Topic: Honda CB 350F Pics and a QUESTION

[JWilde]

So here are a few pics from the weekend.

I have an amazing looking sprocket behind the sprocket cover. Ive been advised to keep the sprocket cover on "in case the chain jumps off.

Is this really a concern? I rather like the way the sprocket looks and dont want it covered by the cover. However, if its safer to leave it on, I will. Any advice?

My bike is the first bike

[flybox1]

If your rear axle is positioned, and torqued to properly set your chain slack, then you have no need to worry about the chain jumping.

[JWilde]

If your rear axle is positioned, and torqued to properly set your chain slack, then you have no need to worry about the chain jumping.

Ok great and another question:

The chain was recently changed. its obviously stretched but has been reset. Now when I have the bike in neutral and roll it slowly i can see the chanin jump and stagger a bit. What the hell is that? I had a mechanic do it because I didnt have the time and I want to be able to tell him "_____ is wrong." Any idea what that could be?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Your wheel could be positioned unevenly left to right or your chain might be rusty and binding.

[flybox1]

+1...it could be a few things.  Axle not aligned properly, un-lubed chain, bad links, etc.
Take 6 min to educate yourself.

[JWilde]

Your wheel could be positioned unevenly left to right or your chain might be rusty and binding.

As I mentioned, chain and sprocket are brand new. how often should it be lubed?

[flybox1]

Your wheel could be positioned unevenly left to right or your chain might be rusty and binding.

As I mentioned, chain and sprocket are brand new. how often should it be lubed?

This means absolutely nothing if they were installed out of alignment.

[JWilde]

Your wheel could be positioned unevenly left to right or your chain might be rusty and binding.

As I mentioned, chain and sprocket are brand new. how often should it be lubed?

This means absolutely nothing if they were installed out of alignment.

Flow of events:

I bought a new chain and sprocket. had it put on. Was fine. Week went by. Went back this weekend for something else (clutch adjustment) . Mechanic gently chides me saying "you really need to check the slack on this chain. Its new and its stretched." he readjusted it.

Now it does the thing Im talking about ONLY when in neutral and Im rolling forward slowly, duck walking.

[flybox1]

Your wheel could be positioned unevenly left to right or your chain might be rusty and binding.

As I mentioned, chain and sprocket are brand new. how often should it be lubed?

This means absolutely nothing if they were installed out of alignment.

Flow of events:

I bought a new chain and sprocket. had it put on. Was fine. Week went by. Went back this weekend for something else (clutch adjustment) . Mechanic gently chides me saying "you really need to check the slack on this chain. Its new and its stretched." he readjusted it.

Now it does the thing Im talking about ONLY when in neutral and Im rolling forward slowly, duck walking.

Again, this means nothing if the sprockets are out of alignment or chain slack is incorrect. 
If you took a moment to watch the video, it would have shown you how to check a few things, but you fail to get your hands dirty and try.
This is a common theme throughout your threads, JW.

[JWilde]

OMG how many times must I say it? I have two kids and my OWN business. While my safety on the bike is important, MY FAMILY AND BUSINESS are first.
Therefore I asked this question so when I take it to the mechanic I can mention to him some of the possibilities I hoped ppl in this forum would point out.

I have absolutely ZERO time to sit in a garage and dither with this; I would rather someone fix it.
I am not, at this point in my life, a garage dwelling mr-fix-it-let-me-watch-this-video-and-figure-it-out-creature. I dont want to be and I couldnt be if I wanted. My time is so limited it took me a while to even see what you posted.

The bike will go to the mechanic this week. He will take care of it.

[Dunk]

If you have time to ride then you have time to maintain your bike, same as a car... If you can afford the huge amount of time spent dropping off and picking up from a shop and going back because someone incompetent couldn't figure it out and then the additional time spent on this forum, you surely have the lesser amount of time to just fix it yourself.

If you genuinely don't have the time to maintain your bike I suggest you get a brand new bike every year or two. If you ride any 40+ year old bike it will need regular maintenance, a chain is one of those higher maintenance items. If you don't want to maintain a chain, get a shaft drive bike.

[Scott S]

 Chains should be checked, cleaned and lubed often.
 It only takes a few minutes to adjust the chain. If I were closer, I'd show you how. You should consider this a safety item. You don't have time to adjust the chain? Do you have time to wait for a tow truck or, worse yet, an ambulance, when you throw the chain or it breaks because it's not adjusted correctly?

 If you ride 40-50 year old bikes, you HAVE to learn to do minor maintenance on them. Period.

[JWilde]

Chains should be checked, cleaned and lubed often.
 It only takes a few minutes to adjust the chain. If I were closer, I'd show you how. You should consider this a safety item. You don't have time to adjust the chain? Do you have time to wait for a tow truck or, worse yet, an ambulance, when you throw the chain or it breaks because it's not adjusted correctly?

 If you ride 40-50 year old bikes, you HAVE to learn to do minor maintenance on them. Period.

Point taken

[Gene]

If you ride any 40+ year old bike it will need regular maintenance, a chain is one of those higher maintenance items. If you don't want to maintain a chain, get a shaft drive bike.

And most mechanics don't know how to work on these old bikes - that's all we're sayin'. And this is minor stuff.

[JWilde]

If you have time to ride then you have time to maintain your bike, same as a car... If you can afford the huge amount of time spent dropping off and picking up from a shop and going back because someone incompetent couldn't figure it out and then the additional time spent on this forum, you surely have the lesser amount of time to just fix it yourself.

