Topic: From Sh*tty to Shiny: Sbeckman7's CB350F Cafe Resto

[grcamna2]

I think install the rear swingarm on your bike and after it's installed you'll have the 'leverage' to feel if the bushings are still tight as they should be.

[sbeckman7]

Great thanks a lot guys. Hopefully I can install tonight!

[grcamna2]

Sbeckman7,
Can you post a diagram of how you'll change the bottom rear shock pivot so it will accept those nice Works shocks you just received ?

[sbeckman7]

Sbeckman7,
Can you post a diagram of how you'll change the bottom rear shock pivot so it will accept those nice Works shocks you just received ?

I'd be happy to, hopefully I'll have time tonight.  It essentially involves simply cutting the eye out of the shock mount (on the swing arm) and welding a clevis in it's place.

I remember reading 25 ft-lb for the swing arm bolt...?  Or was it 32?

[grcamna2]

Sbeckman7,
Can you post a diagram of how you'll change the bottom rear shock pivot so it will accept those nice Works shocks you just received ?

I'd be happy to, hopefully I'll have time tonight.  It essentially involves simply cutting the eye out of the shock and welding a clevis in it's place.

I remember reading 25 ft-lb for the swing arm bolt...?  Or was it 32?

I apologize,I don't have my service book handy 

[sbeckman7]

I ran out of time tonight, a friend from Germany arrived today so I spent the afternoon showing him around hopefully tomorrow if not over the weekend.

[sbeckman7]

Finally got some wrenching time tonight!  I was able to press the sleeve back into the swing arm (greased it first), installed the swing arm, pumped everything full of grease, removed the last stem bearing race, and came up with a mounting plan for my Works Performance shocks, which was pretty easy.  Some pictures of the evening with guest appearances by my friends.  The one on the right is building his 350F in parallel with me

The frame with the swing arm finally installed!  Works Performance shocks are a little less than 0.5" shorter than stock eye to eye.  They will sit essentially at stock ride height.


They will require some small shims, but I have decided to mount them in single shear off the swing arm which means I don't have to modify the swing arm itself.


"The Shop."  Where all kinds of DIY adventures take place   Daniel to the left, Kyle with his CB350F, and my frame in the background.


Tomorrow's mission is to install the new tapered stem bearings and possibly weld up the OEM top triple.  If that gets done I could have a roller again in no time!

[grcamna2]

Nice    Good thread title change also 

[iiAtlas]

Looking great!  Nice shop, looks like a fun space.

[sbeckman7]

Thanks guys!  Here are a few pictures of how the frame looks in sunlight - my favorite look

[grcamna2]

Sb,
Those 'Works' rear shocks 'look' extremely 'Beefy'! 
 You think they're set-up/compatible w/ your CB350F as far as compression/rebound damping and spring rate as is ?

[sbeckman7]

Sb,
Those 'Works' rear shocks 'look' extremely 'Beefy'! 
 You think they're set-up/compatible w/ your CB350F as far as compression/rebound damping and spring rate as is ?

They're not as beefy as the Ducati Monster shocks my friend is trying to install    These came of a Kawasaki KZ100 LTD, which weighed approx. 200 lbs more than my 350F so I am expecting I will need new spring rates.  With that said I plan on riding them back to back with the stock suspension and seeing which direction seems best to continue with.

[sbeckman7]

Just check them for interference with the width of the tire. If they're "fatter" they may rub the tire edge, chain, or sprockets.

They're nowhere near that wide fortunately.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Sb,
Those 'Works' rear shocks 'look' extremely 'Beefy'! 
 You think they're set-up/compatible w/ your CB350F as far as compression/rebound damping and spring rate as is ?

They're not as beefy as the Ducati Monster shocks my friend is trying to install    These came of a Kawasaki KZ100 LTD, which weighed approx. 200 lbs more than my 350F so I am expecting I will need new spring rates.  With that said I plan on riding them back to back with the stock suspension and seeing which direction seems best to continue with.

Fortunately, Works is right here in California and can send you new springs to match the weight of the 350F.  I suspect it will be oversprung and not provide the rear enough compliance to optimally track the road.

[grcamna2]

Sb,
Those 'Works' rear shocks 'look' extremely 'Beefy'! 
 You think they're set-up/compatible w/ your CB350F as far as compression/rebound damping and spring rate as is ?

They're not as beefy as the Ducati Monster shocks my friend is trying to install    These came of a Kawasaki KZ100 LTD, which weighed approx. 200 lbs more than my 350F so I am expecting I will need new spring rates.  With that said I plan on riding them back to back with the stock suspension and seeing which direction seems best to continue with.

Fortunately, Works is right here in California and can send you new springs to match the weight of the 350F.  I suspect it will be oversprung and not provide the rear enough compliance to optimally track the road.

Those air adjustable damping shocks would be good w/ a 2 into 1 single fill air fitting for exact even press. too. 
I have a vintage pair of Paioli rear shocks originally meant for a Guzzi that have been rebuilt by an expert suspension dude w/ the correct spring rates for my application which are very similar and I like that style.

