Topic: 1972 CB350 For the Daughter

[Darren Jakal]

This may not be relavent, but I've played around on this website and found it has some pretty good capacities for colour conversions.

Bike is looking great, your daughter is dam lucky!

Take care, dj

https://www.beautycolorcode.com/02e8fa

[Harsh]

Well I messed up again.  My rear sprocket arrived today since so I installed it on the wheel.  Got the rear wheel installed and went to hook up the brake rod.  That is when I realized I had the wrong one powder coated.  The one I had done is for the CB400 I used for the rear wheel.  As such it is about two inches longer than the one for the 350.  I picked the best one I had when I was prepping parts not noticing the difference in length.  I already talked with the guy that did my powder coating and he is going to hook me up.

[Harsh]

Things have been moving a bit slow these days.  A few new parts have arrived so that is good.  One of which is the horn.  Hooked it up directly to the battery and it works. 

I had a bit a play in the rear sprocket that I didn't like.  I was able to slide in another washer about the same thickness as the one that was already in there and things got nice and snug.  Reading through some other posts on the comstar wheels there have been reports of the washer and/or the spacer getting a bit worn so I ordered a new washer and spacer from David Silver Spares.  If the new parts don't take up the space I guess I could always use both washers.

Stopped by the painter the other day and went over things.  I will probably drop the parts off on Monday.

Also ordered a new battery.  In order to get one in a size that will fit the battery box and provide enough power I had to get one with the terminals on the opposite sides from stock.  However, if I rotate the battery 180* I can make things fit.  The ground line is not problem, but I will have to make a longer positive cable that goes to the solenoid.

The Triumph controls arrived yesterday and I am seriously thinking about using them.  I think they just look better.

As far as I can tell I think the only part I need to order is a brake line.  I have already talked with Shaun at Slingshot Cycles to have a custom one made.  Since he doesn't have a line listed for the CB400Tii all I need to do is send the oem line to him so he can use it as a reference to make mine.  He gives a bit of a discount if you send him a stock line that he doesn't already have to use as a reference for future builds.

Waterslide decal paper arrived yesterday so I will be printing up the decals today so they have way more time than necessary to dry.

Along with sanding/polishing the headers I think I might try and fire the bike up on Saturday.

[Harsh]

Well I was hoping to post today with good news, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.  I attempted to start the bike, but couldn't.  When I thumbed the starter it turned over once then kind of acted like the battery was dead.  If I held the starter button down I could hear a see the crank turning, but it was decrepedly slow.  Hooked up a different battery and had the same results.  Both batteries are new and had been on the charger prior to use. 


Then there is the issue with the rearsets.  So much for clearing the exhaust.  Not sure what I am going to do here.  As they are positioned they are already pointed too high.  I would have to point them so high to get a toe underneath the lever they would be nearly impossible to use.

I have never had a bike fight me as much as this one is.  It is pretty discouraging.

[Harsh]

Unplugged the battery from the charger (showed fully charged) and hooked it up directly to the starter motor.  It starts to turn over like you would expect (I got excited), but it didn't last more than about 5 seconds then went back to the anemic pace.

[540nova]

You can put a longer toe piece on the shifter to give you clearance to get under it. I did that, works well.


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[Harsh]

I guess.  Where did you get a longer toe piece?  The rearsets are made by Slipstream Cycle Works.  I would still have to raise them a fair amount just to get them to be useable.  As they sit they are resting on the exhaust so there is zero downward movement available.  I wish there was a way to relax the bend in the header pipe.

[540nova]

I'm using an aftermarket Harley toe piece. Don't recall where it came from.


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[Restoration Fan]

Unplugged the battery from the charger (showed fully charged) and hooked it up directly to the starter motor.  It starts to turn over like you would expect (I got excited), but it didn't last more than about 5 seconds then went back to the anemic pace.

Are you sure the battery you're using has enough cranking amps, Harsh?

[Harsh]

It is the same one I use in the wife's bike.  Scorpion YT12C which has 180cca.

Which makes me wonder if something is putting a big load on the battery when trying to start.  How would one test the starter motor to see if it is working correctly?

[Harsh]

That is the plan for today Cal.

What really annoys me about the rearsets is that they are supposed to fit.  It think that even if I had a stock exhaust on the bike I think they would still hit it.  I sent the manufacturer an email asking for some assistance.  The only thing I can think of is adding an extension to push the rearsets out a bit from the mounting locations will solve the problem, but I don't know how that will affect the heim joints.  I haven't measured, but I guestimate I need to move the reasets out about 3/4" so they clear the exhaust.  However, I do not like how the foot peg sits right over the top of the exhaust.  I think the heat will be a shoe melter.  Or I could try and extend the exhaust back a bit, but then I would lose any ability to lift the bike from the rear.  The stand in use in the pic just barely has room to get under the axle and not hit the exhaust.

[Harsh]

Another suggestion was to make an adapter/riser plate to lift the rearsets up.  Not sure how I would be able to make it not flex though.

