Topic: Here we go: the CB350F rebuild.

[carnivorous chicken]

Those little twins could run 60 MPH, but in the end they (among other similar little bikes) led to the infamous Chicago "you must be this big to use the freeway" signs. You could get ticketed for riding a bike of less than 150cc (I think it was 150) on the freeways, then.

The closest thing we have to a freeway here is a ring road called Periferico, but you can't get on it with a bike with less than 250cc. I don't think it has anything to do with speed -- posted speed is 80kph -- but more to keep the chaos to a minimum.

[HondaMan]

Those little twins could run 60 MPH, but in the end they (among other similar little bikes) led to the infamous Chicago "you must be this big to use the freeway" signs. You could get ticketed for riding a bike of less than 150cc (I think it was 150) on the freeways, then.

The closest thing we have to a freeway here is a ring road called Periferico, but you can't get on it with a bike with less than 250cc. I don't think it has anything to do with speed -- posted speed is 80kph -- but more to keep the chaos to a minimum.

I wonder...would they allow an Abrahm's tank?
Coming down the onramp @ 70 MPH, yelling out, "Make a hole!..." I could dig it?

[carnivorous chicken]

I wonder...would they allow an Abrahm's tank?
Coming down the onramp @ 70 MPH, yelling out, "Make a hole!..." I could dig it?

Thiat would make driving here less stressful. On the plus side, because encounters between small cars in narrow alleys are so frequent I feel like I have a feel for the outside dimensions of my car down to the mm.

[HondaMan]

I wonder...would they allow an Abrahm's tank?
Coming down the onramp @ 70 MPH, yelling out, "Make a hole!..." I could dig it?

Thiat would make driving here less stressful. On the plus side, because encounters between small cars in narrow alleys are so frequent I feel like I have a feel for the outside dimensions of my car down to the mm.

I guess that helps explain why, when my in-law's Buick was centerpunched by an "illegal alien" at an intersection and one of them hospitalized, the cop just let the alien go. No ticket, nothing. The cop acted like he didn't care, and that the other guy didn't do anything wrong. Totalled the Buick, too, while the 1970 Ford pickup just drove away afterward - with no brakes at all.

[carnivorous chicken]

I guess that helps explain why, when my in-law's Buick was centerpunched by an "illegal alien" at an intersection and one of them hospitalized, the cop just let the alien go. No ticket, nothing. The cop acted like he didn't care, and that the other guy didn't do anything wrong. Totalled the Buick, too, while the 1970 Ford pickup just drove away afterward - with no brakes at all.

Sounds like that's on the cop.

That's actually the opposite of what I meant -- I meant encounters *without accidents. People here are so used to driving in tight spaces that they're super aware of where their car stops and the other starts. It's common enough to have to roll down your window and retract your mirror to pass another car coming the other direction.

[HondaMan]

I guess that helps explain why, when my in-law's Buick was centerpunched by an "illegal alien" at an intersection and one of them hospitalized, the cop just let the alien go. No ticket, nothing. The cop acted like he didn't care, and that the other guy didn't do anything wrong. Totalled the Buick, too, while the 1970 Ford pickup just drove away afterward - with no brakes at all.

Sounds like that's on the cop.

Most definitely.

That's actually the opposite of what I meant -- I meant encounters *without accidents. People here are so used to driving in tight spaces that they're super aware of where their car stops and the other starts. It's common enough to have to roll down your window and retract your mirror to pass another car coming the other direction.

Do you get by each other without swapping paint colors? 

[carnivorous chicken]

barely... last car had a couple streaks on mirror. There are no shortage of cars with streaks or worse down the sides --must've miscalculated.

[Stev-o]

Wow, this one looks like part of the frame is missing!

The engine is a "stressed member"...

[MauiK3]

Here I have to chuckle when I see guys with their big Dodges, Corvettes, even a few Ferraris or other exotic overpowered cars. They must be so frustrated all the time, no freeways, most speed limits are 45 or less, parking spaces are small, tough life.

[carnivorous chicken]

Here I have to chuckle when I see guys with their big Dodges, Corvettes, even a few Ferraris or other exotic overpowered cars. They must be so frustrated all the time, no freeways, most speed limits are 45 or less, parking spaces are small, tough life.

Same here. I sold my '64 Plymouth before moving down here because I figured the speed bumps and potholes would kill it -- they're everywhere and super frustrating. And parking is tight as well. But you see Ferraris and other sports cars that bottom out on the bumps and holes and Escalades and Hummers and other huge beasts driving around. At least once you get out of the city there are open roads and virtually no cops who care. Speed limit is 100kph outside of the city, I routinely do 120, but cars pass me at 150 or maybe up to 200...

[HondaMan]

Wow, this one looks like part of the frame is missing!

