Finally after a year re-building, "Betsy" the CX500 was ready to be booked in for her MOT test, or so I thought 
. Engine fired up ok and ran sweet as a nut on a quick circuit around the block, but front brakes felt a bit iffy which was a surprise as both callipers re-built with new pistons and seals, master cylinder too. Quick check over revealed fluid under the LH calliper, so took it apart again to check over, put back together and no more leaks. Until the next test ride, brakes still iffy, this time the RH calliper leaking. Stripped and re-built again and seems sorted now. So, test ride number 3, bike started but only running on LH pot. Turned out to be a duff spark plug, changed and all was well, quick spin around the block showed good braking and smooth running engine but, no speedo function !. Drive checked out, cable ok, so figured must be the clock. Removed that and sure enough it was stuck, so stripped, cleaned up and put back. Test ride No4, speedo ok, but only firing now on RH pot !. Checked plug and cleaned up. Pressed the starter and nothing, solenoid stuck !. Sharp tap with a hammer and bingo, worked next try and the bike fired up. Engine ticking over nicely, so I gets on for a spin around the block, but engines starts to misfire then cuts out. Tried to re-start but no luck. Petrol was low, so went to the filling station with a can bungeed on to the pillion seat of my old Royal Enfield. Filled the CX tank up and tried the starter again, but no luck. Checked the spark on the LH plug lead and seemed a little weak, no spark at all on the RH lead. Oh !, just to help wind me up more the solenoid kept sticking again !. I`m guessing the coil has gone kaput.
Sorry, just felt like a bit of a whinge !. Maybe Betsy is trying to tell me she does not want to come out of retirement after all 😄 !.
. Engine fired up ok and ran sweet as a nut on a quick circuit around the block, but front brakes felt a bit iffy which was a surprise as both callipers re-built with new pistons and seals, master cylinder too. Quick check over revealed fluid under the LH calliper, so took it apart again to check over, put back together and no more leaks. Until the next test ride, brakes still iffy, this time the RH calliper leaking. Stripped and re-built again and seems sorted now. So, test ride number 3, bike started but only running on LH pot. Turned out to be a duff spark plug, changed and all was well, quick spin around the block showed good braking and smooth running engine but, no speedo function !. Drive checked out, cable ok, so figured must be the clock. Removed that and sure enough it was stuck, so stripped, cleaned up and put back. Test ride No4, speedo ok, but only firing now on RH pot !. Checked plug and cleaned up. Pressed the starter and nothing, solenoid stuck !. Sharp tap with a hammer and bingo, worked next try and the bike fired up. Engine ticking over nicely, so I gets on for a spin around the block, but engines starts to misfire then cuts out. Tried to re-start but no luck. Petrol was low, so went to the filling station with a can bungeed on to the pillion seat of my old Royal Enfield. Filled the CX tank up and tried the starter again, but no luck. Checked the spark on the LH plug lead and seemed a little weak, no spark at all on the RH lead. Oh !, just to help wind me up more the solenoid kept sticking again !. I`m guessing the coil has gone kaput.Sorry, just felt like a bit of a whinge !. Maybe Betsy is trying to tell me she does not want to come out of retirement after all 😄 !.
