CB500 choke problem

davylynne · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 16 May 2007 Karma :

Hi all,

I'm hoping a friendly CB500 owner might help me out.

I've just bought a 98 model CB500S with 13,000 miles. I can't seem to get it to start and idle on the choke. I have to keep it running with the throttle until it warms up. Its most annoying especially as I usually end up letting it die a few times.

Too much choke kills it and so does too little. I'm used to my old gixer that you just pulled the choke on full, started it up and knocked the choke back to around 2000rpm.

Once its warm it seems fine.

Also its very lumpy around 2000 rpm while cold, possibly cause its just about to stall.

Thanks

Trixie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Karma :

Did the dealer service it for you? When was the 12000 mile service carried out? Maybe the carbs need a little bit of a balance and have you checked the choke cable?

My guess is that if it's been serviced, etc, the bike may have been stood for a while and just needs the cobwebs blown away a little? The petrol in the carbs may also be a little stale.

If I remember rightly, when I started the bike, I couldn't put the choke on afterwards, as it would make the bike cut out - dunno if that's complete irrelevant or of any help...?
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Dead nobodies in company cars...

davylynne · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 16 May 2007 Karma :

Thanks

I've ridden it about 80 miles so there shouldn't be any cobwebs or any old fuel in the carbs.

I guess the choke cable is fine since it does actually do something.

So what are you saying you did? - put the choke on, start it up and then knock it off straight away? I did that initially and it just stalled.

Aren't these things supposed to fast-idle when the choke is on like my gixer did?

Trixie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Karma :

I would say it may take more than 80 miles to properly blow away those cobwebs. A new tankful of fuel may help.

Now I'm going back some here, to when I had the CB, but as I remember, I used to put the choke on, start it and let it fast idle whilst I sorted out jacket, lid, etc. I'd then turn the choke down gradually until the bike could idle on its own. Hope that's of some help Thumbs Up

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Dead nobodies in company cars...

davylynne · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 16 May 2007 Karma :

Aha.. That's the info I was after. Its not going on to fast idle.

davylynne · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 16 May 2007 Karma :

OK.. so leaving work today it was fine. Choke on, fired it up and it climbed up to 2000 for a bit before slightly dropping back on its own. Seems to have righted itself.

Trixie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Karma :

Excellent

It probably just needs a bit of use after being stood. Hope the commute is a little easier on the CB!
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Dead nobodies in company cars...

davylynne · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 16 May 2007 Karma :

Actually I felt really smug today. Its only my second day back commuting on a bike and as I was coming off the A1 all the traffic was backed up the slip road as there'd been a minor shunt just around the corner. A lorry was right across the cross roads. It must have only just happened and it didn't look like anything was going to get moved until the police turned up.

But there was enough room to slip around behind the lorry and chuckle at - I mean feel sympathy for - all the cages that had just come bombing past at 90 about a minute earlier and weren't going anywhere any time soon...