> wrote:

>> Neutral switches of that era were notoriously unreliable. The
>> plus side is that they were simple, and easily played with. Check the
>> cable first before diving into the switch -- it could have been cut by a
>> flailing chain. (Note my experiences are with Suzukis; I'm postulating
>> that Hondas were probably similar.)

> You're right!

> I zoomed in on the neutral switch earlier this evening. It works via a
> cam on the end of (I think) the selector shaft, which, when the selector
> shaft turns, operates the switch. It just wasn't making contact. Remove
> switch, and see it's just a copper tang which bends under the cam and
> makes contact. It was evident a piece had broken off.

Yep, sounds exactly like the switches on my first bikes.

> I thought about it, and used one of those spade connectors (female
> half), which I crimped onto the remaining tang, and then bent it until
> contact was perfect.

> Result: working neutral light and electric start. Cost: 40 minutes' time
> and zero pence. I feel rather chuffed at a correct diagnosis and a neat
> repair :-))))

Good!

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@brunel.ac.uk Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD. "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO# 003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

Champ <news@champ.org.uk> wrote:

> On Wed, 9 Jul 2003 07:09:04 +0100, chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com
> (The Older Gentleman) wrote:
>
> >And yes, it has a proper oil filter, on the front of the block. Even got
> >the (near-essential) 17mm-headed aftermarket oil filter bolt, too.
>
> Oh christ, I remember those - famous for rounding of the original 14mm
> item, weren't they.

Yup, and they weren't even 14mm. They were 12mm. I once had to remove
one with a set of plumber's grips and a hacksaw.

--
Trophy 1200 750SS CB550F2 CB400F GT380 ST70 YTC#3
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 IHABWTJ#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 OSOS#1
BOF#30 WUSS#5 Home page awaiting transfer to Pipex

The Older Gentleman said:

>Simon Atkinson <$imes@raunds.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> The Older Gentleman said:
>>
>>
>> >I zoomed in on the neutral switch earlier this evening. It works via a
>> >cam on the end of (I think) the selector shaft, which, when the selector
>> >shaft turns, operates the switch. It just wasn't making contact. Remove
>> >switch, and see it's just a copper tang which bends under the cam and
>> >makes contact. It was evident a piece had broken off.
>>
>> Oil change to remove (hopefully) the broken off bit? IIRC there's no
>> oil filter on those (apart from the centrifuge on the end of the crank).
>
>No, the switch and cam are outside the crankcases, behind the sprocket
>cover. Very handy. I was surprised they don't give more trouble (chain
>goo and stuff flying around) until I saw that the cover has a casting
>that actually separates the unit from the sprocket and associated gunge.
>A remarkably simple and neat form of engineering. I mean, it's lasted 25
>years before failing.

Fair enough - I never had to bother with the one on mine as the starter
was shagged and to puny to start the engine anyway. Kick starts were OK
for the young Simes.

>
>And yes, it has a proper oil filter, on the front of the block. Even got
>the (near-essential) 17mm-headed aftermarket oil filter bolt, too.

Of course - I'd completely forgotten that... Not sure I want to remember
it really. It was the G5 (and maybe CJ360T et al) that had no filter
apart from the centrifuge that only got cleaned when the engine was in
bits.
--
Simes

The Older Gentleman said:

>Simon Atkinson <$imes@raunds.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> >And yes, it has a proper oil filter, on the front of the block. Even got
>> >the (near-essential) 17mm-headed aftermarket oil filter bolt, too.
>>
>> Of course - I'd completely forgotten that... Not sure I want to remember
>> it really. It was the G5 (and maybe CJ360T et al) that had no filter
>> apart from the centrifuge that only got cleaned when the engine was in
>> bits.
>
>And the engine was in bits because nobody had ever cleaned it before,
>which was why it clogged up and eventually stopped the oil flow.

Usually - although it was not unknown for the cam-chain tensioner to
take an early bath.

I remember rebuilding a GF's G5 - started off just fitting a new
cam-chain and tensioner and got carried away. When it was back together
it ran absolutely silently (for a few hundred miles then started usual
non-threatening rattles). I even nut blasted the outsides of the barrels
and crankcases until they shone.
--
Simes

Simon Atkinson fascinated us all by saying...

> It was the G5 (and maybe CJ360T et al) that had no filter
> apart from the centrifuge that only got cleaned when the engine was in
> bits.

My CB250RS doesn't have an oil filter as such, just a poxy little filter
screen arrangement. It lasted 166,000 miles before going bang.

--
Lozzo
'95 Kawasaki ZZR1100D, '97 Kawasaki GPZ500S, '83 Honda CB250RS
Big Zed Little Zed Dead shed
New to ukrm? : www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmscbt.html

Lozzo said:

> Simon Atkinson fascinated us all by saying...
>
>> It was the G5 (and maybe CJ360T et al) that had no filter
>> apart from the centrifuge that only got cleaned when the engine was in
>> bits.
>
>My CB250RS doesn't have an oil filter as such, just a poxy little filter
>screen arrangement. It lasted 166,000 miles before going bang.

