Author Topic: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f  (Read 8303 times)

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Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« on: September 16, 2012, 08:28:17 PM »
After lurking around for a few months, I might as well introduce myself and my bike. I'm Bill from Gilbert AZ and back in June I picked up this little gem while I was up in Heber as a fathers day gift for $1200. It needed a battery and ran, well, barely but it was complete and unmolested. It hasn't been registered since 91 when the original owner passed away and left it to his son who basically stored it in his garage, only to fire it up once or twice in the last 20 years. It didn't take much to sell Mrs. Gumby on it and having the trailer with us turned out to be ever so convenient.
 So far I've pulled off the CHiP's fairing and crash bar, added clubman bars with bar end mirrors, rebuilt the carbs, replaced the points & plugs and cleaned the #$%* out of everything. Next is rebuild the gauges and replace the faces with black overlays and a new rear tire should be here this week so I can detail the back wheel. I'm not going too crazy with this round of mods since it's to be my daily. I would like to get some mufflers with a bit more volume, possibly a 4-1 set up from a 400f, but I'm torn as I really like the look of stock set up.

As it sat when I picked it up



On the back patio for carb removal


This explains a lot


It gets hot outside in AZ, this is much better


Next up is clubman bars


Pulled the front wheel or detailing and new tire


An entire can of oven cleaner




Front wheel installed and all cleaned up




I'll be on the lookout for a donor seatpan soon to make a cafe seat out of a I do t want to hack up the original seat permanently. I also need to do something about the ginormous brake light and rear fender. Thinking on using the Lucas one from my Norton since I'll be changing that one out if I ever get to working on that again!
« Last Edit: September 16, 2012, 08:33:35 PM by Mister Gumby »
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Garystratos201

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2012, 09:30:06 PM »
Good luck with your project....Gary
Visit my build project;
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=111620.0

Current ride; Bass boat.... 2005 Ranger 521VX,250 hp Mercury Verado, super charged and direct fuel injected. Not a bass on the lake can out run me !!!

Offline tortelvis

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2012, 11:50:12 AM »
Looks pretty good for the money. If you ever want to lose those pipes, give me a chance. I have a nice 4 into 2 but really want a set of 4 into 4s.

Offline WhyNot2

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2012, 12:00:22 PM »
Welcome, and:

2nd in line for the pipes.....would definitely love to have them.
« Last Edit: September 17, 2012, 01:45:45 PM by budlite282 »
If it ain't raining, I'm riding.....~~{iii}?~~prost

If it sounds like I know what I'm talking about, it's because I cut and pasted from someone else.

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2012, 12:27:45 PM »
Thanks for the compliments. As far as the OE pipes go, when I replace them I'll be wrapping them in a blanket and they'll go in the attic with the rest of the original take off parts should I or the next owner ever decide to go back to the original setup.
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Killer Canary

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2012, 04:32:21 PM »
What a difference some cleaning makes! What's that wiry thing around the headers in the first pic?
If it's worth doing at all it's worth over-doing.
Honda MT250, CB400F, CB450K, CB550, GL500, CBR929
Kawi GPz900, H1

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2012, 04:50:30 PM »
It was a cable lock through the front wheel and crash bar
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Killer Canary

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2012, 04:56:45 PM »
I clicked on this thread and then when I saw your avatar I realised that I hadn't seen a gumby in a while so I got side-tracked on youtube for an hour.
If it's worth doing at all it's worth over-doing.
Honda MT250, CB400F, CB450K, CB550, GL500, CBR929
Kawi GPz900, H1

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2012, 03:26:53 PM »
Cleaned the back wheel today and prepped for a new tire that's coming Monday.







I'm liking the look of the uncovered sprocket.


Next on the list is to rebuild the gauges with new face decals.


73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2012, 10:58:40 PM »
I finally got the bike on the road this week, but it ended up failing emissions miserably. Tonight I decided to pull the carbs to make sure the correct jets are installed as well as double check the float level. Well, I guess spending 40 years on a bike in Arizona doesn't make for happy rubber.


