Author Topic: 1972 CB350F Restore and More (Read 20083 times)

strangedaze39 · « **on:** May 13, 2008, 10:53:41 AM »

Click 4 Most Recent Update

I figured I'd start documenting my bike overhaul here. Hopefully this will help others and help me. Here's what I know about the bike. It's a Honda CB350F the title says 71? but I'm pretty sure it's a 72' with a title mishap somewhere down the line. It ran two years ago and was parked because the previous owner couldn't pull the stiff clutch back anymore. He still rides though.

I bought the bike about a month ago for $350 and couldn't have been happier. This is my first "real" motorcycle. I've had street/dirt bikes in the past including a Honda 74 XL70 which I used to ride around town. So I really don't know a whole lot about rebuilding bikes, but I would like to think I catch on fast.

Things I've repaired so far:
New clutch & throttle cable
Swapped in NOS breaker plate/points
New fuel line
Just ordered some oem side covers and bars (should be here soon)
New spark plugs
New battery/fuse
Repaired ignitions switch

Things I still need to fix (probably going to expand

):
Leaky petcock
Carb rebuild
Set timing (need to get it started first)
And then of-coarse many cometic things.

For now my first priority is getting it running. I have good spark, but pretty crappy fuel flow. I think I need to rebuild my carbs. Another problem I have is I can only get a couple of the spark plugs wet. I don't know if this is something simple. Or just some clogged carbs. My tank was really clean inside. And overall the bike is pretty clean, but I think the carbs had gas sitting in them for a couple years. I wouldn't be surprised if thats my problem. What do you think?

I'll try to describe how I fixed what problems I've had so far. I'm far better with electronics then engine work. So if someone is having an electrical problem I'll try my best to help.

And now everybody's favorite part

PICTURES. It looks just how I bought it still. FYI the bars are going soon.

Thanks for reading, I know that was probably a drawn out. I'll be keeping this updated, and I'm still not sure what kind of look I want to give this bike. So any suggestions are welcome.

-SD

snarferer · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2008, 10:55:21 AM »

Leave it stock, those 350four's in bacchus olive are beeauuutiful, I should know, I have one :-P

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2008, 10:59:17 AM »

looks like a solid deal for $350

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2008, 11:07:01 AM »

Yeah $350 seamed like a great deal to me, you really just can't buy motorcycles for that price. The whole bike works great and is pretty clean. I think I just need to get these carbs rebuilt.

I was thinking about keeping it stock, but re-painting the bike the Candy Bacchus Green once again. I had a nice guy from a Honda Paint place give me the color code for it and I know some really good painters. But I have heard people say wow that stock paint looks good you should NOT paint over it. Would it really matter if I had it re-painted the stock color in good fashion? Also those pictures make it look a little better then it is

All though I haven't tried to clean it up, it has quite a few chips and some cracking/one huge chip on the fork.

The other thing I might want to do, is self fabricate a cafe style seat. I would probably make a new one seater that bolts on and off, and leave the rest stock. I'll probably have to either re-paint that exhaust or chrome it eventually as well.

If anyone else needs the color code I'll be glad to post it up. Just let me know.
Thanks

-SD

fixahonda · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2008, 05:55:38 PM »

Nice! Another 350F owner. I've got a '73 in the same color.

Nice find, really nice price. Once you get it running you will love it even more. As far as painting it, I think the tank and fork jewelry look good from the pictures. If you have matching sidecovers I would leave it be.
I think bikes look kind of funny when you have cherry paint and the rest has the patina of age on it. I think the paint jobs should be part of the all inclusive freshen up. Mine has some nicks and scratches on the original finish, but all clean and waxed it shines in the sun. I am suffering from no lack of compliments.
Your machine of course, do with it what you will as long as it gets some time on the road.

Joel · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2008, 05:59:37 PM »

That tank looks nice. I'd leave it as-is. Spend the money elsewhere.

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:06:28 PM »

Update:

So today my side covers and OEM bars came today. FYI member "captusa" is an awesome seller, fast shipping and cheap prices. First I installed the side covers those were a breeze obviously. Next I put together my OEM bars, this was a little more difficult. This was my process:
1) Un-Bolt bars from clasp, remove clutch cable.
2) Carefully tracing the wires from each handle switch harness to the terminal inside the headlight bucket and only unplugging what I needed to.
3) Take handle bars off with switches still on and took them into my work shop
4) I used a dremel with a cutting disc, and cut those old bars in half... yep right down the middle *good riddens* After I cut them in half I cut them again in the middle of each Z shape to help slide the switch harnesses off easier.
5) I first tried just sliding the cables through the new handle bars. This didn't work to well, they were to still to go past the second bend and find there way to the hole. So I used electrical tape to make a sort of tape tail that was flexible but still sturdy. This allowed me to grab the electrical tape and pull the rest of the harness through.
6) Bolt it all back together
7) Hook up the corresponding cable colors in the headlight bucket again, and check if everything works fine (if you do this make sure to leave the bucket open while you test, I got off without a hitch but it would be easy to mess up with those faded cables)

I also was tinkering with my carbs today. My 4th carb wasn't getting an gas at all. I previously opened carb one and it was REALLY clean so I figured they all where fine. Boy was I wrong, when I took the float bowl off carb 4 it looked like crap caked on everything, and the "drip" hole for the gas was clogged. So I was able to clean the bowl out and spay the hell out of the carb and float with carb clean. After a bit of work it started filling really nice. NOTE: Make SURE you remove the gasket before using cleaner I didn't and it totally expanded I had to boil the crap out and put it in the freezer I got lucky it held nicely I could easily see these breaking.

