Topic: Surf Shed 350f

[gubben]

I am a long-time lurker to this forum and am so impressed with the collective wisdom contained herein. So, I thought you might enjoy coming on this journey with me.

After a lifelong love affair with the CB, I have decided to undertake a rebuild project of this 350f:



It has been sitting for nearly 30 years and while I cannot confirm that it actually had a view of the ocean during that time, the condition and the owner's location suggests exposure to the salt air. Like a smart beach-goer, however, it was covered and thus has very little sun damage. It just needs a lot of rust removal. Oh, and probably all new electrical, valve job... you know, all those things that make a rebuild fun. The engine turns freely. There is no spark and the lights do not work even though the owner put in a brand new battery. It even has the original tires. Oh, and 4,200 miles.

So, I got it home and immediately checked compression. #1: 8.5; #2: 7.5; #3: 5.0; and #4: 7.5. You can tell there's something wrong with 3 & 4. I see a little leakage on that side of the case; I sure hope it's only a head gasket because I do not relish replacing the piston rings. Take a look at the plugs:



So the plan is to tear it all down, powder coat the frame, replace the gaskets, fix and replace parts as needed and shine it all up. So here is where we are:



Should I remove these before I take it to be coated?



And... I suppose I should get a new one of these rather than get it welded?



And one last thing before I end this post, does anyone know what became of John Paul's?



Thanks in advance for all your help and advice. I -- and my wife -- truly appreciate it.

John

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I am a long-time lurker to this forum and am so impressed with the collective wisdom contained herein. So, I thought you might enjoy coming on this journey with me.

After a lifelong love affair with the CB, I have decided to undertake a rebuild project of this 350f:



It has been sitting for nearly 30 years and while I cannot confirm that it actually had a view of the ocean during that time, the condition and the owner's location suggests exposure to the salt air. Like a smart beach-goer, however, it was covered and thus has very little sun damage. It just needs a lot of rust removal. Oh, and probably all new electrical, valve job... you know, all those things that make a rebuild fun. The engine turns freely. There is no spark and the lights do not work even though the owner put in a brand new battery. It even has the original tires. Oh, and 4,200 miles.

So, I got it home and immediately checked compression. #1: 8.5; #2: 7.5; #3: 5.0; and #4: 7.5. You can tell there's something wrong with 3 & 4. I see a little leakage on that side of the case; I sure hope it's only a head gasket because I do not relish replacing the piston rings. Take a look at the plugs:



So the plan is to tear it all down, powder coat the frame, replace the gaskets, fix and replace parts as needed and shine it all up. So here is where we are:



Should I remove these before I take it to be coated?



And... I suppose I should get a new one of these rather than get it welded?



And one last thing before I end this post, does anyone know what became of John Paul's?



Thanks in advance for all your help and advice. I -- and my wife -- truly appreciate it.

John

John,

Looks like your bike had a prior life in HB, not to far from San Diego.  I wonder if John Paul's became Huntington Beach Honda???

Yes, carefully remove the lower shock mount bushings from the swingarm and save them for post powdercoating. 

And yes, find yourself a new upper triple tree on ebay.  Most likely, someone lost the "D" shaped washers that go in the pinch area of the triple clamp, and when you cinch down on the triple clamp without them, SNAP!

[knowsnothing]

Nice looking project John, I love the little 4s.  You will def need a new top triple, but these little 4s did not have a "D" shaped spacer washer like the earlier 750s.  Looks like you just got unlucky and it fatigued/failed after 40 years of use.  Also go easy when tightening the cam chain adjuster bolt.  It looks beefier than it is and is know to shear off from over tightening.  Fixing it is a pain in the ass and new bolts are difficult to source...trust me. 

[WhyNot2]

^^^^^^^^yes, there are no "D" washers for the 350F^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Mine broke on my CB350 too.

They are very hard to come by too......good luck with the bike, looks good in the pictures.

You can remove those shock bushings, they look like they need to be replaced anyway.

[gubben]

Thanks for replies, guys. Budlite282 any advice on how to remove the shock bushing? Does it matter much if I have to replace them anyway?


