Topic: 350F engine build from a newb

[aesache]

So i decided to rebuild a spare engine i had for my 73 cb350 four. I was going to post this in the projects thread but the thread asks to keep it to full bike builds. anyway if a mod decides this should be under another post feel free to move it.

I am a complete newb to motorcycle engines though have been building chev and ford race engines for sometime so i do have a basic knowlege of how an engine works (suck, squeeze, bang, blow should be the same principals regardles of size).

so there WILL be many mistakes made by me on the way. Hopefully someone can bennifit from my misshaps.


this is what i started out with a 73 350f motor the guy was asking 275 bucks for it and was advertising it as running. When i got there i tried to kick it over and found out it was siezed solid so i offered the guy 80 bucks for it figureing he would tell me to take a hike turns out he said he would take it.

[aesache]

ok so i dug into the engine tonight and I thought it was going to be much worse pulled the carbs off and found a little rust in them no biggie, pulled the valve cover off looks good to me in there. Does anyone think i shouldnt reuse the cam and rockers? also there is no bearing in the journal of the cam i have never seen this before does mine show wear that needs to be addressed or will it be ok to use? i will be replacing the timing chain and tensioners

pulled the head off found out why it was siezed will try to get the jugs off tomorrow hopefully i will be able to hone out the cylinders while keeping in acceptable tolerances (btw i have a HAYNES 350f manual scanned if anyone needs it though it is a big file around 300mb) thoughts one this would be great as well. is there anything i need to know when i separate the jugs from the case?

[aesache]

ok so here is the current update of my engine........ i am sure this will be of some humor to all that have been here before me.... engine had two siezed pistons that i have had soaking in all sorts of different chemicals (pb blaster, wd40, acetone and trans fluid) and nothing seemed to work. this is where my learning experience started.... i got thinking "hey i bet if i disconect the connecting rods i can pull the pistons and cylinders off as a unit then i could put it on a bench and heat it up and pound the stuck pistons out....... but that didnt happed turns out the conecting rods are to big to come out the top (grrrr i spent two days seperating the cases to find out that wasnt going to work) anyway now the engine is completly apart and in about 500 ziplock bags all labeled so hopfully no i can get the two stuck pistons out ..... i had a bike mechaninc look at my cam, head and valve train and he said it looked to be in really good shape and i should reuse them so that will save me some cash there.

one question i do have is when storing a crank shaft is it best to hang it (that is what i always did when working on small block chevys) or should it lay flat or will this cause it to sag the engine will be apart for a month or so while i am taking care of some issues in the crank case (although it looks like there is minamal wear on the parts)

[Captainmonkey]

wow I'm working on a stuck 350f motor and was think the Id just take the jugs off with the pistons and rods and then hammer them out...   I'm glad I saw this before I got the whole thing pulled apart.  Mines got only 3000 miles but it got lots of water in the cylinders.  It was stored without carbs or spark plugs.  Thanks for posting it will save me form replacing all the gaskets in my otherwise pretty solid looking motor.  I wonder what to do now though

[fmctm1sw]

is there anything i need to know when i separate the jugs from the case?

Be very careful with the fins on the jugs.  They will snap very easily.  I used a 2x4 to spread out the impact area and tapped on it.  I'll see if I can find it...  yeah here: