Author Topic: Frame-up cb350f restoration, hunk o' junk transformation (Read 55060 times)

markreimer · « **Reply #150 on:** March 10, 2016, 05:48:18 PM »

I'm not replacing the header, just the muffler. But even outside of the discoloration I want something with a mellower sound. I will absolutely get a ticket with this pipe mwahaha. I'll take a video at speed this weekend for you all.

I rode it home and had five different people approach me asking about the bike, sharing stories of their own. I love these bikes for that

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jag767 · « **Reply #151 on:** March 10, 2016, 06:05:51 PM »

Quote from: markreimer on March 10, 2016, 05:48:18 PM

I'm not replacing the header, just the muffler. But even outside of the discoloration I want something with a mellower sound. I will absolutely get a ticket with this pipe mwahaha. I'll take a video at speed this weekend for you all.

I rode it home and had five different people approach me asking about the bike, sharing stories of their own. I love these bikes for that

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I know exactly what you mean. I had to stop by a honda dealer with my 350 today, and I got so many questions from ppl it took 45 mins to leave the parking lot.

markreimer · « **Reply #152 on:** March 11, 2016, 11:29:52 AM »

Alright, so I ordered the new muffler. An Emgo Dunstall replication, https://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/emgo-dunstall-replica-reverse-cone-universal-muffler-80-84051.html

Time to turn my attention back to the clutch. I'm at a bit of a loss here. I've tried the process of elimination - checked the lever on its own. It's nice and free. Put a new cable on, and routed it according to the manual, through all the little guides on the frame. Opened up the clutch cover and checked, cleaned and lubed the lifter mechanisms. Everything seemed fine. Disassembled the clutch basket. The plates were pretty stuck together at first, so I pulled them all apart and rebuilt (using same plates). No difference after all those things. Any suggestions? My750 clutch is super easy to pull in, but this is probably 5 times harder at least.

sbeckman7 · « **Reply #153 on:** March 11, 2016, 11:44:21 AM »

Sounds like your motor is blown. Replace everything and try again, maybe with a different bike?

Jokes aside, that is puzzling.

markreimer · « **Reply #154 on:** March 12, 2016, 04:50:45 PM »

Hah!

Today was a day for riding. 10C outside and errands to run. I put on about 40 miles and a few nice things happened. The white exhaust smoke disappeared entirely, even on later startups. Also my tach started working again, hah! It now moves freely throughout its entire range.

I also took it onto a short bit of highway, pushing it to the redline. Real nice feeling bike. It's kinda like a single speed bicycle - if you want to go fast you have to maintain momentum and a high cadence.

I also had my first request to sell the bike, in the form of a note stuffed into the seat strap lol.

The engine is pretty buzzy below 5K. Since I haven't balanced the carbs yet I'm going to point my finger at that as the culprit. I'll deal with that soon.

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MoMo · « **Reply #155 on:** March 12, 2016, 05:19:09 PM »

the bikes are buzz boxes, doubt carb sycn will do anything as that only affects idle

carnivorous chicken · « **Reply #156 on:** March 12, 2016, 06:15:25 PM »

These things thrive in the 5K-rpm and higher range, don't be afraid to take it up there. I think some of "buzziness" is your exhaust, if you get that sorted it might not seem so buzzy. A carb synch will help it run more smoothly through its range.

markreimer · « **Reply #157 on:** March 16, 2016, 09:01:27 PM »

Well... I was thinking tonight might be a good night to work on the bike... Looks like Mother Nature has other plans. Apartment life...

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SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #158 on:** March 16, 2016, 09:28:27 PM »

What's that white stuff all over the ground? We don't have that stuff in Los Angeles.

calj737 · « **Reply #159 on:** March 17, 2016, 04:35:32 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on March 16, 2016, 09:28:27 PM

What's that white stuff all over the ground? We don't have that stuff in Los Angeles.

His neighbor must have been running a soda blast rig curbside. Damn inconsiderate muppets!

markreimer · « **Reply #160 on:** March 22, 2016, 01:02:39 PM »

Slow progress as the snow still hasn't left entirely. It's hovering around zero for the last week.

The emgo dunstall style muffler arrived today but doesn't for the 4-1 header. It was listed as fitting 1 3/4" but is at least 1/4" smaller than that. I'm going to take advantage of the free return and exchange policy and replace it with the emgo shorty 17" pipe instead. It should actually fit... With some better glass pack than stock I think it'll be a nice loud but not tooooo loud sound.

In other news, my wife passed her learners motorcycle written test today and subsequently signed up for the riding course! She'll be taking that in May. So I've got two more months to dial this bike in 100%

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SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #161 on:** March 22, 2016, 02:50:42 PM »

I mean this in the most respectful way. Have you thought of installing crash bars for the almost inevitable novice tip-over?

markreimer · « **Reply #162 on:** March 22, 2016, 02:52:20 PM »

That is a very excellent suggestion which I oddly hadn't thought of. I dumped my 750 a few times in parking lots while learning, no crash bars... Bad decision. I think I even have a pair kicking around somewhere. Thanks!

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whizzer · « **Reply #163 on:** March 27, 2016, 07:36:44 PM »

Great project, I am following each step. When you share more pic's, can you include the kick starter mod? I think you got it done without 550f kick starter?

carnivorous chicken · « **Reply #164 on:** March 28, 2016, 10:34:00 AM »

I've got a set of crash bars for a 350F that I don't need, let me know if you're interested...

markreimer · « **Reply #165 on:** April 08, 2016, 09:22:13 AM »

Yes, interested in the 350 crash bars!

