Topic: 1971 CL350 Craigslist find

[calj737]

Pretty sure Ricks sells a Reg/Rec for that bike. I used one on Cognito's Fox 350 build, but don't recall specifically if it was a Ricks or an ElectroSport. I installed it in the base of the seat tube, bolted in from behind. Made it very easy to connect to stock wiring, with a bit of extensions soldered in. Open air, fully concealed placement.

[Scott S]

I've heard about a Radio Shack rectifier but Radio Shack is now defunct. I'm not even sure at this point what the culprit is.

I use these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/35-AMP-3-THREE-PHASE-BRIDGE-RECTIFIER-WIND-/261313978134?
The manual has the instructions for testing the rectifier.
I assume you've already checked/cleaned all the connections.

 Not yet, other than the battery cables. I just stuck my meter on it while I had it running. I'll go through it and see if I can trace it down.

[Scott S]

Pretty sure Ricks sells a Reg/Rec for that bike. I used one on Cognito's Fox 350 build, but don't recall specifically if it was a Ricks or an ElectroSport. I installed it in the base of the seat tube, bolted in from behind. Made it very easy to connect to stock wiring, with a bit of extensions soldered in. Open air, fully concealed placement.

 I'll definitely look into that.

[grcamna2]

I've heard about a Radio Shack rectifier but Radio Shack is now defunct. I'm not even sure at this point what the culprit is.

I use these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/35-AMP-3-THREE-PHASE-BRIDGE-RECTIFIER-WIND-/261313978134?
The manual has the instructions for testing the rectifier.
I assume you've already checked/cleaned all the connections.

 Not yet, other than the battery cables. I just stuck my meter on it while I had it running. I'll go through it and see if I can trace it down.

One very bad place for corrosion is the battery box and where it actually is grounded directly to the frame where it mounts,the rectifier mounts/grounds to it.. I clean all those mount/ground places up good and then use di-electric grease.

[Scott S]

 It wasn't bad at all, but I cleaned it up and put it back together; no change. Aaaaand, of course the regulator and stator wiring are behind the LH air filter and beneath the battery box. Which means they are inaccessible with the exhaust on.
 I'll probably just leave it as is until it's time to remove the exhaust to install the bodywork and make sure that I check/repair/replace whatever needs it before installing the exhaust again.

[Scott S]

 Fixed the turn signals. Installed a $4 flasher, replaced a bulb, cleaned up a couple of connections and, as expected, found some better grounds for the front turns. They all work now. Only oddity is that the turn signal indicator in the dash only flashes when the LH signals are on, not the RH.... Hmmmm....

 Installed a new high beam indicator bulb, replaced the front brake switch. All electrical seems to be working now. The neutral indicator light is sometimes iffy. I cleaned and adjusted it on the cam under the sprocket cover, but I think it needs a little tweaking to make full contact. No biggie.

 Now that I finally have a solid tank, I think I'm going to throw a splash of gas in it and ride it for a few miles. Keep adjusting the clutch and making minor tweaks. I don't think it'll be long until I take it to the body shop for paint!

[Scott S]

Installed the petcock and hooked up the tank today and did a little test riding around the neighborhood. I was able to get the clutch and carbs adjusted pretty well.
 But when I stopped for a clutch adjustment, I noticed gas along the seam on the LH side of the tank. Then I noticed the blister:



 Crap. Not again?! Drained the gas and stripped the tank to bare metal. It's not looking too good. These all showed up. They've been dug out with a pick tool, so that's all the soft metal I can find. At first, I thought it was just a couple and could maybe be saved. But the more I cleaned, stripped, wire brushed....





 There are even a couple on the RH side.



 That's tank #3 with holes. I'm in dire need of a SOLID CL350 tank.

[calj737]

How solid is the metal surrounding those holes? Thinned out badly too? If so, we need to weld in a patch panel. If not, might be able to weld it up, or even braze them. 

[Scott S]

 I used a pick tool and dug out until I got solid metal. I suppose it could be saved, but first I need a couple of gallons of acetone to get the Redkote liner out!
 I have a line on a pretty nice (supposedly) tank. At this point, I don't mind paying a little extra to get a GOOD one.