If you genuinely don't have the time to maintain your bike I suggest you get a brand new bike every year or two. If you ride any 40+ year old bike it will need regular maintenance, a chain is one of those higher maintenance items. If you don't want to maintain a chain, get a shaft drive bike.

Hey Dunk,

I want to say thanks. Had a sit down with my Mrs about the time I need to spend on the bike and we agreed its something I need to pay attention to. so guess what? Starting week after next I will be able to work on it in my garage! wooo hooo

[JWilde]

After adjustment, it "jumps and staggers"? I'm trying to visualize that...

I get that you're in Neutral and walking the bike, but the did the mechanic change the Front or Rear sprocket with the new chain? Or both?

I would encourage you to grab 2 cans of Chain Lube (you can order them online) and keep them near your bike with an air pressure gauge. About every 500-1,000 miles, spray the chain with some lube. Especially if you've ridden through some storms or recently afterwards. Grit, grime and salt wreak havoc on chains.

I couldn't tell from the picture whether your swing arm has the chain roller (left side, near the pivot rod on the leg of the swing arm). This is used basically as a roller bushing to protect the swing arm from the chain slapping it. Perhaps that is in a state of disarray???

Time is precious! There's no reason in the world busy people who want to own a vintage bike can't have them serviced by others. Its a life choice. But a little safety walkaround and some needed maintenance can not be overlooked in light of being busy. (Tire pressure, chain in order, everything still connected, no loose wires, cables etc...). Always take a moment as you strap on your helmet to get into a Pre-Ride routine. You'll be surprised how much you notice.

Its true. today i spent 1.5 hours going over the bike:

a shock mount bolt was loose
the exhaust bolt had nearly come loose. A few more turns and the rear part of the exhaust would have fallen off while I was riding.
I tightened and checked every single bolt on that bike, all because of you guys stressing the importance of ME starting to take responsibility.
Lubed the chain real nice, careful and slowly

so thanks for that.


now....is the engine supposed to knock a bit on these 350F's? I hear a knocking noise. It may be nothing and it may have been there all along, but today I noticed it. like a tapping noise?

[MD]

Put the bike on the center stand.  Grab the rear wheel top and bottom and check to see if you got a wiggle.  You could be experiencing a bad bearing.

-MD

[JWilde]

now....is the engine supposed to knock a bit on these 350F's? I hear a knocking noise. It may be nothing and it may have been there all along, but today I noticed it. like a tapping noise?

"Knocking" can be an indication of the carbs not being vacuum synched, it could be something "worse" but not likely. Do you hear it mostly at idle, and does it persist or wane with throttle? If it goes away with throttle, I'd ask the mechanic to re-synch the carbs. It's a small job, but you need specific tools to perform it. (Next bike!!  )

Carbs are fine. Not the problem. At all.

It was the chain. It had nothing to do with the carbs. I did 95 the other night. Bike is running good. Im getting good at this. The chain wasnt lubed enough. I did it and its ok now. Ive now got a community of biker friends I go riding with regularly and Im learning a lot. feels good to stand on my own two feet.

[Scott S]

  Make sure you check the chain tension too. It's not uncommon for some less expensive chains to have tight spots and loose spots.

 When you asked about the ENGINE having a knocking sound, that's what Cal was referring to. Carb sync has a big effect on these Hondas. A knock or thunk at idle can be carbs out of sync.

 How many miles have you put on the bike since you got it? You do know that you'll have to check and adjust the valves  every three thousand miles, right? Oil and filter then, too.

[754]

 Got to ask,
 Is it low or medium priced chain ?
 Were you dumping the clutch ?
 Did you pressure wash, or wash at a carwash since installing the new chain..

Reason , all of the above can contribute to uneven tension of the chain..
 

[JWilde]

Got to ask,
 Is it low or medium priced chain ?
 Were you dumping the clutch ?
 Did you pressure wash, or wash at a carwash since installing the new chain..

Reason , all of the above can contribute to uneven tension of the chain..

Its an expensive chain. heavy duty.

[754]

 Most expensive chains are prestretched and can be ridden a few weeks or at least 1000 miles without needing adjustment.
 the thing hiding your sprocket is sometimes used to hold the chain off the sprocket nuts while pulling the wheel.

[Flyin900]

Question regarding your main stand clearance and the chain.

The original Honda 4 into 4 exhaust has a rubber bumper that holds the main stand off the chain when the stand is up in the riding position. I see you have a 4 into 1 exhaust and on the CB350F I restored last year with the same set up I had to fabricate a piece of metal to hold the main stand off the chain when the main stand was in the up position.

Do you have such a support in place and if not doesn't the foot of the mainstand rub the chain? I don't see anything on the chain side, yet you may have something on the muffler side.

[Dunk]

Kudos for taking the time and effort to go over the basics. It gets faster and easier the more you do. No shame it outsourcing the bigger stuff if it has you stumped. Glad you caught those few things already, never know when one could bite you.

[Scott S]

Question regarding your main stand clearance and the chain.

The original Honda 4 into 4 exhaust has a rubber bumper that holds the main stand off the chain when the stand is up in the riding position. I see you have a 4 into 1 exhaust and on the CB350F I restored last year with the same set up I had to fabricate a piece of metal to hold the main stand off the chain when the main stand was in the up position.

Do you have such a support in place and if not doesn't the foot of the mainstand rub the chain? I don't see anything on the chain side, yet you may have something on the muffler side.

 Good point. JWilde, you aren't hearing the center stand toughing the chain, are you?