PICS:

Things I still need to do and research:
1) Clean carbs
2) Fix petcock
3) and a million other things

Thanks for looking hope you enjoy, if anyone has any advice on the things I need to do list or just about the bike in general, I'd love to hear um.

SD

Koonendez · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:28:05 PM »

nice doesn't cut it...GREAT find and especially for $350! I feel like I'm compelled to do a 350 project next after seeing how nice yours is. If i finish the first one while I'm still living that is.

Keep up the work. Please take MANY MANY pictures and write down details when you are building your cafe seat. very interested. Thanks

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2008, 10:50:02 PM »

Hey Thomas,

Glad you like it

350's are real cool bikes. What bike are you doing now? Also I'll definitely be taking a lot more pictures and writing how I did it as I get more done, and of coarse when I do the seat and others. I'm actually still not sure on how I want the bike to look I should try to upload some sketches. BTW it did feel damn good to cut those old ape hangers in half

and these picture make the paint look far nicer then it really is. I do plan on painting it, but I have a few close painter friends so it wouldn't cost much (maybe orange? green? silver blue?)

Thanks

birdmannn101 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2008, 12:33:58 AM »

I bought my parts bike 74 Honda CB350F for $150 and I am buying the carbs to make sure it runs before I put any money into the bike. I sure would hate to buy a bunch of parts and find out the engine smoked and didn't run well. So, if your going to change the seat, I could trade you a spider web NEW bobber seat for your old CB350 one.

Dan

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2008, 09:48:35 AM »

Hey Dan, I'm not sure if I added above that I was making it a bolt on bolt off look. Meaning I have to keep all the stock parts, if I decide to put it to stock. I will hold onto my site for you if I find different (better chrome trimed) seat. Or just end up with an extra. Thanks for the offer. Best of luck.

SD

loonymoon · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2008, 05:04:22 PM »

Hey... it's the BEST colour

Glad you got shot of the bars though

I hate apehangers!!

fixahonda · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2008, 07:46:12 PM »

That looks sharp!
What was it about the 70's that made everyone put apehangers and sissy bars on these little bikes? I had a hard time finding a regular grab bar for mine when I was putting it back together.

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2008, 01:06:05 PM »

Quote from: fixahonda on May 17, 2008, 07:46:12 PM

That looks sharp!
What was it about the 70's that made everyone put apehangers and sissy bars on these little bikes? I had a hard time finding a regular grab bar for mine when I was putting it back together.

Thanks, I'm glad you like the bike. I mean how couldn't someone like these old CB's

(although I think these year CB350's and some 400F's are some of the best looking bikes from the 70s)

I don't know why someone would ever ever put ape hangers on a stock bike and call if quites

but IMO it's better then having the whole thing after market 70's chopper parts (no offense to you chopper guys) Those grab bars do pop up on ebay but they normally sell for $50+ dollars. I really wanted a luggage rack but I missed my bid.

Anyways today is the day I get my carbs rebuilt by my relative thats a mechanic (hopefully he stops by) so I'll do my best to take pics and tell you how it goes.

Thanks for reading,
SD

snarferer · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2008, 08:24:45 PM »

Yeah I was bidding on that luggage rack too... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEDWX%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320251216448
That one right? But 75 bucks is a little too much IMO.
The crash bars went for 40 as well.

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2008, 09:14:52 PM »

Wow, those really went up in price. I believe yesterday they were at $15 or at least when I was watching them. Your right though, $75 is was to high, I wouldn't pay over $30 for it personally. It's all about the deals

.

So quick update, and I know this is sacrilege but I wasn't able to take any pics since my relative took it for the weekend. Anyways, I cleaned the lower half of my carbs. They were pretty darn gross and the float was stuck up on 3! of the 4 carbs

Although they were bad by normal standards they were actually pretty clean compared to what I've seen on old bikes. I got the bottoms all cleaned and I sprayed the heck out of anything I could get to good enough without having to re-synch my carbs (I'm a novice

).

Do you think this will be enough to get this thing running? Or maybe even running alright? The rest of the bike seems absolutely fine. I have the timing very close and I'm getting spark, and I couldn't figure for the life of me why it wouldn't start. So hopefully this is the missing piece of the puzzle.

