JP Grasmuck, riding the
french motorcycle VOXAN -www.voxan.com-F.A.Q*
* Special thanks to Jean Paul GRASMUCK, American CBX Club de France member, who translated these english pages.
JP Grasmuck, riding the
french motorcycle VOXAN -www.voxan.com-
Laurent GAZIN will answer your technical questions in the club bulletin : Le Maillon
Being a member give you access to this important technical data.
TECHNICAL TIPS (Member only)
For example, below are some common questions and answers ( F.A.Q.)
Q. If no leaded fuel is available, what do I use ? Super with Potassium, unleaded 98 or 95 ?
A. You can use unleaded 95
Q. My CBX is hard to start when it is not ridden for a few days
A. You must wait for the carburetor bowls to fill up (30 sec. to 1 mn. on the Z model of 78 and 79). For the 1980 (A) and pro-links (81 and 82) equipped with a vacuum petcock, hit the starter a few seconds each time to create enough vacuum to fill the carbs, then turn off ignition and twist the throttle a few times to activate the accelerator pump and feed gas into the intake manifolds. Then, turn on ignition and it should start .
Q. Once warmed up, my CBX can’t drop to a normal idle speed when I release the throttle
A. If you already have synchronized your carburetors, this symptom indicates that your idle jets are clogged up.
Q. My CBX will not run without the choke on
A. This is also the sign of clogged jets
Q. Can I install a 78/79 (Z model) head on a pro-link engine ?
A. NO, the central studs are bigger on the late models and will not fit through the Z head holes.
Q. My alternator will not charge the battery , voltmeter stays at 12 volts\
A. There are several possible reasons in the alternator for you to check :
Q. How can I tell if my primary chain is still good ?
A. There is a way to test it . If you take out the oil line connector located behind the alternator housing,
You will see the chain rubbing against the connector if it is worn.
Q. A black compound runs off the ignition housing
A. With age, the resin used to seal all electrical components softens and may leak, but it does not affect
The CDI unit and should work anyway.
Q. My engine has a damaged crankshaft ( bent rods ) , where can I find a used one ?
A. Used crankshaft are hard to find. Often , it is possible to repair a crankshaft with a damaged journal,
Do not discard your damaged crankshaft , have an expert check it out first for possible repair
Q. I have an oil leak behind the cylinder block at the base
A. Sometimes, oil simply comes from the air box because the crank breather is connected to it
Q. How do I store my CBX if I don’t use it for a while ?
A. First pour in the tank a fuel stabilizer like STABIL or similar , then run the engine for a few minutes with it . After, shut off the engine and purge (empty) all carburetor bowls by opening purge screws , these 2 steps will prevent jets from being clogged by decomposed old fuel.
Q. My engine only runs on 4 cylinders
A. If 2 cylinders do not work (1 & 6 , 2 & 5 , or 3 & 4 ) , check one of the ignition coil under the fuel tank for possible defect or cracks. If they are Ok , check the CDI unit or the spark unit connections behind the right side cover.
Q. My engine only runs on 5 cylinders
A. It could be a defective plug, or a clogged carburetor jet, or a defective or loose spark plug wire
Q. My gearbox does not shift easy, it is hard to find neutral
A. First check your clutch adjustment, at the hand lever and over the clutch housing, also check the adjustment at the center cap as per the manual. Make sure your cable is well lubricated or change it if needed. If you still have the same problem, change for new and thicker oil ( from 10W30 to 20W50), or use synthetic motorcycle oil, if no improvement you must consider a clutch repair with new disks and springs.
Q. My CBX burns 1.5 liter of oil every 1000 km , is it normal ?
A. Oil consumption varies based on your riding style. On a rebuilt or fresh engine, at 150 km/h (95mph)
It is normal to burn ½ liter per 1000 km. On a high mileage engine, it could go up to 2 or 3 liters based on your riding ! If oil consumption becomes excessive, internal repairs must be considered ( valve guides, valve seats, rings etc…)
Q. How do I improve my CBX braking ?
A. First , purge and bleed all lines. Check condition of all master cylinders, you can find cheap rebuild kits. Use the right brake pads ( Ferodo or EBC seem to work well) , replace the stock 20 year old rubber
lines with stainless steel or Kevlar lines , they will not expand like the original rubber ones. You may drill your rotors for better heat dissipation . Without being comparable to modern sport bikes, a well maintained and overhauled stock system can be quite acceptable without incurring major expenses.
If you need more, consider changing calipers with double pistons (CB1100F) , cast iron rotors , there are many upgrades available…
Q. My fuel petcock is leaking and is hard to operate
A. Once you loosen the rivets, you may change the internal seal (o ring) and lubricate the rotating parts