New member in London with a 1982 US import CB450SC

[Guest]

Hi all, my name is Tony and I'm in London, UK.

I recently picked-up an old CB450SC that has been chopped and have been busy sorting out the electrics for the rear, etc. I have a number of questions relating to the bike as it is quite different from anything else I've owned and hope some of you will be kind enough to share your expertise on these with me.

Q1. The bike has an engine cut switch that works well. However I have noticed that, once started by placing the ignition (key) switch on, if I turn the ignition (key) off, the engine continues to run until the cut switch is used. Is this normal? or do I have to rewire something?

Q2. The engine ran on one cylinder when I first got the bike but I inserted an inline filter and ran some Profl Fuel Max in the tank and the second cylinder soon fired up. They both run now but I suspect I will have to strip and clean the carbs at some point. The last user changed the stock exhaust system for a pair of harley like straight through pipes, with no crossover box. Is it likely that the carbs will need rejetting because of this? Anyone else here have a similar setup (still with stock airbox)?

Q3. There is a small leak from the rockercover gasket and I have ordered a new Honda part but will I need to add gasket sealant to it or should the rubber gasket go on dry?

Q4. I must give it an oil change before I run it again as there is very little oil in there. I've heard that 20/50W car oil is good in these but your opinions on what oil I should use would be appreciated.

Q5. It needs new tyres, front and back, and I was thinking of getting a Maxxis HiMax 130/90-16 and a 100/90-19. Your views on choices for these also appreciated.

Cheers,

Tony

[eastanglianbiker]

welcome to the forum if you plan on sticking around pop into newbie section and say hi.

do not use car oil as it is not designed for motorcycle wet clutches and will make the clutch slip you want a good quality 10w/40 bike oil semi synthetic.rocker gasket can go on dry they often strat leaking once they have been on and off a few times.the balance box missing wont to much difference on the exhaust.and there is a short in the wiring or it has been chopped about to make it keep running once ign is off,you might well find that if you put switch in the run position it will bump start without the key being turned on,so it needs checking out

[Guest]

Thanks for replying.

I got hold of an old schematic and it looks like there is a B/W wire going from both the engine cut and the igntion switch to the CDI unit. Seems like the ignition switch's wire must have been cut so I have to search through the loom for it.

Thanks,

Tony