How to clean the oil filter on the Honda CB450 / CL450 / CB500T

October 01, 2021 21:00
Updated

Looking inside of your Honda CB450 / CL450 / CB500T engine for the first time might surprise you. Instead of running a paper filter element like the majority of modern motorcycles, it runs a centrifugal oil filter. Oil gets pumped into this filter on your vintage Honda motorcycle while it is spinning at a high speed, causes dirt particles to be pressed to the inside of the rotor cup, and pumps the now clean oil out and back to the remainder of your engine. This rotor needs to be opened and cleaned every other oil change, or every 3,000 m / 5,000 km. We also highly recommend doing this if it is your first oil change since buying your CB450 / CL450 / CB500T. Luckily, for this family of motorcycles, this is easily done through the access cover in the right engine side cover.