[Harsh]

True, but this isn't my bike.  My daughter is only 5'6".  I could live with it for some test runs and a Dragon trip 

[Harsh]

Took some measurements and to push the rearsets out enough to clear the exhaust I am looking at 2".  I think a custom bracket is going to have to be made, but just holding things in place it will be super close to not having enough clearance for the swing to move without hitting the bolt that hold the peg to the bracket.  I am not the first person to need this. I found this pic.  If you look just aft of the foot peg there is a bracket like what I need.


Now onto the starting ussue.  Pulled the starter motor out of the bike and hooked it up to the wife's car.  I don't think it is good.  It spins, but sounds horrible.

https://youtu.be/BZMbnxM-wVI

[Harsh]

I found a very nice write up on a starter motor rebuild so I ordered a kit this morning and am going to have a go at it.

I received a good suggestion from someone on the DTT forum for my rearset issue.  It might be the easiest solution, but I will have to play around with it.  The only issue I could see is the heel of my boots touching the exhaust.  Figuring out and routing a new piece of pipe might take some work to get around the brake and shift linkage rods and figuring out how to support the exhaust, but could probably be doable.  I could also get the pipe bent locally.

[Restoration Fan]

Harsh,
Do you know if that bike uses the same starter as the 750 & 550/500 use?  If so and your rebuild doesn't work, shoot me a PM.  I have an extra working starter and you're welcome to it.

Ron

[Harsh]

Ron...thank you for the generous offer.  I haven't looked to see what other starters would work.  If my rebuild doesn't work and if one of yours will work I will give you a holler.


Picked up some flexible pipe on the way home to help with mockup purposes.  Routing the exhaust over the top of the pegs won't work.  In order to clear the shift and brake linkages the exhaust would be sitting right on my ankle.

I may have figured out a way to mount the rearsets.  I just have to see if I can get the part made by a buddy.  The stock exhaust uses a triangle piece to attach it to the passenger peg bracket.  The passenger peg bracket is what I am using to mount the rearsets.  Dug my triangle pieces out of the extra parts pile, bolted them on, then bolted the rearsets to them.  Well what do you know...they work.  They are pretty thin so they flex too much.

[Harsh]

Well crap...the seller of the starter rebuild kit just cancelled my order.  No reason given.  However, they still list one for sale on ebay.  I sent them an email inquiring why, but with some sloothing I was able to find their phone number so if I don't get a reply soon I am going to give them a call.

[Harsh]

A new rebuild kit is on order so I took the starter apart and got everything cleaned.  There wasn't a single drop of grease in the gears.  There was only one o-ring and one extremely dried out gasket.  So not sure where the new ones are supposed to go.

[RAFster122s]

Is it the same one on amazon for $13 ? 
4 into 1 may have it...
Did you check out Opfar's site and his starter rebuild? There are a few contact points between the body and the cap.  The round plate shown in your photo may show some contact deterioration with a bit of rough metal from a high resistance point.  It may not be a major issue but it can add a bit of positive connection rather than relying on a small contact area. The modification would not harm anything.

Hope you get some answers to your questions and an explanation.

David

P.S. the body can be polished and then clearcoated if you wish to go that route...."pimping her ride".  

P.P.S.  When is your Dragon trip?

[Harsh]

The one I found was on Amazon for $15.  It could be the same one though.  The packaging on just about all of the rebuild kits is the same.

I have no idea what Opfar's site is, but I will be googling it as soon as I finish this post.

I painted it when I did the engine so no need to re-do that.  The CRC Lectra-Motive cleaner doesn't harm the paint.

I will be at the Dragon June 4-11.

[Restoration Fan]

Harsh,
PM me your address and I'll drop a starter in the mail for you.  If it fits, you can use it.  If not, well...buy a bigger bike for your next build and use it for that!

Ron

[Harsh]

Ron, wow what a very generous offer.  I might take you up on it, but the starter rebuild kit I ordered shows that it has arrived in my city.  However, it isn't scheduled for delivery until Monday.  I guess I will just have to break out the wood working tools and build a sofa table for my daughter today.  If the rebuild doesn't work I will definitely give you a holler.

I have been toying with the idea of putting something on the back of the shocks along the lines of a manufacturer logo.  Every time I look at the remote reservoirs they are just so plain looking.  Not sure what to do though.  I have thought about my initials, but that is about it.  The coloring would match the green of the paint and the white background would be clear to allow the aluminum reservoir body to show through.




The new spacer and washer for the rear wheel arrived today.  The spacer was a very snug fit both going onto the sprocket and onto the hub.  There is no more slop in the sprocket.

[RAFster122s]

Expand your perspective Steve, maybe come up with name for your design/build company of custom and restorations. SRH Designs or SRH Customs being obvious with no imagination.
maybe a logo incorporating nods to your Navy past with key elements of stuff ypu do, if it is woodworking and bikes, then elements or hints to those in the logo.

David

[Harsh]

Starter rebuild kit arrived today so I put everything together.   I will put it in the bike tomorrow and see what happens.

https://youtu.be/ACR19ZHFXJ8