new cbx owner

[Paul]

Hello all CBX'S ,I recently purchased my first 1979 CBX which I have not actually seen as yet and only some photos .The info I got is that the bike has been sitting for about a year and a half and the egine has not been run during this time .I was wandering what's the best way to go about starting without doing any engine damage .Should I change the oil ,filter, before starting and what would be the recommended oil for this bike .Also would it be a good idea just to take out all spark plugs and place a small amount of oil into each cylinder and turn over the engine before actually starting to make sure there is some lubrication in the piston and rings .Any info would be much appreciated , I own a few Triumphs and BSA so this would be my first venture into a Japanese classic .
Thx Paul

[EMS]

Hello Paul:

Congratulations and welcome to the CBX community People approach an issue like yours differently and everybody has his/her own preferences. If I buy a bike that has sat for that long, I usually take the cylinder head and oil pan off and check the inside. Changing plugs, oil and filter then goes without saying in addition to adjusting valves and installing fresh seals. I know, many say it is not necessary and it may be too much of a project, depending on what one's mechanical skills and experience is, but - as I said - people have different ways to handle this. This is mine. I ride my bikes in the summer only and use a 20W50 oil. Synthetic in those that have separate motor oil from the clutch and a cheaper, motorcycle specific regular oil in all others.

[Rick Pope]

Welcome Paul,

There are some ICOA members in your area, and I'm sure they'd be willing to help you through the "initiation" of CBX ownership. I can't recall the names of the guilty folks in your are at present, but perhaps someone will chime in with that info. Ray Korpan of Saskatoon is quite knowledgeable about these bikes, reach him at Korpan Tractor. I believe Rick Sauter is in Calgary.

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Welcome to the site, Paul.
After a year and a half of sitting indoors i would use the same start-up method as you have mentioned. Obviously if you feel or hear something funky when you are turning it over by hand the top end will need inspecting.
Remember, these brutes are addictive.

[Paul]

Definitely will take the easy route and avoid taking the cylinder head off only if I hear strange noises ,not that I am lazy but this would be a daunting task on this bike compared to the british parallel twin cylinder which I have done many times .Also read on this site to put the oil in the cylinder and leave it overnight which actually sounds like a good idea .The 20w-50 synthetic oil ,can you reccomend a specific brand .I will probably change the spark plugs ,what's recoMmended ,at present I don't have a workshop manual .Also on this site there has been alot of discussion regarding the oil filter ,do you have any recommends on this as it seems the original CBX filter is hard to find .
Thx ,Paul

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Oh no...not another oil thread.
I have been using Screamin Eagle 20w-50 full synthetic. The stock oil filter 15410-426-010 should be available at any Honda dealer.

[EMS]

Oh no...not another oil thread.
.

Yeah, and maybe we can talk about what brake fluid to use.. ..still, as I said above: For "unit" motors, with the clutch and transmission part of the same oil sump, I do not use synthetic. That's why I don't know what synthetic to recommend for a CBX.

[Don]

Welcome to the madness Rick - It won't be too long and you'll be giving some of us advice on the care and feeding :)

My '79 sure isn't fond of synthetic - The starter clutch is beyond flaky after using synthetic for only a few hundred miles so the synthetic will have to go at the next oil change - Back to Honda GN-4 for me . . . . I never had any problems when using that

Don

[spencer]

Don, what kind of synthetic oil are you using? I don't want to encourage another long oil thread, but I have used Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 since I got my CBX, and I have never noticed any problem with any clutch. Just wondering what you are using.

[oilheadron]

Don, my 79's starter clutch seems to "hang on" and whine slightly longer than normal after the motor starts. This is after switching to Amsoil. Is this the symptom that your bike has??

[SanDogDewey]

Oh no...not another oil thread.
I have been using Screamin Eagle 20w-50 full synthetic. The stock oil filter 15410-426-010 should be available at any Honda dealer.

I'm switching to bio-oil. Used french fry oil from the local McDonalds. Makes my exhaust smell as good as it sounds.

[Don]

Don, what kind of synthetic oil are you using? I don't want to encourage another long oil thread, but I have used Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 since I got my CBX, and I have never noticed any problem with any clutch. Just wondering what you are using.

Spencer

I switched to Mobil One V-twin 20W-50 synthetic air cooled motorcycle oil ($9 per quart) at the last change. Everything was normal for the first 200 to 300 miles (rode most of that at the Brookville rally) but by the time I got it home the starter clutch began acting up

Dave McMunn warned me about it - Some CBX's do this . . . . others don't. When the bike is warm, it starts as normal. A cold start first thing in the morning is an adventure though. When any one cylinder fires, the starter clutch lets go and the starter just spins. When the bike is warm, the engine is running as soon as the first cylinder fires, but from a cold start it's quite different. Sometimes it takes 5 or 10 minutes to get it running because it usually doesn't start as soon as any one cylinder fires . . . . but the starter clutch is is disengaged and the starter motor is spinning like crazy almost as soon as you hit the button. It never did this even once with regular Dino oil - The good news is that Dave pretty much assured me it will go away almost as fast as it appeared once I get rid of the synthetic oil

There is only about 12,000 miles on the motor from new, BTW

I agree with Mike - Modern synthetics are great for engines . . . . not so good for gearboxes and clutches

Don

[Jeff Bennetts]

For a bike that has been sitting for only a year and a half I would'nt worry too much about any special starting procedures other than changing the oil and plugs, to be safe though you could just pull the plugs and then turn the motor over by hand by removing the crank cover. Use a box wrench versus a ratchet to turn the motor over for better feel, what you'r lookiing for is whether the piston rings have seized to the cylinder walls because of any surface rust caused by sitting. In most cases you can feel the rings hang up a bit as you turn the motor over by hand if the rust is heavy or the rings have seized slightly .

[Louis]

I only use Amsol synthetic oil in everyone of my bikes including my Turbo CBX. A air cooled bike will run about 30 degrees cooler with this oil as per Amsol. No leaks-no slipping of clutch.
With your bike sitting only about a 1 1/2 years not much to do except maybe carbs. I have had bikes sitting for 5 years and all we do is the carbs. My 2 cents worth.

[Don]

You've gone through so many CBX's that have sat for extended periods and got them up and running so well that I think your 2 cents is actually worth a whole nickel Louis

Don