Topic: My SL350 Is Getting A Going Over

[bill440cars]

    A couple of years of neglect, is showing on the old '73 SL350 and the tires need replaced (they were originals and I don't think this one was rode much. Battery is weak too and just needs a general going over and detailing out. So, I have ordered tires, tubes, the rubber strip for the rims and a battery. Gotta pull the carbs and clean them  too. Don't think I will be doing enough to put this in the Project forum. Not sure about that. I WILL post some pictures when I get started though.

[dhall57]

Hey Bill. Doing some work on the SL and getting involved with it for a little while will probably to you some good my friend. 

[bill440cars]

Hey Bill. Doing some work on the SL and getting involved with it for a little while will probably to you some good my friend. 

       I hear ya Brother and you are probably right.  Parts are supposed to be in around the 13th and I have some work to do, just to get space to work on it. So, I guess I had best get busy, huh? I have my Dad's shop area, to work in, but between his stuff and starting to get mine in, it is full. So, some rearranging and disposing of actually trash and junk, is in order. BTW, my Dad and I are back about trying to keep things cause there MIGHT be a use for them later on. LOL! So, I get it honestly!   

       Thanks for your input, I have already found myself starting to think about the project and interest is coming back.  Have a Great One, Brother!

[tbpmusic]

Bill -

Should you need a crankshaft, I have an SL350 K1/K2 crank in beautiful condition, like new......

bill2

[MoMo]

Not sure if you ever saw my post about the rider our shop sponsored back in the 70s,  He  rode an SL350 in the heavyweight enduro class and became the number one rider in the East Coast Endure Association.  Not too shabby for a big, heavy, somewhat underpowered sled.  Good to see your spirits are lifted...Larry

[bill440cars]

Bill -

Should you need a crankshaft, I have an SL350 K1/K2 crank in beautiful condition, like new......

bill2

  Hey Bill, good to hear from you. Actually, the biggest thing I need to do to the engine, is to clean the carbs out, and service the engine, giving it a good tuneup as well. I do appreciate the info though. I also have another SL350 that isn't all there, to be street legal and I will be going through it soon as I can get it here and get to it. Far as I know though, the engine on that one, is in pretty good shape as well. Will definitely keep you in mind though, should a need for parts arise.  Take care buddy.

[bill440cars]

Not sure if you ever saw my post about the rider our shop sponsored back in the 70s,  He  rode an SL350 in the heavyweight enduro class and became the number one rider in the East Coast Endure Association.  Not too shabby for a big, heavy, somewhat underpowered sled.  Good to see your spirits are lifted...Larry

            I think I saw that post, Larry. Seems like IO was thinking that, for a heavy bike, they DO have some pretty good pulling power. Thank you Larry, I am making the effort to get on with thiongs, even though I have had some pretty overwhelming times lately, with my Dad. My Wife has been trying to help me to have some time to myself and what I like to do, which is to mess with Cars and Motorcycles. She is Fantastic! Good to hear from You, as well. 

[bill440cars]

   Okay, it's Feb. 12th and my parts should be in tomorrow. Come on UPS, bring those parts in Here, so I can get on with getting  started on this one. Oh, I know I could have already been working on this, but I like to have my parts HERE and be able to keep on going with it, if I have the ability to stay hooked, you know? 

[Bill/BentON Racing]

I've got a decent rear fender anyone needing one. Bill, good to see you about to start on the SL350. They were heavy ,but still were cool. My buddy owned one, I opted for the SL175 1972,great memories! Pics please.  . Bill

[fendersrule]

The SL350K0 (69-70) is the rarer one and the preferable one IMO, though ANY SL350 is an AWESOME bike. Kinda weird how it was introduced with electric start and then Honda took it away after the K0.

Parts for the K0 is about 2x as hard to come by. It's been 4 months and I still haven't found a new throttle cable yet.

I just ordered about $40 worth of NOS parts for mine...just the basic rubbers, tool bag, and what not. Will probably crack open a beer and start installing this basic stuff this weekend.

What a cool bike...hated the looks at first but now I think it's one of the coolest vintage bikes Honda has made.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

When I bought my SL 175 new, for $50.00 more could have got the 350! Wish I had them both, I put over 8000 miles on it, mostly off road. The 350 does look better!

[fendersrule]

Picked mine up for $100. It has 3,000 or 5,000 miles (can't remember). Missing side covers, but everything else, intact. Carbs were frozen, but once those were restored, fired up great.

The oil filter has never been changed. I scooped out 6 table spoons of crud.