If anyone has a spare isolator laying around, I'd be happy to take it off their hands for a fair price. Who knows, I might just figure out a way to cast my own from high temp urethane.
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2012, 08:00:31 PM »
While waiting for the new carb boots, I decided to tackle the gauges






I'll post up a pic the finished tach tomorrow after the adhesive cures
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline goofy3392

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2012, 01:55:22 AM »
looking good!
1976 CB550

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2012, 04:02:54 PM »
Thanks, even with all the speedbumps I'm encountering its still going relatively smooth. At least the wrenching portion if it.
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline WhyNot2

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #13 on: October 10, 2012, 01:45:05 AM »
I wish I could do that with my gauges...............good looking job.
If it ain't raining, I'm riding.....~~{iii}?~~prost

If it sounds like I know what I'm talking about, it's because I cut and pasted from someone else.

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #14 on: October 10, 2012, 10:16:45 PM »
Thanks, I can't wait to ride it again. I actually found a set if carb boots from a member in DTT and hopefully I'll be on it daily within the next week or so if I can get it to pass emissions. The numbers were way fat and with the jets and needles being set at factory settings, I'm leaning towards it being a spark issue. Although I might drop the needles down a notch or two and run it through.
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #15 on: October 27, 2012, 09:49:51 AM »
Turns out the floats were 1-1.5 mm off as well as the o-rings for the main jets shrank causing it to suck gas past the jets. Got that taken care of and finally was able to get the carbs back home and rip it down the block. Huge improvement over what it was but still need syncing which will happen this week sometime

73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline heffay

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #16 on: October 27, 2012, 07:40:15 PM »
We'll have to ride sometime, I'm in East Mesa.

Bike looks great.
Today: '73 cb350f, '96 Ducati 900 Supersport
Past Rides: '72 tc125, '94 cbr600f2, '76 rd400, '89 ex500, '93 KTM-125exc, '92 zx7r, '93 Banshee, '83 ATC250R, 77/75 cb400f

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #17 on: October 27, 2012, 08:25:15 PM »
Thanks, that's a bet!
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #18 on: November 26, 2012, 05:31:24 PM »
Finally passed! Synced the carbs this weekend and had to run the idle screws 2 1/4 turns out, but it did it. Tomorrow I get plates and title finalized

73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #19 on: January 25, 2013, 10:31:16 AM »
Been riding the piss out of it as of late with the exception of last week when it was in the 20's in the morning with highs in the mid 30's. Decided to French the headlight the other day.
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Jore

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #20 on: January 25, 2013, 06:26:43 PM »
That's one nice looking bike!

Quick question what type of oven cleaner did you use?

I've heard that oven cleaner darkens aluminium.
1975 CB400F owner
-Having a vintage motorcycle is like having a moody girlfriend.

My 466 build: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,146494.0.html

Offline Mister Gumby

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"Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #21 on: January 25, 2013, 06:35:57 PM »
Thanks I absolutely love this bike, only problem is I don't get a chance to ride it enough! Easy-Off oven cleaner, lemon scented. As far as tarnishing the aluminum, in my experience with it, only applies to bare metal and not coated. I plan on tearing down the motor come June/July when it gets too hot to ride in these parts and stripping the clear coat and doing a proper polish on the rocker cover as well as side covers.
73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Jore

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #22 on: January 25, 2013, 08:55:26 PM »
Cool, we get that easy-off thing down here as well.

I know your part of the world is a hot one! I used to live in Scottsdale not so long ago.
1975 CB400F owner
-Having a vintage motorcycle is like having a moody girlfriend.

My 466 build: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,146494.0.html

Offline Mister Gumby

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #23 on: September 04, 2013, 11:26:19 PM »
It's been quite a while since I did anything worth posting, mainly riding & enjoying it. I decided it's time to reseal & polish the engine. The goal is to have it back on the road in time for the Distinguished Gentleman's ride later this month. Tomorrow I plan on pulling the top end to see if I'll be adding pistons to the parts list.





73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress

Offline Mister Gumby

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Re: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f
« Reply #24 on: September 11, 2013, 08:48:27 PM »
Props to my wife for taking grabbing my seat and having it reupholstered without my knowledge for my birthday.

73 350f - daily ridden cafe
74 Norton 850 Commando - work in progress