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[WhyNot2]

Well, I'm not a purest, so I used a socket to knock them out, then used a bench vise to get them back in.

Lots of wd40 sprayed on them, pb blaster.

Sure others have better ways to do it.

Check utube for ways.

[gubben]

More than one way to skin a cat as they say...

[WhyNot2]

yep

[skidooextreme]

Go slow with the head gasket, use the copper coating and sealant around the outer orings.  I torqued in 3 stages over three days and i have never seen a leak.  Ask around on the forums for the upper triple tree, I just purchased on last week on here for 70 shipped for the same reason. Here is a pic of mine, finished last year.

here is where i started

[HondaMan]

I am a long-time lurker to this forum and am so impressed with the collective wisdom contained herein. So, I thought you might enjoy coming on this journey with me.

After a lifelong love affair with the CB, I have decided to undertake a rebuild project of this 350f:



It has been sitting for nearly 30 years and while I cannot confirm that it actually had a view of the ocean during that time, the condition and the owner's location suggests exposure to the salt air. Like a smart beach-goer, however, it was covered and thus has very little sun damage. It just needs a lot of rust removal. Oh, and probably all new electrical, valve job... you know, all those things that make a rebuild fun. The engine turns freely. There is no spark and the lights do not work even though the owner put in a brand new battery. It even has the original tires. Oh, and 4,200 miles.

So, I got it home and immediately checked compression. #1: 8.5; #2: 7.5; #3: 5.0; and #4: 7.5. You can tell there's something wrong with 3 & 4. I see a little leakage on that side of the case; I sure hope it's only a head gasket because I do not relish replacing the piston rings. Take a look at the plugs:



So the plan is to tear it all down, powder coat the frame, replace the gaskets, fix and replace parts as needed and shine it all up. So here is where we are:



Should I remove these before I take it to be coated?



And... I suppose I should get a new one of these rather than get it welded?



And one last thing before I end this post, does anyone know what became of John Paul's?



Thanks in advance for all your help and advice. I -- and my wife -- truly appreciate it.

John

Rusty valve faces/stems? Keeps the valve open...I just finished a 750 that sat on Guam for many years. Several valves were rusted open!

[gubben]

Guys- Does this bearing washer need to come off?



It's on there quite good -- 30 years of non-use and all. I am concerned about damaging it as I take it off, which is pretty much the story with the project so far.

Thanks.

[knowsnothing]

I am guessing you are asking because you plan of taking it for powdercoating?  Not sure if the rubber dust cap will melt or not, but most guys seem to remove it before powder for whatever reason.  If I were you, I would plan replacing it with an All balls tapered bearing kit (which is highly recommended  upgrade and cheap ~$45  http://www.allballsracing.com/22-1011.html), in which case you can just cut it off.  Dremel works well.  I have also seen people use a cold chisel to get it off. 

[gubben]

Yes, knowsnothing, I was going to powder coat this piece as well. Also it has the original bearings which means I'll have to replace them with new ones. So it doesn't matter if I damage the heck out of this washer before I take it off. Thanks!


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[gubben]

knowsnothing does that go for the top and bottom ball racers that are wedged in there, too?



Just cut them out and replace them with the tapered bearing kit?

Thanks again-
john

[WhyNot2]

Those races will knock out using a hammer and long punch.

[knowsnothing]

Those races will knock out using a hammer and long punch.

As budlight said, get a long punch (i think i used a long flat head and some threaded rod, not ideal but worked) and knock it out from the top.  But yeah, if you are doing a bearing upgrade, bash away, you wont need them.  Just try to be gentle on the neck of the frame.  That kit i linked has all bearings (tops and bottoms) and washers needed for the triple tree. 

[2strokeTrush]

 I'm in!

[gubben]

OK!

You'll forgive me if I hesitate to bang away at stuff because I have damaged important parts in the process of other projects. I have a great story involving a sawzall, but that's for beers later.

JD

[Hurstman1972]

Take the swing arm to a machine shop and get them to press out the old shock bushings. New ones are still available and are well worth the few bucks.

[gubben]

Looks nice hurstman1972. Are those new shocks, too? I only hope I have the patience to clean all the chrome like you did. That must have taken a bit of time.