IIRC that wasn't entirely down to a filtration problem...
--
Simes

William the Concreter <Concrete@bikermail.org> wrote:

> Then he asked how you turned the lights on, I managed to keep a straight
> face as I handed him a box of matches.

ROFL. I can see that you could derive a lot of amusement from that.

--
Trophy 1200 750SS CB550F2 CB400F GT380 ST70 YTC#3
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 IHABWTJ#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 OSOS#1
BOF#30 WUSS#5 Home page awaiting transfer to Pipex

Simon Atkinson fascinated us all by saying...
> Lozzo said:
> >My CB250RS doesn't have an oil filter as such, just a poxy little filter
> >screen arrangement. It lasted 166,000 miles before going bang.
>
> IIRC that wasn't entirely down to a filtration problem...

It wasn't due to that at all, it was due to me not checkig the oil
regularly enough on a bike known to use quite a bit. I drained out less
than half a litre when I stripped the top end of the motor. I think some
RDs take more than that in their gearboxes.

--
Lozzo
'95 Kawasaki ZZR1100D, '97 Kawasaki GPZ500S, '83 Honda CB250RS
Big Zed Little Zed Dead shed
New to ukrm? : www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmscbt.html

Lozzo fascinated us all by saying...
> Simon Atkinson fascinated us all by saying...
> > Lozzo said:
> > >My CB250RS doesn't have an oil filter as such, just a poxy little filter
> > >screen arrangement. It lasted 166,000 miles before going bang.
> >
> > IIRC that wasn't entirely down to a filtration problem...
>
> It wasn't due to that at all, it was due to me not checkig the oil
> regularly enough on a bike known to use quite a bit. I drained out less
> than half a litre when I stripped the top end of the motor. I think some
> RDs take more than that in their gearboxes.
>
>

--
Lozzo

William the Concreter (Concrete@bikermail.org) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

> the place I take my bikes for MOTs had a new lad recently passed as an
> examiner, so they sent him to do my 1913 Triumph.
> He first put it on the brake tester, unsurprisingly the needle didn't
> even move
> Then he asked how you turned the lights on, I managed to keep a straight
> face as I handed him a box of matches.
> The MOT equivalent of sending the apprentice out to get a new bubble for
> a spirit-level

Nice. I thought getting a ticket on a VeloSolex was amusing...

(MOTMan even apologised for charging the full £14)

Lozzo said:

> Simon Atkinson fascinated us all by saying...
>> Lozzo said:
>> >My CB250RS doesn't have an oil filter as such, just a poxy little filter
>> >screen arrangement. It lasted 166,000 miles before going bang.
>>
>> IIRC that wasn't entirely down to a filtration problem...
>
>It wasn't due to that at all, it was due to me not checkig the oil
>regularly enough on a bike known to use quite a bit. I drained out less
>than half a litre when I stripped the top end of the motor. I think some
>RDs take more than that in their gearboxes.

I know...
--
Simes

	#1
The Older Gentleman	CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) Well, I counted it out and I counted it back. First big shock was haviung to hammer it to the hotel after getting off the boat, because the boat was half an hour late and I knew what time the hotel's restaurant shut. Nothing goes as fast as TOG who's afraid he might miss his dinner. Anyway, I wound it up to an indicated 90 and headed down the autoroute for Abbeville 80 miles away, covering the distance in one hour. The shock was running onto reserve at 73 miles. That was about 30mpg, max. It is a thirsty bike. It doesn't seem to be running rich, it just drinks fuel. Cruising it at 70-75 gave 43mpg later in the weekend, but the moment you start using the revs above 6000rpm it dives to below 40mpg. My four-piper K3 was never this bad. I think they changed the carbs for the K3, because of economy issues with the F. I'll check the Haynes BoL. And it has a titchy tank - 2.5 gallons to reserve, or 100 miles. This was a pain. On the plus side, comfy, handles surprisingly well for a 25 year-old Honda, and got me to ChateauRenault on the Loire in good time. Weather was warm, and with a lot of luggage, it used a bit of oil, consuming a litre over the whole weekend's 900-odd miles. Nothing untoward there. It attracted some attention from the French Japanese SOB fiends (there were a couple of CB750K7s there, an XS1100, a nice little GT125 twin, and one or two other Japs) and some pitying glances from people who'd ridden down on modern machinery. Generally, though, anyone who sees it says: "Blimey, that's nice!" or "Blimey, I haven't seen one of those in ages." Or, in one case, "My Dad had one of them." which really made me feel ancient. Tiniest of weeps from the r/h fork seal - just enough to stain the fork stanchion, and not enough to dribble. Only prob was switching on the ignition on Sunday morning - on came the oil light but not the neutral light. I thought I'd knocked it out of gear, but I hadn't. And the electric starter button wouldn't work. Eek. It started on the kick, though, and the neutral light reappeared. This intermittent fault persisted and now neutral light and electric foot are utterly absent. No probs with the kick. All other electrics present and correct. It's not the bulb and I swapped the ignition switch over with the 400 Four and checked it's not that. Not the fuses either. The CB550 only starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the wiring through the loom to the ignition switch. Anyone else got any brighter ideas? -- Trophy 1200 750SS CB550F2 CB400F GT380 ST70 YTC#3 GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 IHABWTJ#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 OSOS#1 BOF#30 WUSS#5 Home page awaiting transfer to Pipex

	#2
deadmail@burnt.org.uk	Re: CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com (The Older Gentleman) wrote: >The CB550 only starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now >is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock >has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the >wiring through the loom to the ignition switch. > >Anyone else got any brighter ideas? Is there a clutch sensor as well so you can start it with the clutch in, in gear?

