Topic: My CB350F REALLY REALLY REALLY wants to go.

[e_b_c]

This seems like a simple problem, but i wanted to make sure before i go fiddling with parts that i have NO experience with.

Bike: 72 CB350F

Problem: The electric starter is engaged whenever the battery is charged and connected!

Additional info: This problem occurred last when after i hooked up a timing light to the bike. (Positive to positive battery point. Negative to cooling fins. The other 'thingy' to plug wire 1.) With this setup i went pushed the starter and gave it a little gas. the bike started to turn over but the starter kept going for about 20 seconds until the battery finally died. I thought that was strange and hooked up the battery to a charger and fiddled with the starter button a little. I hooked up the battery again (with the ignition switch turn off, the keys out of the bike, the starter set to OFF). As soon as i made the second connection to the battery (to my surprise) the bike tried to start!

The only other thing that i touched between the time that it started okay, and now is that i adjusted the point gap, and installed two new condensers.

Before i recharged the battery was thinking that the contact point inside the starter switch had been jammed into place. But that seems less likely in light of the 'phantom starting' with everything turned off.

ANY help is greatly appreciated! I am obviously a complete novice.

thanks,
Evan

[oldbiker]

Sounds as though the starter relay has 'stuck' closed. You can open some of these relays and clean the internals and the contacts. Others are non-openable but it is possible to un-peen the rolled over edge and do the job. There is nothing to be lost by trying since if you don't succeed you will have to buy a new relay either way.

[don_m]

Hi Oldbiker,
It does sound like your solenoid switch is stuck, perhaps the contacts have welded.  The early ones like your 350F are easily rebuilt & I've done mine a couple of times.  The contacts are copper.  File down the heads of the posts or turn them 180 degrees & flip over the round copper washer like movable plate for fresh surfaces.
Cheers, Don Madden, (also a geriatric motorcyce maniac).

[e_b_c]

thanks!

this week is godawful. i have something wasting all my time every night this week; so the bike project has been back-burnered until next week. i'll let you guys know how it goes.

evan

[mutters]

I personally like the concept that, if its already broken, you have nothing to lose by having a go at fixing it yourself.
Aren't we glad mr Honda made motorcycles with kick starters.

good luck mate.  JEFF.