Whizzer - I haven't done the kickstart fix yet. It will work though, i've found examples online. I haven't been paying much attention to the bike the last two weeks because it snowed again... but next week calls for +18C so I'll be back at it.

carnivorous chicken · « **Reply #166 on:** April 08, 2016, 12:27:35 PM »

PM me your address, I'll send photos. Will need to pull them.

markreimer · « **Reply #167 on:** April 15, 2016, 07:28:42 AM »

Quote from: carnivorous chicken on April 08, 2016, 12:27:35 PM

PM me your address, I'll send photos. Will need to pull them.

I may have found a pair of crash bars locally from a friend with a 400F. Not sure if they'll match up yet, but I'm going to try that first.

The weather has been warming up and I've made some better progress on the 350F.

A few days ago I adjusted the valve clearances for the first time. No real surprises or issues there, although it certainly is easier on the CB750. These valves are so small, and there isn't an obvious way to hold the little square-headed screw in place while tightening the locknut down. Anyway, I got them all bang-on.

Last night I replaced the muffler with a little Emgo cocktail pipe. Wow, it looks bad ass! The smaller muffler with a little up-sweep really suites the 4-1 header in my opinion. The only issue is that the stock hanger bolt on the pipe won't work - it hits the swing arm, so I had to lob it off. That means it's not supported at the moment. Less than ideal. So I'll figure some way to support the pipe at the clamp between the header/pipe next shop night. Also I'll need to make some kind of cap to put over it when parked in the rain....don't need water pooling in the collector box and rusting out my beautiful header. Check the video!

Up next was a really squeaky swing arm. I tried pushing grease into the zerk but my grease gun doesn't much care for the Japanese fitting. I pulled the pivot bolt aaaaaaand bone dry! Not one iota of grease in there. Glad I checked that. I pulled the zerk out, drilled the bolt and tapped it for a metric fitting, blew the bolt out with compressed air, threaded the new zerk in, and pushed a ton of grease through to clean out any remaining metal chips. Back in the swing arm now, and more grease pumped in. The swing arm is dead silent and moving free and easy.

I wanted to sync the carbs and check the timing as well, but it was almost midnight. We had a late 70's R100S in the shop as well, which was getting a valve adjustment, fluid change, and timing adjustment at the same time. Busy night.

So, next week is carbs, timing, and that DAMN STIFF CLUTCH.

markreimer · « **Reply #168 on:** April 15, 2016, 07:29:46 AM »

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carnivorous chicken · « **Reply #169 on:** April 15, 2016, 09:07:03 AM »

Sounds like progress.

For adjusting those valves, Honda made a special tool with a little square head. You can also buy a tool that's has the 8mm lock nut size with a screwdriver type tool that fits inside in order to hold the square head in place while tightening down the lock nut. I honestly alternate between the two -- sometimes I find the old Honda tool is easier, sometimes I just use the two-in-one tool.

Don't let that muffler hang. Everytime you hit a bump that thing will bounce and you risk bending it or affecting the seal where it mounts to the head. A cheap piece of steel bracket at a hardware store, a grinder to cut it to size, and some metal drill bits and you've got a temporary (or not) bracket.

markreimer · « **Reply #170 on:** April 15, 2016, 09:49:27 AM »

100% agree. The exhaust is really light but when it's cantilevered way out there it doesn't make me feel good. Even a bush league bit of strapping is better than nothing till I can make a more eloquent solution

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MoMo · « **Reply #171 on:** April 15, 2016, 04:42:42 PM »

Quote from: carnivorous chicken on April 15, 2016, 09:07:03 AM

Sounds like progress.

For adjusting those valves, Honda made a special tool with a little square head. You can also buy a tool that's has the 8mm lock nut size with a screwdriver type tool that fits inside in order to hold the square head in place while tightening down the lock nut. I honestly alternate between the two -- sometimes I find the old Honda tool is easier, sometimes I just use the two-in-one tool.

Don't let that muffler hang. Everytime you hit a bump that thing will bounce and you risk bending it or affecting the seal where it mounts to the head. A cheap piece of steel bracket at a hardware store, a grinder to cut it to size, and some metal drill bits and you've got a temporary (or not) bracket.

I have that special HOnda tool but I seem to gravitate to a box end wrench and pair of flat nose pliers to hold the square adjuster...Larry

markreimer · « **Reply #172 on:** April 21, 2016, 09:29:38 PM »

A bit more progress on the bike tonight. I rebuilt the clutch again but still no luck, just so stiff. Finally I tried a new cable routing with the tank off - in front of the gauges and a smooth arc down to the clutch. Basically as straight as possible. Voila! Silky smooth and light clutch action. So it's the cable.

It's a new motion pro cable. I pumped it full of lube till it drained out the bottom, but as soon as I returned it to stock routing it was really hard to use. I could feel the cable grinding in the housing. No routing solved this other than the one I described earlier.

Anyone have experience with other cable brands besides motion pro? Or a specific cable lube to recommend?

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markreimer · « **Reply #173 on:** April 29, 2016, 07:10:38 AM »

Well 4 into 1 is taking their sweet time to deliver my new clutch cable and braided brake line, so I haven't made any progress in the last week. Instead I've just been riding, oh bummer!

I sent an email out to a local seat guy to see what he can do with the stock seat pan. That should really make the bike look better. Also looking into some mirrors that aren't so huge. Anyway, here are some photos as it stands. It's pretty dirty, did some gravel riding recently

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markreimer · « **Reply #174 on:** May 02, 2016, 02:19:18 PM »

Looks who went for her first ride EVER! She was starting and stopping over and over for half an hour. Only stalled twice. Didn't get to shifting yet, that's Wednesday's lesson. But she's hooked for sure. Hasn't stopped talking about it since.

New clutch cable and brake line is in the city, so should have those parts installed by the weekend as well.

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Author Topic: Frame-up cb350f restoration, hunk o' junk transformation (Read 55060 times)