Ran a compression test on it...170PSI on both. Was pretty shocked.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

The '72 had dead  on 175 both cylinders. oil filter, most knew nothing about. Most of the time when I cleaned them,I could tell I was the first one there!

[fendersrule]

I need to re-run a compression check when I get more than 1 mile on the motor (it was sitting for many years), and using my new Kawasaki shop gauge. I expect to see higher numbers.

These 350s appear to be very bullet-proof engines.

[bill440cars]

I've got a decent rear fender anyone needing one. Bill, good to see you about to start on the SL350. They were heavy ,but still were cool. My buddy owned one, I opted for the SL175 1972,great memories! Pics please.  . Bill

     Don't need a rear fender myself, but if I hear of anyone who does, I'll send em your way.  Thanks Bill, I just need to get started on something and I figure it would be best nopt to start on the Super Hawk first, as it is a built from parts type of a deal.  The SL won't be that long, to see the results and then I can move onto others.  Yeah, they WERE a heavy biks, but at least, by the time the K3 was built, they had a better frame, larger front wheel dropped the electric starter, trimmed the starter mount from the crankcase, switched the fenders to aluminum, changed up the gearbox ratios, swapped the carbs for standard throttle piston type, to get away from the constant velocity carbs, among other things to reduce the weight, try pep up the engine and try to make it compete with the other brands dual purpose bikes and ended up bringing out the XL250 & 350. Appreciate your input here. 

[bill440cars]

        Alright!!! This afternoon, the ol' UPS truck came by and dropped 3 packages for me! Yep, got my Tires, Inner Tubes, Rubber Rim Strips, a Battery (for the SL350) and a box from Shari's Berries, an early Valentine  Surprise From Me! 

[bill440cars]

       Well, I managed to figure out a way to position the SL, to get the front wheel off, but it took some rigging, that I am not REA: comfortable with. I see that, because of the way the SL is built (down under the engine, with the way the pipes are run, I need to see if I can come up with a design of a sort of cradle (I guess you'd call it), to fit the jack and securely hold the bike OR take the pipes off each time I have to put it on a jack! Bear in mind that these pipes, in great condition, go for some pretty good buck$, IF you can find some And I don't have that kind of money. So, if ANYONE has had this issue with putting a bike on a stand, could you share YOUR experience and solutions? Thank You, In Advance.   Bill   (The Rear Wheel, COULD be more interesting) 

[MoMo]

Bill,  are you working on a lift or off the floor? Larry

[bill440cars]

Bill,  are you working on a lift or off the floor? Larry

  Off the floor, for now. I have one of those jacks and also a lift. But the lift is about 1 1/2 hours from here and, at the present, I am operating in a limited space. I mean, it is a 2 car garage, double length. Plenty of space that SHOULD be available, but we are at my Dad's place and between HIS stuff and some (very little) of mine, it is a cramped situation. Gonna be doing some going through and cutting back on some things and weeding out the trash and junk, as I can. Then, I will get to organizing this place. Sounds like you might have a solution suggestion? I am trying to get to where I can replace both tires on the SL and the pipes run under the frame and hang slightly below the frame. Doesn't sound like a good deal, for an On/Off road bike, eh?   

[HondanutRider]

Don't know if you have one laying about, but I've used an auto engine hoist as a crane lift to suspend a motorcycle in the air while both its wheels were taken off.  Those motorcycle lifts can be so unstable.

[MoMo]

Bill, you should be able to get a bottle jack under the middle to elevate the bike and jack stands to add stability.  I have seen people use tie downs and/or straps to hang from the ceiling.  good luck...Larry

[bill440cars]

Don't know if you have one laying about, but I've used an auto engine hoist as a crane lift to suspend a motorcycle in the air while both its wheels were taken off.  Those motorcycle lifts can be so unstable.

    Well, I do have a hydraulic engine hoist, but it is in Greenwood Arkansas, which is about 1 1/2 hrs away. I hadn't thought of that way, even though, now that you mention it, I think I have heard of and seen photos of doing it that way and it seems like it was right on here. Thanks Brother, for the input.   

[bill440cars]

Bill, you should be able to get a bottle jack under the middle to elevate the bike and jack stands to add stability.  I have seen people use tie downs and/or straps to hang from the ceiling.  good luck...Larry

     I had tilted the bike over on the kick stand and placed a rag on a jack stand and put it under the frame, in front of the footpeg area. An, I do remember seeing photos of bikes hanging literally from the rafters. Thanks Larry, appreciate the input here Buddy. 

[Roach Carver]

marked. Bill you gotta get some pics up.

[bill440cars]

marked. Bill you gotta get some pics up.

