Topic: 73 CB350F Build - DONE!

[Johnny5]

Bike is done! Before and after pics (scroll down to see the post with more build details:








Hey, thought I'd post my progress on how this bike comes along. I got it from a good friend who hadn't ridden it in almost 20 years. It was well stored and he is actually the second owner. It has just under 4,000 miles on the engine. Most of the chrome is beyond help. Although the rims cleaned up pretty well. Surprised not to find any rust on the spokes.

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So far this week, I'm rebuilding/cleaning the carbs and defunking the gas tank.


Still waiting on my new jets, float valve and orings to arrive. Have it put a bit back together in the meantime while I wait.

Before soaking in pine-sol.
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After soaking. That stuffed worked great!
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Had a hiccup and a slow jet broke off. I was able to get the broken piece out.
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Petcock cleaned, tank derusted. I used 4 bottles of The Works toilet bowl cleaner, then topped off with water. Let it sit 2 days. Sloshed around a light weight metal chain and rinsed with water with baking soda. Then rinsed with Acetone. Zero flash rusting.
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Almost ready to start it for the first time. I changed the oil today, adjusted valves, new spark plugs. Gas tank is full of fresh gas and just waiting on the carb parts to arrive. Once it's running, I'll go through the electrical and make sure it's mechanically sound. Then I'll start breaking the bike down to start the rebuilding process.

[Hurstman1972]

Sweet! I restored my '74 a few years ago, and found that these little F's are serious fun! Good luck and keep the pics coming!

[markreimer]

Awesome! I'm part way through a '74 resto as well. I got it running in the spring, put on 5,000km, and now it's time to get into the engine.

Mine only had a few thousand miles on it when I bought it. It was sitting since '78. I found that my rings were stuck and I've been burning a lot of oil, hence the pending top end rebuild. Have you checked your compression? Any plans to get into the motor? It looks real nice. You'll love riding it. It's just so sweet have have this little motor spin up to 10K, it sounds fantastic and is a real joy to boot around country roads.

[Johnny5]

Awesome! I'm part way through a '74 resto as well. I got it running in the spring, put on 5,000km, and now it's time to get into the engine.

Mine only had a few thousand miles on it when I bought it. It was sitting since '78. I found that my rings were stuck and I've been burning a lot of oil, hence the pending top end rebuild. Have you checked your compression? Any plans to get into the motor? It looks real nice. You'll love riding it. It's just so sweet have have this little motor spin up to 10K, it sounds fantastic and is a real joy to boot around country roads.

Very cool! Got a link to your project? Would love to check it out.

I'm hoping to get it started this Friday and I'll see how it runs. The bike was well stored in a garage and the guy had put some oil in the jugs prior to putting it away. The gas was drained as well. The engine wasn't stuck and I turned it over several times adjusting the valves last night. It sounded so smooth. I'll get a compression check done later once I can evaluate the tranny/electronics and stuff. Right now, I'll think positively and assume all is well. If anything, the cam chain tensioner inside probably needs replacing as those get pretty brittle with age. But that might be all I do with the engine. Will know more later.

[markreimer]

Very cool, sounds like a promising start.

This is the link to mine: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151078.250.html

I have everything I need for the engine rebuild. It'll be snowy here in about two weeks, so I'm gonna keep riding for now, and probably do the rebuilt around Christmas.

[Johnny5]

Sweet! I restored my '74 a few years ago, and found that these little F's are serious fun! Good luck and keep the pics coming!

That looks great!

[Johnny5]

Very cool, sounds like a promising start.

This is the link to mine: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151078.250.html

I have everything I need for the engine rebuild. It'll be snowy here in about two weeks, so I'm gonna keep riding for now, and probably do the rebuilt around Christmas.

That's what I did with my CB750 build. Perfect project to bring to a basement and open the engine up. Being in Michigan, I get it.
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out later tonight.

[Johnny5]

Got some headway done on the bike over the past couple of days. Carbs installed and finally fired the bike up last night. It literally only took less than a minute to fire up after sitting for almost 20 years. I was shocked that it pretty much wanted to idle on its own right from the start.

This video is from today after I used my light gun to set the timing. I don't know how to embed a video, but here's the link. There's not much sound in the first few seconds which I cut out because the wind was deafening.

<iframe width="800" height="450" src="http://www.dropshots.com/video.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia6000.dropshots.com%2Fphotos%2F1361521%2F20161028%2F184738.mp4"></iframe>

Bike is slightly sluggish from it only being bench synced. But I'm hoping to get the vacuum sync done tomorrow if my attachments from Z1 deliver. It was pretty exciting to get this going. I hit the road and was able to open it up some. She likes everything after 5,000rpm for sure! It shifted beautifully and started every time and idles right around the 1,200 mark. At this early point, all is well in my book.

