Author Topic: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f (Read 7997 times)

Mister Gumby · « **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!

Garystratos201 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2012, 09:30:06 pm »

Good luck with your project....Gary

tortelvis · « **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.

WhyNot2 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2012, 12:00:22 pm »

Welcome, and:

2nd in line for the pipes.....would definitely love to have them.

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Killer Canary · « **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?

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2012, 04:50:30 pm »

It was a cable lock through the front wheel and crash bar

Killer Canary · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **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

goofy3392 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2012, 01:55:22 am »

looking good!

Mister Gumby · « **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.

WhyNot2 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2012, 01:45:05 am »

I wish I could do that with my gauges...............good looking job.

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **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

heffay · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2012, 07:40:15 pm »

We'll have to ride sometime, I'm in East Mesa.

Bike looks great.

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2012, 08:25:15 pm »

Thanks, that's a bet!

Mister Gumby · « **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

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Jore · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Jore · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **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.

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #25 on:** September 17, 2013, 11:30:48 pm »

Bottom end is back together and painted, head is cleaned and ready for valves & paint. Still need to polish the clutch, stator & starter covers as well as paint the cylinders and clean the exhaust pipes. Gentleman's Ride is a mere 12 days away, eek!

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #26 on:** September 21, 2013, 08:53:33 pm »

Plenty of late nights painting & polishing have paid off. Set the motor in the frame this afternoon and ran all electrical & plumbing. Final bit to detail is the exhaust and it'll be ready to fire and tune

KRONUS0100 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 22, 2013, 07:58:16 am »

why does the headlight look yellow?

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #28 on:** September 22, 2013, 07:59:17 am »

Because I painted it

thrutheframe · « **Reply #29 on:** September 22, 2013, 08:28:42 am »

That's a proper motorcycle. Nicely done.

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #30 on:** September 22, 2013, 08:56:33 am »

Thanks, I'll have it running soon. Can't wait to see it with the new seat

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #31 on:** September 23, 2013, 07:28:58 am »

Got the carbs synced and set the timing last night, perfect way to welcome Fall riding weather!

Mister Gumby · « **Reply #32 on:** September 30, 2013, 07:57:58 pm »

Took Stella out for the Gentleman's Ride yesterday, did pretty well. Definitely more power at the top end.

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Author Topic: "Slow But Speeding" 73 350f (Read 7997 times)