Honda CX500 & GL500 Forum

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02-06-2008, 6:45 PM Jordan31 Joined on 06-12-2007 West Virginia Posts 85 Help me pick the right service manual!!! After hearing a dealer say it would be 300 bucks to run a new throttle/clutch cables to my clubman bars (with out the price of cables) I now have full intentions of finishing the work my self. Which book would be better for assistance? Clymer Repair for 22 bucks. http://www.clymer.com/Book.aspx?bid=478&title=Honda+CX+and+GL500%2f650+Twins%2c+1978-1983 I also found a downloadable version of the Honda CX500 Shop Service Manual for 19 bucks. http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/2643501-Software-Programs-Miscellaneous I wouldn't mind having the 2nd one because I can have it instantly and look on the computer when I need to. Any comments? http://jordango.com/cafe-racer/    Report

02-06-2008, 9:18 PM Vanmor Joined on 01-11-2008 USA Posts 216 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! I did the tradebit thing. $20 cheaper than a reprint plus you pay shipping. Quality is so so but it works. Vance    Report

02-06-2008, 9:42 PM Cobram Joined on 06-23-2007 Boston, MA Posts 643 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! It's a public domain manual.  I uploaded it to this site, in two parts (it has a 300meg limit and the manual is slightly over.)  Let me know if it works.  First time I'm using this site, let's hope it's better than the others I've tried. Warning though...not for the faint of bandwidth. First Half: 239MB http://www.filefactory.com/file/85a428/ Second Half: 149MB http://www.filefactory.com/file/a244a7/ Here's a Description: OFFICIAL FULL FACTORY SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL FOR THE HONDA CX500. ALL STYLES. 1978-1982 MODELS. 327 PAGES. These manuals are your number one source for repair and service information. They are specifically written for the do-it-yourselfer as well as the experienced mechanic. Using this repair manual is an inexpensive way to keep your vehicle working properly. Each manual provides step-by-step instructions based on the complete disassembly of the machine. It is this level of detail, along with hundreds of photos and illustrations, that guide the reader through each service and repair procedure. This manual can be kept on your harddrive, burned to CDROM, printed in it's entirety, or just print the pages you need!!! Detailed substeps expand on repair procedure information. Notes, cautions and warnings throughout each chapter pinpoint critical information. Numbered instructions guide you through every repair procedure step by step. Bold figure number help you quickly match illustrations with instructions. Detailed illustrations, drawings and photos guide you through every procedure. Enlarged inset helps you identify and examine parts in detail. Numbered table of contents easy to use so that you can find the information you need fast. This manual also makes it easy to diagnose and repair problems with your machines electrical system. Troubleshooting and electrical service procedures are combined with detailed wiring diagrams for ease of use. 1978 CX500 - I live on a one-way street that's also a dead end. I'm not sure how I got here, or how I'm going to get out.    Report

02-06-2008, 10:32 PM Vanmor Joined on 01-11-2008 USA Posts 216 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! I did the tradebit thing. $20 cheaper than a reprint plus you pay shipping. Wat a minute..... On some other sites I go to, they have old out of print manuals posted on the site for free download. Can we do this here ? I would be glad to share my manual with others on this forum. Vance    Report

02-06-2008, 10:34 PM Vanmor Joined on 01-11-2008 USA Posts 216 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Wow. Wish I had known about filefactory ! Well there you go then ! Vance    Report

02-06-2008, 10:39 PM Sture (in Sweden) Joined on 03-13-2006 Lund, SWEDEN Posts 155 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! About manuals: My opinion - the closer to Honda Original - the better! I have Haynes (UK) and Bucheli (German/Swiss?) for CX/GL and also Clymer manuals for other bikes I´ve owned. Nothing compares to the Honda manual, but at least Haynes have some good ideas to avoid expensive Honda special tools. About cables for Clubman bars:  I have these bars on three of my CX-es and cable length is an issue. The originals for a standard model just BARELY fit. You may have some problems with the brake line / brake fluid reservoir angle/ and electric cables. Nothing that can´t be sorted, but I believe it´ll take you an hour or two. Regards Sture    Honda CX 500 (B) -81 x 4 Yamaha SRX 600 -86    Report

