Topic: Here we go: the CB350F rebuild.

[HondaMan]

Thanks, Newday!
I found a used one on eBay, at least I don't have to BUILD one.
Who would drill through the tensioner rod? They also offset that hole with their drill bit, taking all the threads off one side of the hole, so threading in the stop bolt doesn't apply much force onto the shaft to hold it in place. All the chips are still packed inside the hole for the rod, which was why I had to drive the tensioner rod out from behind, with a punch and (no small) hammer. I'll have to pick the chips out and probably Helicoil or Keensert the hole, if I can make a bushing to hold a new drill bit to the center of the now-offset hole.

My lathe is busy with a swingarm rebuild, so that's gonna have to get done first, I guess.

This bike must have sounded like a calliope when running... 

[MauiK3]

Wow, that's too bad, fixing it will be a challenge. Hopefully there aren't any more such surprises!!

[Ozzybud]

Hondaman.. looking forward to seeing your progress.
I am assuming you have riden these 350F bikes before?

[denward17]

Following progress......

[HondaMan]

Hondaman.. looking forward to seeing your progress.
I am assuming you have riden these 350F bikes before?

Oh, yeah...when they first came out, they would show up in my shop for their 300 mile checkups. Then when I moved to Colorado and worked in shops here, they showed up nonstop. When the 400F came out it was a virtual parade. They were (and still are) very popular "canyon racers" here. Most today are the 400F bikes, due to their much-increased HP and 6th gear, but there are MANY 350F bikes around the Denver area, mostly in poor shape like mine for lack of parts and for lack of mechanics who appreciate them.

I'm the latter...when one could throw a leg over the seat after a gas station fillup and literally touch the "go button" to make it run (you'd never even hear the starter, it would just run), I was hooked. I just never had a situation, in my whole life, where I could have the chance to [build and] ride one of my own, until now. I would like to make it a 'mini' of my 750, maybe installing a Quicksilver fairing on it so they look related in the garage. I'm selling my old Explorer to raise the $$ for the project: I have 3 cars and a motorhome, and the insurance has tripled since Biden was king. One has to go!

[Ozzybud]

Hondaman.. looking forward to seeing your progress.
I am assuming you have riden these 350F bikes before?

Oh, yeah...when they first came out, they would show up in my shop for their 300 mile checkups. Then when I moved to Colorado and worked in shops here, they showed up nonstop. When the 400F came out it was a virtual parade. They were (and still are) very popular "canyon racers" here. Most today are the 400F bikes, due to their much-increased HP and 6th gear, but there are MANY 350F bikes around the Denver area, mostly in poor shape like mine for lack of parts and for lack of mechanics who appreciate them.

I'm the latter...when one could throw a leg over the seat after a gas station fillup and literally touch the "go button" to make it run (you'd never even hear the starter, it would just run), I was hooked. I just never had a situation, in my whole life, where I could have the chance to [build and] ride one of my own, until now. I would like to make it a 'mini' of my 750, maybe installing a Quicksilver fairing on it so they look related in the garage. I'm selling my old Explorer to raise the $$ for the project: I have 3 cars and a motorhome, and the insurance has tripled since Biden was king. One has to go!

Now that I have the 2 of them it is by far the most enjoyable bikes  I have ever ridden.
They are truly Gems.
Now I understand why Soichiro said it was his favorite bike they ever produced.

[HondaMan]

Ozzy: mine was once Candy Red like your beauty, and it has one (left) side cover in black like your other one!
For many years here there was a custom bike shop called Axel's, next door to the machine shop who does my work. The owner there is a guy about 15 years younger than me, a Japanese guy who immigrated here in the 1980s and opened his bike shop after working at various Japanese shops around town. He grew up near the Honda factory and worked on the line making CB750, CB550 and at the end the CX500 V-twins. During his tenure on the CX500 line, he said Sochiro would ride his Bacchus Olive CB350F right up to the production lines (indoors, sort of open-air factory arrangements) and discern any troubles, then would work alongside the assemblers to find a solution, then hop back on his 350F to ride back to the Engineering group(s) to work out the solutions. He said everyone in the factory liked Sochiro and was very proud to work at Honda: it wasn't easy to get a job there.

[grcamna2]

Ozzy: mine was once Candy Red like your beauty, and it has one (left) side cover in black like your other one!
For many years here there was a custom bike shop called Axel's, next door to the machine shop who does my work. The owner there is a guy about 15 years younger than me, a Japanese guy who immigrated here in the 1980s and opened his bike shop after working at various Japanese shops around town. He grew up near the Honda factory and worked on the line making CB750, CB550 and at the end the CX500 V-twins. During his tenure on the CX500 line, he said Sochiro would ride his Bacchus Olive CB350F right up to the production lines (indoors, sort of open-air factory arrangements) and discern any troubles, then would work alongside the assemblers to find a solution, then hop back on his 350F to ride back to the Engineering group(s) to work out the solutions. He said everyone in the factory liked Sochiro and was very proud to work at Honda: it wasn't easy to get a job there.

Excellent.