Re: Just turned a $16 job into a Bigger $$$ nightmare.

General Discussion

Just turned a $16 job into a Bigger $$$ nightmare.


Daniel45mpg 05-19-2008, 8:14 PM
Man I sure blew it! I was just trying to replace the faulty front brake switch on my 80 cx500c. The head of the bolt that holds it in broke off. Oh no! time to use a tap and die set.( really scary.) I got a little to hurried and didn't remove the MC first before i drilled. Just as i thought "well i better be careful this drill is going through like butter!" Splash brake fluid everywhere! Drilled right into the barrel! As the reality quickly sank in to what i just did. All i could do was sit down hands dripping with brake fluid and yell NO NO NO NO!!!!! Can anyone top that momentary loss of consciousness? wish I was as reliable as my CX. :_((
1980 CX500C
1980 CX500D

Renew, Reuse, Recycle.



Re: Just turned a $16 job into a Bigger $$$ nightmare.


bnoon 05-20-2008, 9:08 AM
I do things like that all of the time. I try to listen to that little inner voice that tries to talk sense to me, but that little inner voice must be a skinny little momma's boy that needs to sound off like he's got a pair... 'cause I never listen to him. Either that, or I just need to get more smartified.

Re: Just turned a $16 job into a Bigger $$$ nightmare.


kingston73 05-20-2008, 9:45 AM
Yeah, I've done MANY bone head things like that. I've kinda got the Tim the Toolman syndrome, always trying to make things "better" and fix it, even if it doesn't need it. I once turned a $20 bushing replacement into a $150 service bill for my pickup.
1979 cx500D/1980 CX500C engine

Re: Just turned a $16 job into a Bigger $$$ nightmare.


Sidecar Bob 05-25-2008, 5:25 AM

Many years ago I discovered coolant and oil mixing in a GoldWing so I reasoned that it must be a water pump failure (I didn't understand the function of the weep hole at the time). I replaced the pump and the front cover gasket and made an extra trip to get allen head bolts to replace the original philips head ones, put everything back together, filled the oil & coolant, started it up and watched it pee green out of the exhaust. That's when I realized that the oil & coolant could mix if a head gasket was blown too. Another week and a half of delay while the gasket came and I pulled it apart again.

This was my winter sidecar machine and I had to get a ride to work for almost a month while it was off the road and I had to heat the uninsulated steel garage enough to work on it. When the gasket blew again a couple of months later I gave up on that motor and bought a good used replacement. It cost less than I had spent for the parts I put into the original engine and needed almost no work until it's water pump went about 10 years later.

In those days we didn't have internet forums like this with people who have already done what you need to do and can tell you what to do to avoid a mess.

BTW: You can probably find a good used master cylinder at a local wrecker fairly cheap. It doesn't have to be from the same model as yours or even from a Honda as long as it is for a model with the same number of calipers as yours, but I would look for one that you can use your brand new brake light switch with.


GX650EI + Velorex 700 (winter), '83 GL1000 (summer)
'84 CB750SC Nighthawk (died - anyone need parts?)
Copyright 1978-2006 Charles E. Smith

Powered by Community Server, by Telligent Systems