	#4
Klaatu	Re: CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 10:29:40 +0000 (UTC), "Dr Ivan D. Reid" <Ivan.Reid@brunel.ac.uk> wrote: >On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 07:51:45 +0100, The Older Gentleman > <chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com> > wrote in <1fxroxf.1rc1ct21b7dv1xN@[192.168.0.2]>: > >> The CB550 only starts in neutral as a safety thang, and my guess now >> is that the neutral light switch is the villain. The safety interlock >> has to take its command from that, so I'll check the switch and the >> wiring through the loom to the ignition switch. > >> Anyone else got any brighter ideas? > > Neutral switches of that era were notoriously unreliable. The >plus side is that they were simple, and easily played with. Check the >cable first before diving into the switch -- it could have been cut by a >flailing chain. (Note my experiences are with Suzukis; I'm postulating >that Hondas were probably similar.) Did they have sidestand switches ? ( showing lack of knowledge) Does it have a sidestand ? -- Klaatu Gort! Deglet Ovrosco!

	#5
Champ	Re: CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 12:50:06 +0100, Klaatu <Klaatu@NewPlanet.com> wrote: >Did they have sidestand switches ? No, those were the glorious days when you could ride off with your sidestand down. -- Champ : A welcome patch of grey in a black and white world GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX-7RR Endurance Racer (nearly finished) GYASB#0;BotToS#2;BOTAFO(T\|F)#35;UKRMFBC#2;IHABWTMM J#3;MCT#5;WG*#1;BONY#40;DFV#8;IbW#17;SBS#34;BHaLC# 1 Racing : www.team-ukrm.co.uk. Vanity Publishing : www.champ.org.uk

	#8
Simon Atkinson	Re: CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) The Older Gentleman said: >I zoomed in on the neutral switch earlier this evening. It works via a >cam on the end of (I think) the selector shaft, which, when the selector >shaft turns, operates the switch. It just wasn't making contact. Remove >switch, and see it's just a copper tang which bends under the cam and >makes contact. It was evident a piece had broken off. Oil change to remove (hopefully) the broken off bit? IIRC there's no oil filter on those (apart from the centrifuge on the end of the crank). -- Simes

	#11
Dr Ivan D. Reid	Re: CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 21:50:50 +0100, The Older Gentleman <chateau.murrayNOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in <1fxsrm7.8wz19p1n7ybciN@[192.168.0.2]>: > Dr Ivan D. Reid <Ivan.Reid@brunel.ac.uk> wrote: >> Neutral switches of that era were notoriously unreliable. The >> plus side is that they were simple, and easily played with. Check the >> cable first before diving into the switch -- it could have been cut by a >> flailing chain. (Note my experiences are with Suzukis; I'm postulating >> that Hondas were probably similar.) > You're right! > I zoomed in on the neutral switch earlier this evening. It works via a > cam on the end of (I think) the selector shaft, which, when the selector > shaft turns, operates the switch. It just wasn't making contact. Remove > switch, and see it's just a copper tang which bends under the cam and > makes contact. It was evident a piece had broken off. Yep, sounds exactly like the switches on my first bikes. > I thought about it, and used one of those spade connectors (female > half), which I crimped onto the remaining tang, and then bent it until > contact was perfect. > Result: working neutral light and electric start. Cost: 40 minutes' time > and zero pence. I feel rather chuffed at a correct diagnosis and a neat > repair :-)))) Good! -- Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration, Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@brunel.ac.uk Room 40-1-B12, CERN GSX600F, RG250WD. "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO# 003, 005 WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon) KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

	#15
Lozzo	Re: CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) Simon Atkinson fascinated us all by saying... > It was the G5 (and maybe CJ360T et al) that had no filter > apart from the centrifuge that only got cleaned when the engine was in > bits. My CB250RS doesn't have an oil filter as such, just a poxy little filter screen arrangement. It lasted 166,000 miles before going bang. -- Lozzo '95 Kawasaki ZZR1100D, '97 Kawasaki GPZ500S, '83 Honda CB250RS Big Zed Little Zed Dead shed New to ukrm? : www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmscbt.html

	#20
Adrian	Re: CB550 to the Loire (paging SWK electrics) William the Concreter (Concrete@bikermail.org) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying : > the place I take my bikes for MOTs had a new lad recently passed as an > examiner, so they sent him to do my 1913 Triumph. > He first put it on the brake tester, unsurprisingly the needle didn't > even move > Then he asked how you turned the lights on, I managed to keep a straight > face as I handed him a box of matches. > The MOT equivalent of sending the apprentice out to get a new bubble for > a spirit-level Nice. I thought getting a ticket on a VeloSolex was amusing... (MOTMan even apologised for charging the full £14)