Author Topic: new member, 1974 CB350F (Read 5035 times)

rboe · « **on:** May 23, 2012, 04:58:35 PM »

Barn fresh (Phoenix garage) CB350F, red (not the faster green one) not ridden since around 1984 with 8K miles. Front brakes - dried up fluid, non-functioning, carbs kinda sorta clean (I've since used carb cleaner and a soda blaster) and tire rot (who knew?!).

I put in a master cylinder rebuild kit; leaks at the brake lever now. I fear I put in one or more of the seals bass-ackwards. Tried to follow the picture in the Clymer manual and the online lit. but I could easily fat fingered it. Could use some advise there if there are some tricks to it.

I ordered all new brake lines for the front. 40 year old rubber brake line seems like pushing things.

Carb rebuild kit ordered and is here, hope to install that this weekend.

Any thing else I should look at to make her road worthy? I used to own a Honda CJ360T back in the day ( would like to get another one some day) but the Honda fours I'm pretty ignorant of so advice and gotcha's would be greatly appreciated.

This is a picture after the rear rack/sissy bar and fairing were removed.

Thanks

Ron

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2012, 05:00:58 PM »

That's a real nice bike. Welcome to the board.

camelman · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2012, 05:18:03 PM »

Welcome and congrats. That is a beautiful bike what shape are those exhaust pipes in? Any holes, or usable?

rboe · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2012, 05:34:58 PM »

Far left muffler has two rust holes/cracks, the other three looks good so far. At some point I'd consider buying a new set from the fellow in the UK.

It is nice, very little clean up to do except for the parts you can't see like the front brake system. Rear shocks don't any more. Sounds expensive.

I had originally thought about fixing her up and flipping her but the longer I have it the more I think this will be a fun bike to ride. Especially for day rides.

If this goes well I'd like to score on a 550. Back in Minnesota the CB450 twins were as common as house flies. In Arizona they are not - but that would be a fun bike to have too.

Would it be a good idea to convert this to electronic ignition?

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2012, 06:57:14 PM »

Quote from: rboe on May 23, 2012, 05:34:58 PM

It is nice, very little clean up to do except for the parts you can't see like the front brake system. Rear shocks don't any more. Sounds expensive.

The brake caliper being seized would be standard fare. You can pop it out with a good master cylinder. Are you sure you assembled it correctly? There was a guy here that made brake pistons but I haven't heard from him in a long time.

Quote from: rboe on May 23, 2012, 05:34:58 PM

Would it be a good idea to convert this to electronic ignition?

What would be the point of that?

But seriously, it depends on who you talk to. Lots of threads here on that.

Those old 350Fs run great. I've put probably close to 10000 miles on mine since about 4 years ago...

camelman · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2012, 07:47:17 PM »

10,000 miles in 4 months? Wow, just wow!

I like my dyna ignition. It really smoothed out my 350f and took put the guess work. Repop rear shocks are cheap and your plan with your brakes sounds good. The master should not leak on you. I have plenty of spared if you decide to replace it. I'd also recommend patching that exhaust or finding a good one on eBay. Cheaper than a whole new set, assuming you care about money.

rboe · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2012, 07:52:41 PM »

How would one go about patching it (It would be nice if it looked good too - may be asking too much though).

You can rebuild the shocks?!

I don't think the piston for the caliper is stuck but I have yet to get fluid down the lines. When the new ones arrive and get installed I'll try that again. I don't think I'll have issues on that end but the day is young.

As I learn the systems I expect to redo some things once or twice as I learn the ins and outs. When I'm "done" with this I have a XR650L that got low on oil (who knew they burned oil so fast when new?) I get to rebuild. sigh......

camelman · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2012, 10:45:16 PM »

Quote from: rboe on May 23, 2012, 07:52:41 PM

How would one go about patching it (It would be nice if it looked good too - may be asking too much though).

You can rebuild the shocks?!

I don't think the piston for the caliper is stuck but I have yet to get fluid down the lines. When the new ones arrive and get installed I'll try that again. I don't think I'll have issues on that end but the day is young.

As I learn the systems I expect to redo some things once or twice as I learn the ins and outs. When I'm "done" with this I have a XR650L that got low on oil (who knew they burned oil so fast when new?) I get to rebuild. sigh......

First off, apologies for the terrible iPhone grammar in my previous post!

A good welder/brazer could patch up your holes. Just have them clean it up well to get to decent metal, and then put on a patch. If brazed, then good stainless would probably be a good bet, although I'm no metallurgist.

By "repop", I just meant copies of the originals. You can find them various places for $100. They suck, just like the originals, but they work. Alternatively, you could get really nice replacements, or spring for some entry-level Hagons. I really recommend the light springs on the Hagons unless you are a portly guy. It wouldn't hurt to keep the originals though. Some folks really like the original stuff.