Thanks for staying tuned,
SD

mattcb350f · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2008, 09:27:48 AM »

I think we all must have been looking at that luggage rack

I think I'll build my own one day, if I do I be sure to document the plans for others..... some time this year I hope

Be sure that you are meticulous when cleaning those carbs strangedaze, you should also remove the emulsion tubes and clean them up (they press out from the top). You'll need a really fine wire to clean them... I took apart some 14 guage automotive wire and used one strand to clean the little holes. If it's too late you might be alright but if it runs funny then you might have to take them apart and clean them again.

I did my 350F carbs really well for the first time and still found some more crud on the second round

Bikes comming along well, It sure is exciting when you hear it run for the first time

Matt.

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2008, 02:05:42 PM »

It's been a while since my last update, it took about a month for my carbs to be rebuilt but they did a really great job cleaning them and it costs me $70 for the whole rebuild (free labor, dealer part prices) so I really lucked out and the time it took was not a problem

Here's a list of what's been done since last update:

1) Engine covers and Forks sanded. (start with 220grit - 400 - 600 -1000 - 1500)
2) Clutch repaired thanks to Matt, hUSH, and Bodi
3) Side Covers sanded and primed.
4) Stator cover refinished ( First I painted the entire cover flat black, I then sanded the entire thing to remove the paint from everything but the recessed area, worked great)

Next:
I need to tune the bike and set the timing, painting the bike will come soon and I just bought a full allen bolt replacement set to get rid of all the nasty screws.

Here are some pics and a video of it running

If anyone needs help of more info on things I've completed I'll be glad to help. I'll have some more pics up soon and a vid of me riding.

Thanks for looking,
SD

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2008, 06:48:43 PM »

VERY nice! That baby sounds mean!

kghost · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2008, 08:18:33 PM »

Very Cool.

Good to see.

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2008, 08:25:48 PM »

Thanks guys

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2008, 12:41:40 PM »

Figured I better update this thread now or never. I've been quite busy working on the bike mechanically and cosmetically.
I should have kept a better time line of the bike so it might not be right on but this is what's new since last the last update.

Mechanically:
-New rear shocks: This was a fairly easy upgrade. I bought the shocks new from Cycle Re-Cycle for $90. To install them I simply put the bike on it's center stand, removed the rear fender, grab bar, turn signals, and then removed the top nut holding the shock to the frame. I followed by removing the bottom nut and the pretty much slipped right off with some wiggling. The new shocks didn't go on easy and required some time consuming boring of the top rubbers. I had to bore then check bore then check, because they were a bit to small from the factory. After the fit snuggly I bolted it all back up and enjoyed a test ride! Boy did these shocks make a difference! The bike responds so much better and you cant feel small bumps at all where as the old ones would make you feel every crack in the road.

-Master cylinder rebuild: This took me a few hours to do, since I wasn't familiar with how they worked on my bike. The process is rather simple and self explanatory as you go but you NEED a exploding diagram of this brake assembly and master cylinder if you've never done this before (can be found in the CB350F/CB400F shop manual)

-New replica Air Filter: Popped in and out, made a world of difference!

-New OEM rubber air box: My old one had a nasty leak because the rear gasket was missing and I figured that might be why my bike was running so boggy and slow (acceleration was horrible) So I picked up a good condition air box from a fellow member here making sure it didn't have any leaks and it improved my overall running condition at least 25% if you have a sketchy air box replace it.

-New points/plate assembly: Improved spark

-New NOS exhaust: Sounds great, looks great, haven't done test but it feels smoother then before.

-Lubed chain and replaced cables: Cured some sound issues I couldn't figure out for the longest time it ended up being a poorly lubed chain, and the cables improved the stiff clutch/throttle issues (didn't solve but improved a great amount)

Cosmetic:

-Paint!: Had a family friend owned chevy dealer paint it in there shop for me. The painter did a amazing job, the color is exactly what I picked (from a SS Chevy Trailblazer 2006, it's also used for 06 corvettes I'm not sure on the name of the color though)

-Polishing engine side covers: Picked up some good compound and a few new wheels, it was messing but didn't take to long and totally worth the time. (WAY faster then wet sanding and anything else as well)

-Exhaust

-Painted triple tree and moved ignition: Cleaned up the front end nicely

-New levers

I'm sure I missed some stuff but those are the bigger upgrades.

Here's some photo's on the progress.

Last Update:

Today:

Thanks for looking, if you have any questions feel free to ask.

BTW next I'm going to be installing some Mivv 4-4 exhaust, trying to build a memory foam seat, and doing some engine tuning I've ignored since it's been running well, but I want to get her running good enough to ride across country.

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2008, 02:55:52 PM »

Whoops, forgot to change my update link. Fixed now.

kghost · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2008, 03:01:41 PM »

Looks good brother.

Any plans for pinstriping the tank?

strangedaze39 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2008, 03:18:04 PM »

Quote from: kghost on August 25, 2008, 03:01:41 PM

Looks good brother.

Any plans for pinstriping the tank?

Thanks kghost!
Yep, I'm thinking about going with black(not a oem color but would look nice) or dark blue OEM striping, but haven't put much thought into it. What do you think?

News:

Author Topic: 1972 CB350F Restore and More (Read 20083 times)

fixahonda

fixahonda