[sbeckman7]

Fortunately, Works is right here in California and can send you new springs to match the weight of the 350F.  I suspect it will be oversprung and not provide the rear enough compliance to optimally track the road.

I agree, they will certainly be oversprung.  I'll have to look into costs of new springs.  Grcamna2, that sounds like a sweet setup you've got

I didn't get a whole lot done tonight, but my new bearing races are pressed into the stem and bearings are ready to go in (after I pack them with grease that is).  Tomorrow's goal is to weld up the OEM top triple.  I machined a steel spacer to use in place of the fork while I repair it so it stays perfectly round inside.

[grcamna2]

Fortunately, Works is right here in California and can send you new springs to match the weight of the 350F.  I suspect it will be oversprung and not provide the rear enough compliance to optimally track the road.

I agree, they will certainly be oversprung.  I'll have to look into costs of new springs.  Grcamna2, that sounds like a sweet setup you've got

I didn't get a whole lot done tonight, but my new bearing races are pressed into the stem and bearings are ready to go in (after I pack them with grease that is).  Tomorrow's goal is to weld up the OEM top triple.  I machined a steel spacer to use in place of the fork while I repair it so it stays perfectly round inside.

Please post pics of the jig and how you weld that top triple clamp 
I can ask the suspension dude if he has any used springs for your 'Works' shocks or possibly put you in touch w/ him.. He's in OR.

[sbeckman7]

Please post pics of the jig and how you weld that top triple clamp 
I can ask the suspension dude if he has any used springs for your 'Works' shocks or possibly put you in touch w/ him.. He's in OR.

Will do, hopefully later this afternoon that would be wonderful if you're able to ask your contact or put me in touch with him about springs!

[grcamna2]

Please post pics of the jig and how you weld that top triple clamp 
I can ask the suspension dude if he has any used springs for your 'Works' shocks or possibly put you in touch w/ him.. He's in OR.

Will do, hopefully later this afternoon that would be wonderful if you're able to ask your contact or put me in touch with him about springs!

I did speak w/ the guy about the suspension and he told me that he didn't have any springs for your shocks,sorry.

[RAFster122s]

Well, hopefully you can get springs that will work for your application, if not, you can flip them after some cleanup polish to get a better price.
I wonder if the valving would need to change for a lighter setup and wouldn't need just springs. Might also require oil  viscosity change and pressure if air if
David

[grcamna2]

According to the shock dude,he told me that they need nitrogen at a certain working pressure;an owners manual would help.

[sbeckman7]

You guys are right, it's possible the shocks would also need a re-valve.  I'm not looking to take this bike anywhere quickly or drive in an aggressive matter, so if that's the case I'll clean them up and sell them again.

On another bombshell, I can't find the broken portions of my top triple, which makes it pretty difficult to fix... If they're really lost I'll have to shell out another $160 for a replacement or come up with another plan 

Spence

[grcamna2]

You guys are right, it's possible the shocks would also need a re-valve.  I'm not looking to take this bike anywhere quickly or drive in an aggressive matter, so if that's the case I'll clean them up and sell them again.

On another bombshell, I can't find the broken portions of my top triple, which makes it pretty difficult to fix... If they're really lost I'll have to shell out another $160 for a replacement or come up with another plan 

Spence

Spence,
You might do what I did.I have a broken triple from a different model Honda that I'll be installing to a front end swap,I actually had pieces left from another one that was also broken(it was from the same type bike) in the trunk of my car for over a yr. and remembered it.I used the broken piece and brought it to a place and they trimmed down the other piece to fit and tig welded it Nice.
My point is you may find someone here on the forum or elsewhere on the net who has a broken one and they might give it to you to use to fix yours.Folks don't usually want to fix/weld a broken top triple but I don't mind one bit.The Voc-Tech school that's doing mine is also tig welding a cracked crankcase for me,the instructor is making sure that it's all done nice and even annealing the finished parts in an oven to make sure they have even temper again. 

[grcamna2]

The Voc-Tech school that's doing mine is also tig welding a cracked crankcase for me,the instructor is making sure that it's all done nice and even annealing the finished parts in an oven to make sure they have even temper again. 

Baking it in an oven is pointless. The area being TIG welded will approach a temperature range that an oven can't even begin to generate. Left to cool on it's own, the cases will self-anneal. And there's no direct stress on the cases that would necessitate annealing them to create structural strength. I think the Instructor needs a lesson in metallurgy if he's proposing that step as recommended. Preheating the cases will help purge the impurities form the cases, making them weld cleaner, but annealing, eh nope.

The man is teaching in a school and charging me a great price,if he wants to do something I don't understand to teach his course he has my full permission to do so.

[sbeckman7]

Still trying to figure out what to do... A NOS one from eBay is about $180 shipped.  Alternatively I could get one from Cognito Motorsports for around the same price but then I have to make the risers for the bars unless I want clip ons... At least I can continue with my engine in the mean time.