Sorry to hear about the XR. By the way, my first bike was a CB360T! i got it in boxes and assembled it by guesswork. I got everything correct except the exhaust collar flanges, which resulted in me smelling like unburnt fuel until I figured it out! My college buddies called me 87 octane for a while!

Camelman

onagd · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2012, 11:01:15 PM »

Nice machine. I have one which is one the next "to do" roster. Same colour as yours.
If you would like "new" pipes, you can get them through David Silver Spares in England or CMSNL in the Netherlands, "BUT THEY AIN'T CHEAP".
Get the little beast running sweet and enjoy her.
Brett

Hablo · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2012, 11:07:49 PM »

Congrats on the purchase.

You can read in a lot of different threads on here people recommending to keep and re-use your original metal carb parts and just use the o-rings with the rebuild kits. The reasoning being that the new parts with the kit may be slightly different, the taper on the needle for example.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2012, 04:38:51 AM »

Congratulations on your acquisition!

BTW, from your title you think it to be a 1974 model, but from the color it would be either a 1972 or 1973. In 1974 they only made (for most world market anyways) it in the Glory Blue Black Metallic color.

tomkimberly · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2012, 05:06:04 AM »

I went with braided SS line for my brake.

Tom

karateisland · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2012, 06:35:15 AM »

I've just purchased the same bike in the same color (though a '72) and will be getting it delivered tonight and road-worthy in the next few months. Those cables look great--where did you source them from? I'll need to do some similar work on my front brakes.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:59:45 AM »

Quote from: karateisland on May 24, 2012, 06:35:15 AM

I've just purchased the same bike in the same color (though a '72) and will be getting it delivered tonight and road-worthy in the next few months. Those cables look great--where did you source them from? I'll need to do some similar work on my front brakes.

If you are looking for the hydraulic brake line, this fellow on the site is highly recommended. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=54790.0 A few years ago I purchased some regular lines for my 1974 CB350F, and have been quite pleased.

iron_worker · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:03:10 AM »

That bike is beautiful! I would love to own a 350F one day... guess I better fix up the 750 that I've got first. lol

IW

tomkimberly · « **Reply #15 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:19:20 AM »

Quote from: karateisland on May 24, 2012, 06:35:15 AM

I've just purchased the same bike in the same color (though a '72) and will be getting it delivered tonight and road-worthy in the next few months. Those cables look great--where did you source them from? I'll need to do some similar work on my front brakes.

Z1 Enterprises. If you dig around here enough, you should be able to find the thread I posted doing this mod. It included all the part numbers.

Tom

socalenduro · « **Reply #16 on:** May 24, 2012, 12:11:58 PM »

congrats on getting the best of the SOHC bikes....
green might be faster, but red is sexier

Operator · « **Reply #17 on:** May 24, 2012, 12:21:44 PM »

Progressive offers a line of rear shocks that fit all versions of the SOHC's. Mine were $180.00 for shocks and springs delivered norht of the border from Dennis Kirk. Great company to deal with over the phone and excellent customer service. Very happy with them and their ease of adjustability in the event I carry a passenger. Only issue I had was they only had black for the 750's.

Good luck

Operator

tomkimberly · « **Reply #18 on:** May 24, 2012, 02:12:46 PM »

Here is the link to my thread on the stainless steel brake lines.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=49773.0

Tom

karateisland · « **Reply #19 on:** May 24, 2012, 03:00:40 PM »

Thanks, Tom! This forum is the best.

rboe · « **Reply #20 on:** May 24, 2012, 07:09:01 PM »

Built February 1973, first registered in '74. I bet it is a '73! Thanks for making me look.

I read somewhere in here earlier while lurking that the metal bits in the carb kits may not be as good as the original and to just use the rubber bits so that was my plan.

Good tips on the shocks. I'd like to get some decent ones so I'll have to roll some quarters. I'm not portly so light springs will be fine.

I tried to find the brake line parts on Z1 and couldn't find any brake line parts at all. Gave up and went else where. The black braided ones were not DOT approved so stuck with the clear stainless. sigh.

Local Guzzi guy does welding so I'll pester him. This is a skill I never acquired.

Good stuff folks!

socalenduro · « **Reply #21 on:** May 25, 2012, 09:42:37 AM »

where did you look to find out when your bike what made? (feb 1973)
id love to know my bikes birthday

tomkimberly · « **Reply #22 on:** May 25, 2012, 10:53:33 AM »

If you still have the label on the steering neck, it will tell you what month and year your bike was assembled. If your frame has been repainted, this label may not survive.

Tom

socalenduro · « **Reply #23 on:** May 25, 2012, 11:16:59 AM »

thanks... im pretty sure mine has been painted over...
was hoping someone found a way to track the VIN finally....

tomkimberly · « **Reply #24 on:** May 25, 2012, 11:58:43 AM »

This is what is here: http://www.sohc4.net/index.php/cb350/cb350-4-model-guide/

Tom

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Author Topic: new member, 1974 CB350F (Read 5035 times)