[MoMo]

that's a shame Scott.  I can imagine a CL tank is hard to find.  Good luck....Larry

[Bankerdanny]

Scott, try calling Clint at Motolane, a motorcycle salvage yard in central Illinois: 217-674-3793.

His website, which he is very bad about updating, shows he has a gold '71 CL350. I have bought a couple things from him in the past and he has been easy to deal with.

Danny

[Scott S]

 Thanks Danny. I think I have a nice one on the way. Fingers crossed!

[bender01]

Barn find law? Ive got to look into that! Did you start at the DMV or tax assesor or where? Ive had nothing but troubles here in Beaufort county! No recent registration or title from another state no issue! Bill of sale doesnt matter where its from. Thats the answer I get.
 Thanks for a where to start. Ive got one now thats a minty project I was thinking of parting or let Georgia have it. They dont need much there.

[Scott S]

Barn find law? Ive got to look into that! Did you start at the DMV or tax assesor or where? Ive had nothing but troubles here in Beaufort county! No recent registration or title from another state no issue! Bill of sale doesnt matter where its from. Thats the answer I get.
 Thanks for a where to start. Ive got one now thats a minty project I was thinking of parting or let Georgia have it. They dont need much there.

 You have a PM.

[Scott S]

 The seat that came with the bike was on a solid pan and had been recovered, but I hated the shape. Way too soft and round. Plus, whatever foam they used was WAY too soft. I literally sunk down to the pan on it.



 For about the cost of a new seat cover, I found a stock seat. Ahhh.....much better!





 I also found a Triple A brand luggage rack. Cleaned it up a bit and got it mounted.

[grcamna2]

Scott,
That seat looks a lot better,how does it ride? The rack looks like a good fit.

[Scott S]

 I haven't ridden it with the new seat yet but it feels much better.

[Gene]

Man, that's a good looking bike.

[Scott S]

Man, that's a good looking bike.

 Thanks! It will be when I'm done!

[Scott S]

 Since I've ridden the bike and it did OK, and I'm pretty much at the body work stage, I removed the exhaust....for a couple of reasons. It has to be off to install the LH side cover (whenever it's finally painted) and, more importantly, to test the charging system stuff that's behind there/under the battery box.
 The GOOD news is that the stator tests good. I get 1.1 - 1.2 Ohms between the Yellow/Pink wires and 0.6 Ohms between the White/Pink. That means the problem is with either the regulator or rectifier. I can't really test the regulator without the bike running and it's partially disassembled right now. Doesn't really matter which one is bad because I'm replacing them both with a Sparckmoto combination Reg/Rec. Got it ordered today.

 I tried to install a new grey clutch cable today since the old one was so hard to pull. Something I got off eBay. First, it was about a foot longer than the old one. OK....I can work around that. Then I found out that the guide that goes in the sprocket cover didn't fit. Swapped over the one from the old cable. THEN, as I was adjusting the cable, it pulled right out of the barrel at the lever!
 I've requested a refund and ordered a new cable from 4into1.com




 So, I had a running bike, and now it's in pieces again!
 Hopefully, the new tank will be here soon, too.

[tbpmusic]

Yeah, you have to take off the mufflers to do about anything on a CL - lay in a good supply of those copper exhaust flange gaskets........

The cable, incidentally is the same as a 450 except for the sprocket cover guide.

[Scott S]

 Got the bodywork back. Need to install the gas cap. The badges are off at a local pinstriper getting detailed. As soon as I get this back together I can start on reassembling the bike.

[grcamna2]

Very nice Scott  ,the tank does look like it came out very well;are you pleased with the inside cond.? I know you've been through 'Hell and High water' on CL350 tanks.

I have a set of orig. oem good used grey control cables if you need one.

[Scott S]

 Yeah, getting a good tank was a struggle. Finally ended up with two I can work with. One still needs badges and a petcock, but I'll get there.

[CycleRanger]

Got the bodywork back. Need to install the gas cap. The badges are off at a local pinstriper getting detailed. As soon as I get this back together I can start on reassembling the bike.

What did the paint cost?