Author Topic: new guy seeking advice, tips, etc. (Read 861 times)

newkidwithbike · « **on:** October 08, 2015, 11:37:28 AM »

So guys i chose this forum over every other forum because i noticed how helpful you guys and gals can be. So other day i spent some of my hard earned money on something i might or might not regret. Either way i have always wanted a bike like this and so i hope you guys help me in my build process and maybe teach me a thing or too along the way. I know very little about motorcycles but am eager to learn and pick things up pretty decently quick. So here's the bike, 1972 CB350f, in which i heard parts are hard to get a hold of but i have nothing but time. Now my question is what kind of advice or tips can you give me.

flybox1 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2015, 11:41:57 AM »

looks like a decent platform, though im not a fan of the seat or its mounting hardward

Parts are not hard to find.
how does it run?

RevDoc · « **Reply #2 on:** October 08, 2015, 11:44:41 AM »

Welcome to the asylum!

First thing you should do is go to the manuals page and download the one for your new baby. Become familiar with it and the steps for a 3K mile tune-up.

What are your intentions for the bike? Restore to original, cafe, rat bike? Whatever your choice you will have a lot less frustration with tuning if you get the airbox back on the bike.

Keep us posted and we like lots of pictures on progress!

newkidwithbike · « **Reply #3 on:** October 08, 2015, 11:55:24 AM »

yeah I'm not very comfortable with the mounting hardware either! My plans are to cafe it. What is a good site to buy parts for it? It runs decently well once its warmed up. Takes a while to start it.(kick start only/ New to that) Honestly i don't think it was tuned to the pod filters ever. Is the tuning really that much of pain with the pod filters? I will definitely download one of those manuals. I really want to rebuild it since i noticed a leakage in the head gasket. i was reading up on it and noticed that its pretty common.

flybox1 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2015, 12:03:34 PM »

Tuning to pods is not difficult, but it is time consuming to get it right without a dyno/gas analyzer.
The 3k maintenance items will cover all the things needed for the bike to run, but with the addition of those pods, you'll want to note the jet sizing inside the carbs, and the 'turns" of the air screw out from lightly seated.
You should be running D8EA plugs.
Pull one of all of them, line them up 1-2-3-4 and snap picture of the tips/ceramic for us.
Plug color is a good indication of the current state of tune.

newkidwithbike · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2015, 12:49:52 PM »

1-2-3-4 left to right. noticed one was wetter than the other cylinder two. im assuming its running rich

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2015, 12:53:10 PM »

you'll need a credit card and a 10mm wrench along with time to fix up old hondas.

shotty750 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2015, 02:02:38 PM »

Looks like the bike has already been "cafe'd"

As others suggest, do the 3K tune up and find an airbox to put back on. You'll want the bike in good riding condition first so you can ride and get experience on it before doing any hipster mods to it.

przjohn · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2015, 02:14:04 PM »

Looks like a good starting point. The big question is how much do you want to spend? Reason being is there is stuff that you might not be thinking about that could be well suited to your budget. Sometimes money is better spent on mechanical and handling stuff than eye candy. For every budget there is a different path.

flybox1 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2015, 02:33:26 PM »

inconclusive: tough to tell if the blackness is carbon, or oil on 3/4 plugs
continue with the 3kmi tuneup items, including a new set of plugs.

(take plug pictures at this angle) your goal is this color (or slightly darker):

newkidwithbike · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2015, 03:15:43 PM »

Quote from: shotty750 on October 08, 2015, 02:02:38 PM

Looks like the bike has already been "cafe'd"

As others suggest, do the 3K tune up and find an airbox to put back on. You'll want the bike in good riding condition first so you can ride and get experience on it before doing any hipster mods to it.

alright i really wanted to keep the pod filters but if the airbox is the easiest route ill do that. and yeah thats a good idea get some experience then add more to the bike

Gene · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2015, 03:17:45 PM »

Yes - get the airbox back on so you can see how it's supposed to run first. Read, read, and read some more, then get to the modifications.

newkidwithbike · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2015, 03:18:42 PM »

