Motorcycle Repair: 1979 Honda CX500 small problems, 1979 honda cx500, research octane number

Question
hi,
i just bought this model and it runs farely well...
i just have a few questions
1. the blinker system (the right blinker works intermittently but the left side stays on all the time when switch is thrown)
2. if i hear a "ticking" sound when motor is running does that mean my valve timing is off and to fix that all i have to do is pull off the vented head cover thing the spark plug is in the center of, and fix the gap on the rocker arm assembly?
3. on the plate that specifies RPM @ idle, gaps for spark plugs and other things there is a passage in it that says it's supposed to take 91 gas
i'm confused because this bike is a 1979 and the 91 gas wasn't around then right?  i just filled it up with 87 octane gas... was this a mistake?

thanks


Answer
Ryan,
the left signal light is not flashing due to
low battery, wrong bulbs or possibly corroded
bulb sockets preventing a good connection to
ground. The flasher may be ok if it flashes
the right side blinkers. Try switching the bulbs
from right to left and see if it changes anything.

A ticking sound may be normal valve noise depending
on how loud the ticking is. The valve clearance can
be adjusted but some noise is preferable to them
being too tight.

Some foreign vehicle manuals recommend a Research Octane Number (RON) instead of the more common octane rating that appears on most gasoline pumps. As a rule, the recommended octane rating can be determined by subtracting four (4) from the recommended RON number. A vehicle that calls for "91 RON" should use 87 octane gasoline. Using a higher grade than is required will not usually increase performance.
Premium gas just ignites slower than regular gas to prevent
detonation or violent explosions that could damage the engine.

NOTE:
there have been recalls of certain models for
this:
THE CAM CHAIN GUIDE BOLT MAY LOOSEN DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF A RUBBER COATING ON THE SURFACE OF THE GUIDE IN THE AREA WHERE THE BOLT SEATS. IF THE BOLT BECOMES LOOSE, THE ENGINE WILL DEVELOP A TICKING NOISE. CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION WITH A LOOSE GUIDE BOLT MAY RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT AND INCREASED ENGINE NOISE.

You may want to check with a dealer for more info.

Rear seals may be leaking a bit, check the fluid level.
You may want to ask the dealer about seal replacement
costs.