Topic: Need Some Advice

[BlindJoe]

Just saw this ad on craigslist and was thinking it might be an awesome way to yearn some extra money while I'm back at my parents house for the summer. Hopefully they wouldn't mind another bike in the garage. After working on the 550 I am pretty confident in my mechanical abilities, and it is probably easier to work on than the 550. What do you guys think I should do?

http://madison.craigslist.org/mcy/643147528.html

Thanks

[Bodi]

It's a fairly simple motor similar in principle to the SOHC4 design. There are some oddities though, and parts are near impossible to find. The gearbox is infamous for drum and fork problems, none of the parts are available. You can get dodgy seal and gasket kits, OEM = no chance
$1500.00 won't go far if parts are needed, and depending on what your time is worth won't take you far either.
For a decent restoration if it was my own bike I could spend $1500.00 on parts and services (paint, chrome, etc.) ... and of course my labour costs zero as usual.
Offer the guy to do it at whatever hourly rate you think is fair, billing weekly (and getting paid weekly) plus parts and services as required to be paid direct by him. If he gets tired of paying, you can hopefully only be a week behind. DO NOT pay for any parts or anything up front yourself, don't get behind on labour payments.

[BlindJoe]

Thanks thats exactly what I was looking for.

[BlindJoe]

Can anyone suggest an hourly rate?

[Uncle Ernie]

There is no way that bike is geting "restored for $1500.  All the paint work- done professionally, will cost close to $1K alone.

Kiss him meaningfully and wish him the best.

[rachet]

Kiss him meaningfully and wish him the best.

That's awesome!  But Uncle Ernie is right.  If you could rebuild a bike in your sleep and had an inventory of parts to work from then yeah, it's a great idea.  I don't want to discourage you, but I think the owners perception is a little off for the cost.  If  you decide to, follow Bodi's advice.  That's good stuff.

[BlindJoe]

I just sent him an email telling him $1500 wouldn't go very far, we'll see what he says.

[tramp]

i agree $1500 for a good job is not enough

[BlindJoe]

       Well the guy found someone else who did it for a living and decided to go with him, I guess he just was looking to get it road worthy again but realized $1500 wouldn't go very far...........fast forward to a couple days ago, I found another person on craigslit in search of a mechanic for a 75 cb350 twin, I went to look at it yesterday and am going to pick it up today. The owners wife said it had been siting under a tarp in their backyard for two years and hadn't been run since. She wants to get it running again as a surprise for her husband. From what I saw yesterday the problems were mostly cosmetic, rusted chrome, ugly aftermarket seat, paint, etc. The engine didn't have and oil leaks.  I'll take some pics after I pick it up.

Does anyone have any 350 twin parts, manuals, electronic manuals?

Mods: could you move this to the project or other bikes forum?

Update the bike is actually a 360t, anyone have experience with these?

[Gordon]

Update the bike is actually a 360t, anyone have experience with these?

I have one. 


P.S.  If you want a mod to move this thread to "Other Bikes" just click the "report to moderator" link in the lower right corner of your post and make your request. 

[BlindJoe]

Hey Gordon,

Are there any common electrical probs with these bikes? I hooked up a new battery and got nothing, fuses all look good.

Thanks

[tramp]

you may not have got the whole story
look for small animal work and fuses
might be inline fuses