02-07-2008, 12:34 AM Jordan31 Joined on 06-12-2007 West Virginia Posts 85 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Thanks Cobram! I love you! hahaha any time a college kid saves 20 bucks its nice! About the clubmans, my cables were too long and the throttle just binded up and wouldn't return to position.  I'll be looking over these PDFs this weekend when I go home and have the bike sitting in front of me! I love this board! jordan http://jordango.com/cafe-racer/    Report

02-09-2008, 7:31 AM fll1441 Joined on 11-06-2006 Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts 738 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Cobram, I just downloaded the service manual. Thanks. I had to wait two hours between the first and second parts, because I was not a member of the site. Other than that, it worked well. It took about 50 minutes for the first part and 30 for the second part on a DSL modem. I've been working from a Clymers manual and the one you posted looks much more detailed. I'm sure it will come in handy in the garage. 1982 CX500 Custom    Report

03-27-2008, 8:14 PM Falkon13 Joined on 03-16-2008 Gig Harbor, WA Posts 29 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Wow!  Cool.  I'm downloading the files as we speak.  I've already ordered the Clymer manual, but there's no such thing as too many books!  (I should know.  My poor floor joists...)  At least the electronic version doesn't weigh much.  Also, it doesn't get nearly as much grease on it.  I hope.  Falk '79 CX500D "Tinkerbell" Owning a vintage bike means ... lying in bed at night, dreaming of finding the PO's current ride parked in a dark alley.    Report

04-02-2008, 8:03 PM Hand Amputation Joined on 04-03-2008 Norman, OK Posts 9 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! I am dl'ing now. As a first time bike buyer this will definitely come in handy. Thank you! - n00b.    Report

04-06-2008, 8:50 AM Sidecar Bob Joined on 03-02-2006 Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Posts 1,025 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Get as many different manuals as you can. Every writer explains the same thing a bit differently so if you don't understand what the first one is telling you to do you will probably understand one of the others. Never rely on just a Clymer's manual. They are known to have errors that are re-printed in all subsequent editions. GX650EI + Velorex 700 (winter), '83 GL1000 (summer) '84 CB750SC Nighthawk (died - anyone need parts?)    Report

04-07-2008, 12:11 PM LonEagle Joined on 05-02-2007 Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts 184 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Just got my Silverwing shop manual today.  It's handy to have the whole thing always printed out for you when you're in the shop, and the quality of the pictures is much better than the PDF that's floating around on the 'net. Having a pdf of the common shop manual is good too.   But like I said, I hate reprinting.  Toner & paper ain't free and a commercial printer is better than mine.    Report

05-06-2008, 9:37 PM Anonymous Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!!  Cobram wrote: It's a public domain manual.  I uploaded it to this site, in two parts (it has a 300meg limit and the manual is slightly over.)  Let me know if it works.  First time I'm using this site, let's hope it's better than the others I've tried. Warning though...not for the faint of bandwidth. First Half: 239MB http://www.filefactory.com/file/5eb233/ Second Half: 149MB http://www.filefactory.com/file/f1e33c/ Here's a Description: OFFICIAL FULL FACTORY SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL FOR THE HONDA CX500. ALL STYLES. 1978-1982 MODELS. 327 PAGES. These manuals are your number one source for repair and service information. They are specifically written for the do-it-yourselfer as well as the experienced mechanic. Using this repair manual is an inexpensive way to keep your vehicle working properly. Each manual provides step-by-step instructions based on the complete disassembly of the machine. It is this level of detail, along with hundreds of photos and illustrations, that guide the reader through each service and repair procedure. This manual can be kept on your harddrive, burned to CDROM, printed in it's entirety, or just print the pages you need!!! Detailed substeps expand on repair procedure information. Notes, cautions and warnings throughout each chapter pinpoint critical information. Numbered instructions guide you through every repair procedure step by step. Bold figure number help you quickly match illustrations with instructions. Detailed illustrations, drawings and photos guide you through every procedure. Enlarged inset helps you identify and examine parts in detail. Numbered table of contents easy to use so that you can find the information you need fast. This manual also makes it easy to diagnose and repair problems with your machines electrical system. Troubleshooting and electrical service procedures are combined with detailed wiring diagrams for ease of use. Would you be my hero and reupload the first part please.  I would really appreciate it.  Im trying to find out how to rebuild the starter clutch on the 78 CX 500 I just picked up.