Quote from: przjohn on October 08, 2015, 02:14:04 PM

Looks like a good starting point. The big question is how much do you want to spend? Reason being is there is stuff that you might not be thinking about that could be well suited to your budget. Sometimes money is better spent on mechanical and handling stuff than eye candy. For every budget there is a different path.

i really havent set up a budget seeing as how i really want to keep it till as long as possible. that said my budget really is just not spending alot all at once just pay little by little unless i just have to buy something all at once. but i tottaly agree mechanical is more important.

riffman12 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2015, 03:48:25 PM »

good god... that seat

first step is get/download a good manual. I think it's always nice to have a physical one when working on the bike.

calj737 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2015, 04:01:52 PM »

The clutch cable needs to be re-routed properly for safety sake. The speedo cable (from the right side of front wheel) needs to be restrained so it doesn't rub the tire. It looks like there's some "custom" wiring done under the seat. Some good clear pictures of that would be helpful.

It looks like the clubman bars are mounted, but not bolted down? Also, your brake reservoir needs to sit "upright" so as not to suck air in the system. Okay, enough about the seat... We've all bought bikes with ugly seats before-

Can you explain better why the electric start doesn't work? No button? Not wired? Did the PO (previous owner) remove the starter motor for some reason? Kick start is fun too, but electric start is better in traffic if you dump the clutch at a light

I differ from others; keep the pods and tune your bike. Yes, it will take more doing, but you can get it to run well with some trial and error and good input from folks like Flybox.

All those "phillips" screws are not Phillips, they're JIS. And they're different. Buy a set of JIS bits for your tool set and then you will be able to remove them easily without stripping the dog poop out of them. This is the number 1 tool for a new bike owner I'd recommend.

newkidwithbike · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2015, 04:47:23 PM »

Everyone I really appreciate all you guys advice and tips. I'm not close to my bike at the moment but I will try to get pictures of the plugs and the electrical there is. And I will order me one of those JIS drivers. The seat is pretty bad. That will be one of my top priorities as safety is my main concern! Thanks again everyone! I knew this forum was the best!

Stev-o · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2015, 05:04:39 PM »

First off welcome. Second, dont believe anything the seller told you, he just wanted to dump the bike!

As far as "what is a good site to buy parts?".. there is no 1 good site to buy all parts for your bike. Let us know specifically what you need and we can suggest where to find it. This forum is a great place to get good prices on parts. eBay is good too, but you need to know what you are buying. And the most important advice I will give you: Dont buy chinese cheapass parts!

Powderman · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2015, 05:18:31 PM »

While pods can be tuned to run decently the bike will never make more power with pods than with the original airbag. Those who say they run better have never ridden a properly tuned bike with the airbox. It's been proven on the dyno.

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2015, 11:35:30 PM »

That brake setup deserves priority attention.

Rob69 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2015, 12:10:50 AM »

Quote from: newkidwithbike on October 08, 2015, 11:37:28 AM

So guys i chose this forum over every other forum because i noticed how helpful you guys and gals can be. So other day i spent some of my hard earned money on something i might or might not regret. Either way i have always wanted a bike like this and so i hope you guys help me in my build process and maybe teach me a thing or too along the way. I know very little about motorcycles but am eager to learn and pick things up pretty decently quick. So here's the bike, 1972 CB350f, in which i heard parts are hard to get a hold of but i have nothing but time. Now my question is what kind of advice or tips can you give me.

These are rare and collectible. Please don't turn it into a cafe racer or a bobber

. Restore it to original condition.

Sent from my C6730 using Tapatalk

newkidwithbike · « **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:30:10 AM »

Yeah I don't plan to buy cheap knock off parts. Not worth the risk. Ive always liked the look of cafe racer and not that I dislike original but I prefer and much rather have a cafe style.
Here are the pictures flybox.

newkidwithbike · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:31:11 AM »

Forgot 4

riffman12 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2015, 10:26:46 AM »

wow those plugs are really across the board...and a couple are quire rich/oily

is that was pods does?

calj737 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2015, 10:48:51 AM »

Quote from: riffman12 on October 09, 2015, 10:26:46 AM

is that was pods does?

Thats what a poor state of tune does, airbag, pods or unifilter. It doesn't matter.

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Author Topic: new guy seeking advice, tips, etc. (Read 861 times)