The engine is a "stressed member"...

Sometimes I know how to be that!

[Trevor from Warragul]

One thing I've noticed with my Ducati Monster is the weird noises that come from under the fuel tank at certain speeds with certain side winds. It's hard to describe. It's like a strange low whistle. I guess it's a combination of the fuel tank shape, the frame shape, and the under-tank carburetor intakes (with K&N filters)

[Stev-o]

One thing I've noticed with my Ducati Monster is the weird noises...

I rode next to my buddy when he was on his Duc, I couldn't believe the noise the clutch made!

[newday777]

One thing I've noticed with my Ducati Monster is the weird noises...

I rode next to my buddy when he was on his Duc, I couldn't believe the noise the clutch made!

The clutch sounds are  Very distinctive

[grcamna2]

One thing I've noticed with my Ducati Monster is the weird noises...

I rode next to my buddy when he was on his Duc, I couldn't believe the noise the clutch made!

Dry clutch..

[Trevor from Warragul]

Dry clutch..

My 1999 Monster 750 has a wet clutch! Oddly enough, it does sound like a Ducati dry clutch somewhat muffled by oil...

My Morini, on the other hand, does have a dry clutch:

[MauiK3]

That sure is clean!!

[Mikerts_Garage]

About that time, Honda sold a 125cc twin, which was popular in the Chicago area where I lived for a while in the late 1960s. Those little twins could run 60 MPH, but in the end they (among other similar little bikes) led to the infamous Chicago "you must be this big to use the freeway" signs.

The 125 twins from the late 60's are a riot. I picked this one up a year ago, so much fun around town! Also the sound is surprisingly great.

Loving the build by the way

[HondaMan]

About that time, Honda sold a 125cc twin, which was popular in the Chicago area where I lived for a while in the late 1960s. Those little twins could run 60 MPH, but in the end they (among other similar little bikes) led to the infamous Chicago "you must be this big to use the freeway" signs.

The 125 twins from the late 60's are a riot. I picked this one up a year ago, so much fun around town! Also the sound is surprisingly great.

Loving the build by the way

Wow, I am amazed at the condition of your 125 twin! I remember them being red or blue, liked the blue one, like yours, best.

My 350F has been stalled this week to work on my wife's Escape, which has taken to filling up the front passenger's footwell with water in a heavy rain. It turns out the car was previously wrecked & rebuilt, and the {can't swear here...) moron(s) who replaced the right front fender backfilled the entire rear area of the fender with foam, clompletely clogging up the sunroof's drain system. I have no choice now but to seal off the sunroof.      


...some people's kids...

[HondaMan]

Uh-oh, not good news: the machine shop called to tell me they found "a crack" in the 350's cases after they were cleaned.
Film at 7...


In other news: someone from VJMC brought over a beautiful Black Bomber to get it running again. This should be fun! It's like a blast from the past, in my garage.

[carnivorous chicken]

Damn -- hopefully it's not too bad and can be repaired. I have most of the rest of two spare engines for these -- but no cases.

[HondaMan]

It's ugly, but not fatal. Here's a couple of shots of it in the bottom case (shown upside-down here).
I can't help but wonder who would have kicked it that much and that hard to crack the bolster inside? I remember when I took the kickshaft out, it fairly fell into my hand, but I didn't think anything about it at the time. Usually they need to be pulled on to get them out.

It looks like Honda bored the larger hole thru the case to provide a fixturing a center for the kickshaft's inner hole location (that would be typical of how the other SOHC4 cases are made, anyway), so there will be a centerline referencing point for a rebore of the hole at the end: I have to make a jig disc to fit in the big hole after I get it back from the welder. He's going to clamp it down to minimize the extra diameter of the hole, then grind a V-groove across the front of the bolster's crack, then weld it. If he can reach the [large-hole's] side of the inner hole he will attempt a groove and weld going back into the rear of the case. In either event, I'll have some finishing machine work to do that could REALLY be easier if I had a mill, and not just a lathe...

In the end: I don't remember ever using the kickstarter on any of the 350F bikes I ever serviced, or the "sister ship" that came with this one when I got both to make one good one out of them. So, I don't think this show is over.

[grcamna2]

I hope you're able to locate a good 350F lower-end,because that sounds like alot of work.

[HondaMan]

I hope you're able to locate a good 350F lower-end,because that sounds like alot of work.

It's not as bad to do as it sounds: if the welded-up repair makes the hole small enough it will work OK with limited kickstarter use. If it's not so good, then I'll bore it and make a bushing for it instead. I could secure the bushing by drilling in a setscrew from the top side of the inner hole's bolster.

[grcamna2]

Will the case be required to sit in an oven,to release all the oil from the alloy,before tig welding ?
That can take a while.