I had two CB350 twins in the past but never had the privilege of riding or owning a 350 Four. The difference is crazy! The twin might be a tad faster? But the Four is a lot smoother. I can only imagine how it'll run after syncing the carbs.

The only thing that wasn't working was the flasher relay. A quick trip to AutoZone for a generic 12v two prong relay had the blinkers working again. And I need to replace the burnt bulb for the speedo.

I need to source a front caliper. But I may find a CB350 front drum hub instead and go with that. I like the aesthetic of it. Please let me know if you have one.

So the plan now is to ride it around for a couple weeks and get to know it well. Then it'll be time to disassemble to the frame and begin building.

What the bike looked like the day I got it.

 

[markreimer]

Sweet! This rules! So glad you got it running. Ya these bikes are dogs below 5K. After 6 it starts to get pretty fun. Don't hesitate running it right up to 10 while accelerating, these engines love it!

[Johnny5]

It's been a long time since my last project post. But I've finished the bike and am really happy how it all turned out.

Here's some after shots:













After getting it running well, the first order of business was tuning the bike for pods. From what I read, these bikes are finicky with pods but I hoped not impossible. Pods were crucial for the clean look under the seat. I took about two weeks, experimenting with jet sizes, needle adjustments and putting inserts inside the pods to minimize the turbulence. Bike runs strong. No popping or bogging down.

I used pieces of pop cans all cut the same size. Experimented with what width worked best. Then to hold the light aluminum in place and not bend from the suction of the intake, I used hose clamps cut and bent to act as a retaining ring.



All the unnecessary tabs were removed from the frame. Extra supports added across the rear of the bike to accommodate the seat and taillight.



Hubs refinished, new brake pads installed.


Speedhut GPS speedo/tach. Works great. Very impressed. Green neutral light and red oil pressure light installed into the headlight bucket. Can be seen in a couple of pictures. The headlight ears were shortened to bring in the light closer to the triple tree.


Engine was cleaned up. VHT black wrinkle paint. Very durable after its cured. POR15 engine silver paint. Also durable. I'm a fan of the brushed aluminum look. So the engine covers were stripped of the clearcoat and buffed with red and green scotchbrite pads. Left side engine cover was trimmed and contoured slightly.


Gas tank before it was painted. Emblem holes filled. I used rustoleum ivory white for the color, and used Spraymax 2k clearcoat.


The fork seals were replaced and the lowers stripped. In this picture, I removed that tab to have the lowers look more similar. Since I was using the disc brake, this part wasn't needed.


New dyna coils, wires, NGK caps, condensers and Hondaman ignition.


To keep an eye on my charging system and lithium battery. I installed a voltmeter.


Verified, oring chain does not rub the engine cases.

Tons of odds and ends done like new axle and triple tree nuts. Anything that could be cleaned and reused was.

Build parts

CB350  twin front drum brake
New EBC brake pads front and rear
CB350 twin triple tree upper
CB350 twin 18” rim for front tire
Firestone Champion Deluxe 3.5 x 18 Tires Front and Rear
Hubs repainted with Duplicolor high temp paint
New spokes
Mob Steel tire valve stem covers
Hagon 12.20” rear shocks
Fork seals and boots
Forks repainted with 2K satin black
Tank repainted w/gas cap
Clutch, brake and throttle cables
Uni crankcase filter
Carbs tuned for pods
Speedhut GPS speedo/tach
Black and Gold Oring chain
LED taillight and turn signals
Pin LED front turn signals
5 3/4” headlight w/H4 35w bulb
LED Neutral and oil light installed into headlight bucket
Art deco 2.5” bar end mirror
Custom welded exhaust w/Cone Eng. Cans
Engine covers scuffed with scotchbrite padding
Engine paint: VHT black wrinkle and Por15 silver
Rear axle side license plate mount
Emgo Euro bars
Dei Header wrap
AntiGravity Lithium Battery
Kuryakyn volt meter
Hondaman Ignition
Dyna coils and wires
NGK caps
Mini horn
Biltwell grips
Tuffside seat
Frame and swingarm powdercoated (tabs/passenger pegs removed)
Replaced engine gaskets
Valves grinded and new seals

[markreimer]

WOW that is such a great job!!! I love it!

[Johnny5]

WOW that is such a great job!!! I love it!

Thanks man!

[AlBundy]

Great build. Like the style of the bike!

[Johnny5]

Great build. Like the style of the bike!

Thanks, man. I appreciate that.

[SternDK]

Very nice build! I'm building one as well and I wanted to hear what jet sizes you went with?

[LeVeL]

Very good looking bike!

[Johnny5]

Very nice build! I'm building one as well and I wanted to hear what jet sizes you went with?

Thank you!

It's been a while but either 85 or 80 mains, and either stock 35 slow or i put in 38. The needle is in the stock position.

[SternDK]

Thank you! I will try with those settings if stock setup works bad.

[nobadnomad]

Great build man! Curious - what are the specs on your bars? Rise/width?

Thanks!