Topic: Pry tab / removing stuck cylinder from CB350F

[jcbridge]

Greetings all,

I am looking for some advice on removing the cylinder from my 1973 CB350F. I doubt it has been removed since leaving the factory, and is extremely stuck. Whacking it with 2lb dead blow for a few minutes did nothing but I didn’t use heat or anything that might affect the cylinder gasket.
Searching the HCSM doesn’t pull up “pry” so that probably answers the question, but there is a tab cast in the front with 347cc imprinted on it. I am wondering if it is intended to be used as some sort of pry point? And if so anypne recommend or not using it? Thank you,
CJ

[bryanj]

Never seen a 350 here in uk but the 500 has a small notch for a pry tool at each end

[newday777]

Welcome aboard the forum CJ, from southern NH

Are the rings stuck to the cylinder walls or does the motor spin over?
If not stuck then yes you can use that boss, use a thin chisel like a dull wood chisel to start the cylinder up, the base gasket is probably just stuck well.

[jcbridge]

Thanks folks. The pistons move freely so I'll look at getting in between the two pieces. For fun, searching mini-jack pulled up a 'if I had cash to burn I'd try it' tool
https://www.ebay.com/itm/166913670031?

 

[HondaMan]

I usually install leather gloves and stand over the bike (since the seat and tank are gone) to get on the cylinders by hand. Then I twist then forward and back (numerous times, even many times) until the old, melted-and-now-hardened sealant in the base gasket starts to let go somewhere. The only semi-hard spot on these cylinders is under that "347cc" logo block, and it's not terribly strong: I've been known to use a long, wide, flat piece of wood to reach under it to tap upward to break the old gasket. I've also used a heat gun on the outer edges of the cylinders to warm them up first, even a close-proximity electric heater (coils) to help heat it up, too. In summertime they do break free a little easier!

[MauiK3]

A bit scary, don't want to hurt the fins! Heat should help.

[jcbridge]

Coincidentally I found that a bicycle crank removal tool works a charm as a turnbuckle/expansion device between the 347cc tab and the bolt hole under it. With a wrench holding the bottom half the tool fit in neatly and the expanding face side (facing up in my case) had plenty of the bottom of the tab face to seat against and clearance from the body to turn the expander nut. Took 7 or 8 turns with a heat gun on the gasket for the two pieces to come apart easily.

Who said old dog, new tricks...   😉 😉

[denward17]

Nice trick !

Good to see you got them loose.