Topic: CB/CL 350... having problems

[billdramp]

I've been slowly restoring a CL 350 I had... finally got it all back together, new paint, seat etc etc... and it started right up... problem is, once it hits about 3000 RPM's it just will not pull any harder. I can hit wide open throttle with no more power than at 1/4 throttle.

The carbs have been rebuilt, and all the basics covered... although it has been sitting for a few months while doing body work etc.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Billy

[ProTeal55]

Sounds like a ign/points issue to me..
Check everything electrical related...

[Raul CB750K1]

Remove the airboxes and check that you can lift the carb bell with your finger. Sometimes they stuck in place, and as they are CV, when the throttle butterfly opens the vacuum is not enough to lift the bell -what's the right name for it?- you know, the slide attached to the diaphragm.


Raul

[crazypj]

Remove the airboxes and check that you can lift the carb bell with your finger. Sometimes they stuck in place, and as they are CV, when the throttle butterfly opens the vacuum is not enough to lift the bell -what's the right name for it?- you know, the slide attached to the diaphragm.


Raul

 you got it right, its a vacuum slide, although honda may call it a vacuum piston
PJ

[seaweb11]

Did you replace the air filter witha new one?

[billdramp]

Did you replace the air filter witha new one?

No... I did not... I blew the old ones out with compressed air. But they looked to be really dirty still. I did not realize this could have that much of an impact. I'll replace them.

Remove the airboxes and check that you can lift the carb bell with your finger. Sometimes they stuck in place, and as they are CV, when the throttle butterfly opens the vacuum is not enough to lift the bell -what's the right name for it?- you know, the slide attached to the diaphragm.


Raul

I will try to this tonight as well... I have had such a pain with these carbs. Much more so than any SOHC4 carb assbly. These seem so fragile and tempermental

Sounds like a ign/points issue to me..
Check everything electrical related...

I have a new points assembly on there... and am getting (what appears to be) a good hot spark. I will go through it again though, just to eliminate all possible causes.

Guess I am going to have to pull the damn side covers and airboxes again... and possibly the carbs as well.

I had a hell of a time getting that threaded rod through the airbox covers.

Thanks everyone for your advice... I will report back when some progress is made.

Keep the ideas coming if there are anymore.

Cheers from Portland

Billy

[seaweb11]

The air filters are not cheap, but it will make a difference.

[billdramp]

I can only find the UNI filter for these... Anyone have any experience with these? Is what you used Seaweb11? Or did you source some NOS ones?

[seaweb11]

I had seen the filters on Ebay, but the damned bike was costing so much to restore that I did what you did and it ran like crap.
It was the dealer who ordered the filters so I assume they are still available from your Honda dealer. Have you asked them?

[billdramp]

Well gang... I tore into it again tonight. The good news is I figured out my power loss... I went and bought new air filters and took off the air boxes and covers to change them... then decided to check the butterfly in the carb throat as Raul suggested... and much to my delight/dismay... the slide was moving freely... but the needle was not attatched to the slide! So I disassembled the carbs and fixed that. Threw it back together, and rode it around the block... and now it pulls hard. It sucks that you have to remove the entire exhaust to remove the airbox on these CL's!!!

The bad news... I got back to the garage, and told Paul (paulages) to take it around for a spin... and as soon as he left... the damn bike would not switch gears... It would switch through the gears, but would not engage. Just spin as if you were pulling in the clutch.

I'm hoping it is just a clutch cable adjustment.

Any thoughts?

Cheers, and thanks for all the advice.

Billy/ Portland.

[bryanj]

If you can feel it go through the gears for certain its a clutch problem,
If the pedal maves against the return spring but you cant feel a "click" there is a light spring on the gearghange mechanism that can break trouble is its behind the clutch!

[ohiocaferacer]

You need to check the alignment of the shift lever linkages......you know the ones that connect to the shift lever....then to the shift shaft coming out of the case. These both need to be in a perfect vertical condition and exactly parrell to each other or you will not get the full travel of the shift shaft. I've seen this issue several times before.

Later,
Greg

[seaweb11]

Turned out mine had a bent shaft

[HondaMan]

Well gang... I tore into it again tonight. The good news is I figured out my power loss... I went and bought new air filters and took off the air boxes and covers to change them... then decided to check the butterfly in the carb throat as Raul suggested... and much to my delight/dismay... the slide was moving freely... but the needle was not attatched to the slide! So I disassembled the carbs and fixed that. Threw it back together, and rode it around the block... and now it pulls hard. It sucks that you have to remove the entire exhaust to remove the airbox on these CL's!!!

The bad news... I got back to the garage, and told Paul (paulages) to take it around for a spin... and as soon as he left... the damn bike would not switch gears... It would switch through the gears, but would not engage. Just spin as if you were pulling in the clutch.

I'm hoping it is just a clutch cable adjustment.

Any thoughts?

Cheers, and thanks for all the advice.

Billy/ Portland.

It is possible on the 350 to adjust out too much slack in the clutch cable, usually by setting the lifter itself a little too tightly. When you do this, the lifter can go "over center" when the clutch lever is pulled, requiring you to get your fingers in there and push the lifter arm back to release it. Then, add a little more slack by adjusting the lifter back a little, so the lever can't pull it quite that far.

Worst case: the cable could be rusty/sticky, not letting it release, or the lifter might have old, stiff grease stuck in it. Or, like seaweb, the shaft could be bent a little, making it drag and stick.

But, oh, yeah, those pipes.... 

[seaweb11]

and the cross over gas tank    

[HondaMan]

and the cross over gas tank    

You know, some bad memories just fade away....like those crossover gas tanks.
My ex always complained of my eau-de-octane scent when I came home from a day of working on 350s and 450s......

[bryanj]

And the 175's