    Sure will buddy, having some issues with my Dad now. he went 2 1/2 days without sleep and that means WE also went without sleep. Gotta get him to wind down. hen, I will see about some pictures for you all. 

[Roach Carver]

Totally understand.

[kghost]

Pictures!

(hiya Bill)

[bill440cars]

Pictures!

(hiya Bill)

   LOL! Working on it Tim. As time goes on, and changes are made with Flickr, I have some issues with getting and posting pictures.   Just me, I guess.

[toytuff]

I just ran across a SL350 with extra motor. Can't remember the year off hand but has electric start. Bought a new one in Gold back in the day.

Not sure I want another project but the SL models seem to command high dollars.

tt

[bill440cars]

I just ran across a SL350 with extra motor. Can't remember the year off hand but has electric start. Bought a new one in Gold back in the day.

Not sure I want another project but the SL models seem to command high dollars.

tt

  An electric start, would have to be an SL350K0! They dropped the electric starter, after that model and changed out the frame, among other things. Lot of Value there, Buddy. Get it, if you can and the parts are all there, especially the air cleaner side covers.

[MoMo]

Don't know why the SL commands such high dollars but they sure do.  Maybe that they pulled like tractors.

[tbpmusic]

  An electric start, would have to be an SL350K0! They dropped the electric starter, after that model and changed out the frame, among other things.

SL350 K0 is pretty much a regular ol' 350. Engines/carbs are the same.
At SL350 K1, electric start was gone - no starter clutch means a shorter crankshaft, so the cranks don't interchange. I think they changed the cam a little.
The kick start changed to a positive engagement thing - you can kick start even in gear by pulling in the clutch. So none of that stuff interchanges.
The frame and running gear changed at K1 also, and the obvious cosmetic stuff.
Carbs changed to a cable-pulls-the-slide type, from the K0 diaphragm 350 carbs.
A few other things I'm too old to remember......

[toytuff]

I just ran across a SL350 with extra motor. Can't remember the year off hand but has electric start. Bought a new one in Gold back in the day.

Not sure I want another project but the SL models seem to command high dollars.

tt

  An electric start, would have to be an SL350K0! They dropped the electric starter, after that model and changed out the frame, among other things. Lot of Value there, Buddy. Get it, if you can and the parts are all there, especially the air cleaner side covers.

Might be a K0. Has the side covers, getting painted. Also stock exhaust in great shape. Just missing a cover on one of them. Kick start pedal doesn't work but starter does. Bike runs, titled. Maybe just a broken return spring?

I'll get some pictures. $1900 with shipping added to that.

tt

[toytuff]

http://articles.superhunky.com/4/126



tt

[754]

Do they really have a different crank?, I would think they just took the starter parts out and then changed the crankcase.

[tbpmusic]

Do they really have a different crank?, I would think they just took the starter parts out and then changed the crankcase.

I'm afraid so, they do not interchange from K0 to K1/K2....the crank is actually shorter (left to right).
I have examples of both in the shop.

[bill440cars]

Do they really have a different crank?, I would think they just took the starter parts out and then changed the crankcase.

I'm afraid so, they do not interchange from K0 to K1/K2....the crank is actually shorter (left to right).
I have examples of both in the shop.

  I thought I knew the changes from the K0, to the K3, but either I didn't or I forgot that the crank was actually different. Chalk it up to A.G.E., I guess. 

[fendersrule]

http://articles.superhunky.com/4/126



tt

That's my exact bike. Obviously I've got some dings and missing side covers though. Those K0 side covers are reproduction items only ($200). I'm going to be doing some patch welding on the exhaust to patch up a hole since new exhausts can be $2,000 for a pair. Throttle cables are impossible to find (custom made only) for K0s, while the later models are easy to find.

They are very special bikes. I rode mine into work last week. It was fun. Mine needs new tires; you felt everything on the road. For a tall guy like me, they are a bit cramped.

Plenty of power I thought. Nice unmistakable throaty sound.

It's basically a novelty bike, but a very cool one at that. No turn signals. The only thing I don't like about K0s is the big honking side covers. I think they look better without, with just the black air box covers. Already a $200 savings from a stylistic choice.

As far as off roading (what they are built for) they are extremely outdated and heavy. At best, they kick-ass campground bike. I don't think I'd be doing anything serious on it...they do have some weight.

[fendersrule]

Here's mine (not to hijack).



Notice that the clamps are not all the way up on the forks. Maybe it had a shorter person riding it before. Need to rebuild the forks and do muffler patching. Too many other projects are taking my time though.