05-06-2008, 11:21 PM Cobram Joined on 06-23-2007 Boston, MA Posts 643 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!!  Anonymous wrote: Would you be my hero and reupload the first part please.  I would really appreciate it.  Im trying to find out how to rebuild the starter clutch on the 78 CX 500 I just picked up.  Links in the original post above have been updated. 174 downloads the first time around.  Get'em while they're there. 1978 CX500 - I live on a one-way street that's also a dead end. I'm not sure how I got here, or how I'm going to get out.    Report

05-06-2008, 11:58 PM Anonymous Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Thank you so much.  I have one of these for my 83 VT750 and it has helped me through so many tight spots.  I know this will be right there next to me as I rebuild this bike for my wife.

08-23-2008, 3:10 PM TMill2030 Joined on 08-23-2008 Posts 4 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Hello everyone !! I just recently purchased my first bike ..... 82 Silverwing GL500. (3 weeks ago) I just started having charging issues. the bike keeps running off of the battery. When I disconnect the battery it continues to run, but really rough, and I mean really rough. There should be a procedure to check some electrical components, maybe someone could share with me ? I do have a mutimeter and the battery is new .... I was wondering if someone could share the "part 2" file in the third post by Cobram .... I have download the first but the second has been removed. And any other links for repairs or anything else you think may help .... I look forward to seeing you guys around. "Ride Safe" Tom    Report

08-23-2008, 3:50 PM DaveF Joined on 06-11-2008 Lawrenceville, GA Posts 243 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! For the GL500/650, the battery is needed to smooth the output ripple of the charging system into a relatively smooth direct current for use by the transistorized ignition and other electrical loads.  It performs a function much like that of an output filter capacitor in a power supply.  The electrical system is not designed to work with the battery disconnected - running rough in this condition is to be expected. Many threads here deal with charging system troubleshooting.  This thread is a good place to start. The Honda GL shop manual can be downloaded for free here.  This is not the same as the CX shop manual. Welcome! My Home Page 1981 GL500I 1982 GL500I 1983 GL650I    Report

08-24-2008, 5:01 AM wildmanwill Joined on 05-25-2008 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Posts 297 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Is there a cx650 shop manual out there anywhere for download? 1983 CX650 C 1982 Yamaha Seca XJ750    Report

08-24-2008, 4:18 PM sbrogden Joined on 08-20-2008 the swamp known as Houston Posts 70 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Part 2 is "no longer available" sigh sbrogden 1980 Yamaha XS850SG (daily ride) 1980 Honda CX500C www.BrogdensMuse.MenofHonorMinistry.org    Report

08-26-2008, 7:03 AM jayhanig Joined on 08-23-2008 Charlotte, NC USA Posts 37 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! Second Half: 149MB http://www.filefactory.com/file/a244a7/ Does anybody have a link where I can download the second half of the file? The one listed has expired. Jay 82 GL500    Report

08-26-2008, 1:30 PM Cobram Joined on 06-23-2007 Boston, MA Posts 643 Re: Help me pick the right service manual!!! I've been trying to upload, there seems to be a glitch on the FileFactory site.  The file uploads then goes into limbo and doesn't show up.  I did upload the file to the site mentioned on this thread: http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/53376/ShowPost.aspx this is the site: http://www.de-pc.net/paginas/start_manuals.htm , but the upload hasn't been posed on the page yet.  If you FTP to the above site, you can download the file via ftp (programs such as "cuteftp" work well) until it shows up on the site.  I named the file "HONDA 1978-1982 CX500.pdf" to distinguish it from the other aftermarket manual they have uploaded there. 1978 CX500 - I live on a one-way street that's also a dead end. I'm not sure how I got here, or how I'm going to get out.    Report