Greetings from San Antonio, Texas

[RobertG]

Hello to all fellow CBX fans. I am a retired military officer and two time CBX owner living in San Antonio, Texas. The first CBX was about 25 years ago and one of the models with the fairing & bags. It was a great bike but always hard to start and didn't get ridden much. However, many bikes later and in 2014 I wanted another CBX, this time the original edition (first version). I had Tim's in Atlanta build the bike for me. Everything is new to include a European ignition. It also has six pipes instead of the stock unit. Otherwise it is all newly rebuilt , painted, finished etc. Looks brand new. However, I cant say it has been an easy time since delivery. I have been plagued with gremlins but finally got the bike to 650 miles and had the initial serving done at the local Honda shop. However, subsequent illness laid me up and the bike sat for about five months. Now, it simply WONT start (the gas tank had been removed during the period of the bike sitting unused). I have changed battery, checked fuses & wiring (all good), done a spark test (good). The starter motor is turning the engine over but it won't fire. I am not a mechanic by any means and hope that someone in the CBX association can help me or knows someone in Texas that can service the bike. My initial service to do motor adjustments & such cost me $1200. I cant spend that kind of money again. The local shop knows I don't have any alternatives and I also don't have much confidence in their young mechanics who were not even born when the CBX was current! They also managed to screw up the green neutral light on my servicing and it is hard to tell when the bike is in neutral now. Another reason I don't want to go back to that shop. Anyway, any replies with additional suggestions would be appreciated. I plan to post some pictures here shortly. Thank you!

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Welcome to the site, Robert.
What sort of gremlins were you experiencing when you first got it?
Sounds like you have tested the electrics.
Have you got fuel...could be that the 5 month downtime has gummed up the carbs.

[daves79x]

Welcome also, Robert!

Hate to tell you, but first mistake was taking it to the dealer. But sounds like you weren't happy with some things before that - can you elaborate? I think Bill at TIMS could have recommended someone to do normal service in your area. Sounds like the carbs to me also and these are all pretty finicky when it comes to those. However, no telling what was done at the dealer with regard to valve adjustment, camchain adjustment, etc. Those items shouldn't prevent it from running, but may not have been serviced correctly either.

Drain the carbs via each individual drain screw. Then run some fresh gas through and let it drain as it runs through. Tighten the screws and check for any leaks before trying to start. First try full choke and no throttle and see if it fires right away. If it doesn't, take off choke and hold full throttle while trying to start. It might be pretty loaded up. If either of these two things don't work right away, don't keep trying. Put in new plugs and then try the procedure again.

If the bike ran well when you got it and the dealer didn't really mess something up (like switching plug wires around or leaving valves too tight) it will start. If it starts but won't idle smoothly, get it good and warmed up and put some miles on it to see if the carbs will clear, if not, they'll need to come off and be cleaned. 5 months shouldn't have hurt them too much, but if they were left with gas in them, idle circuits could be plugged. You MUST drain the carbs if the bike sits more than a month or so.

Sorry your latest CBX experience isn't what you'd hoped, but give us as many details of exactly what's going on with your bike and we'll do our best to help you sort it out. You really do need someone nearby to do your service work if you aren't able. We used to have quite a contingent in Texas - anyone out there able to lend assistance?

Dave

[RobertG]

Thanks to both of you who posted hints for me.
I am convinced it is a fuel/carb issue.The fuel is new and also the additive to deal with ethanol in the fuel. I have fully tested the electronics and through the process of elimination narrowed it down to that being the most likely. The other "gremlins" i mentioned had to do with difficulty getting the bike into neutral, the neutral light being disconnected after the dealer serviced the bike (it worked when I took it in!), faulty valve stems that caused tires to go flat after a few days, instruments that developed "bubbles" on the face. Only the valve stems really solved. Tim doesn't answer my email any more (i.e. Bill) as I suspect he is tired of hearing from me and he never gave me any recommendations for servicing in Texas. However, with the exception of the not starting issue and the neutral light the other problems have existed from day 1. Im too far away from him to get the servicing done there.....but it's not my intent to be criticizing anyone. He did answer a lot of emails from me last year. I know this is a vintage bike and I didn't expect not to have some issues along the line. But the issues have yet to stop :). I rode the bike twice after the dealer had it and it did run OK so I don't think they screwed it up (other than the neutral light)...just jacked me on the price.
Ill be trying out some of these suggestions this week when I have more time to spend with the bike. Thanks again for the input.

[FalldownPhil]

Jebbysan (Jeffrey Gadiant) lives in New Braunfels, TX. I think that he can be found on this site as well as the other one.
He is a pretty capable CBX wrench.
Best,
Phil

[EMS]

as well as the other one.
Best,
Phil

We should probably provide a link, in case the newcomers don't know:

www.cbxworld.com

[FalldownPhil]

Thank You Mike
Phil

[herdygerdy]

Welcome aboard Robert, you have come to the right place.
+1 on Jebbysan to get your bike running right. He is a most competent CBX wrench and would be able to get your CBX just purring in no time I am sure.
Keep us posted on developments, its no fun having a CBX you can only look at!!