Topic: 2 "Barn Bikes" + Winter = 1 rideable CB 350 Four?

[Pirate]

  Hi everyone,

I just finished posting in the new members area, and thought I'd get right to making my project thread (which, afterall, is why I'm here).

  In late September ('08), I picked up a CB 350 Four project.  I got 2 frames, 2 tanks, 2 engines, and several boxes of parts.  Pics are below.


This is everything I got, except the 2 tanks.

This is the frame that I'll be working with, as it's the one I have paperwork for.

The second, paperless frame.

The other side of frame 2...these frames really have a beautiful line to them.

The front end of frame 2...the chrome is in really good shape, except some moron spilled beige housepaint on it...I figure a plastic scraper/steel wool should get that right off.

The boxes of bits!  I have yet to go through here and figure out exactly what I have...I'm a university student, and shortly after I bought the bikes, classes etc. really picked up in a major way.

The odometer - Yes, that's 43,000 miles.  Someone REALLY loved riding this bike.  I'm a little wary of this, but I've heard the engine run and it purrs along just fine...it is a Honda, I keep reminding myself.  In fact, that was the moment I knew I was buying these bikes.

These are the homemade 4-into-2 mufflers that someone fabbed up to fit the factory downpipes, and are the source of one of my first questions (asked later).

The engines!  The one on the right is the original engine for the frame I'll be working with (43,000mi).  The one on the left was a spare that has less miles (~23,000), but was seized.  It turns over, but it was recommended that I disassemble/rebuild it.


  So, there it stands.  I've intentionally not mentioned what I paid so far, but here goes:  I got everything pictured (plus the two tanks) for $250 CDN.  I figure that even after what I'll put into it with parts, I should come out ahead if I decide to sell it.  Even while unloading everything from the truck, a passer-by asked what I was going to do with it all. I told them I was restoring/rebuilding it, and they told me to keep them in mind as a buyer for when everything was back together.

  My plan is to try to get it back to being roadworthy over my upcoming Christmas break.  I'm not going for a full restoration, as I don't really have the money/skills/time at the moment.  I'm going to start by wire brushing and sanding the frame I have papers for, then POR-15ing it (for those unfamiliar with this stuff, click here.).  I've already done the same to my other motorcycle (TW200) frame, with great results.  I don't plan on rebuilding the engine as of yet, following the simple philosophy of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".  I'm considering clubman bars, but figure I'll try the stock ones first, as I'm 6'1" and not so sure of the cafe riding position on such a small bike.  The fork "ears" are chrome, which I find interesting -- is this a modification by a previous owner, or did some of them come stock like this?  The rest of the bike will probably be black, with a simple, single colour metallic orange tank.  However, that's quite a ways off.

  Now, on to the questions, of which there are (and will be) many.  I've already gotten my hands on a Clymer manual, which is all I've ever really needed for any automotive/motorcycle project I've taken on.  Well, that and internet resources.  Anyway, so far I know I need new mufflers/exhaust, a new seat/seat cover, side covers, cables, chain & sprockets, brakes, etc.  I'd like a 4-2 exhaust, as the 4-4 are way outside my price bracket, and 4-2 are still relatively 'symmetrical'.  I will go with a 4-1 to get the bike back on the road, but I was just wondering if anyone could please measure their stock downtubes (and tell me from where to where they measured) so that I can determine if mine have been shortened?  This would then let me know if I can go with a 4-2 system from MAC, or whether I'll have to get their 4-1 black and chrome full system.  Also, besides Ebay, are there any good suppliers of odds and ends?  It'd be a real bonus if some of them were even Canadian.

  If you've stuck it out so far, thank you!  If you have questions/comments/suggestions/resources, even better!  I'll try to update this thread every time something happens...
 

[Mach-5(50)]

first of all, welcome! i think you will find, as i have, that there is more than a wealth of knowledge and information here. take some time to play around with the search button. sometimes it leads to gold mines, but most of the time it requires patience. i am not a 350 guy so i don't have much to offer as far as specific resources, especially canadian. google was my best friend. also, check out the ohio cafe racers,  www.ohiocaferacers.com  their links have 350 resources if i am not mistaken. keep taking lots of pictures of the progress. it keeps me motivated to see others progress, as i think it does for others too. again, welcome to the monkey house.

later,
ryan

[HondanutRider]

Welcome to the wonderful world of old Hondas!  You have made an excellent choice and good purchase, it sounds like.  I recently "freshened-up" a 1974 model of this bike that only has just over 5,000 miles on it.  I'm really looking forward to licensing and riding it next season.  (Unfortunately I'm in Ontario and winter has already blown in.  Also unfortunate is the fact that we don't have a "collector" status and plate registration here, and our insurance rates "suck" as they assume if you have multiple bikes - you ride 'em all at the same time.)

At any rate, in answer to your questions:

1. The fork ears were not chrome.  They were painted the same colour as the body.  The front and rear fenders were chrome.  The chrome was not a very good quality and typically they pitted very easily over time - the state as mine are in.

2. The 4 into 4 exhaust is now available (with downpipes) as a reproduced item.  However, they are very expensive - about ten times what you paid for your two bikes!  They also would probably be similar to the originals in longevity, or lack of.  In other words, they likely will rot out in very short order.  I used my pipes and got a really nice set of new, aftermarket 4 into 4 slip-ons that are made just for this model.  They still cost quite a bit but they look and sound great, and their construction is noticeably more substantial so hopefully they will last a long time.  Here's a link to where I got mine: http://www.pjsparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=902 I don't know the length of my pipes, but I do know they were quite long to begin with for these mufflers and I cut them off with lots to spare.  I'll have to go up to my garage and un-wrap the bike to measure, but I'll try to do that for you in the next while, if you want.

Good luck in your project and I'm sure you'll have a nice ride when finished.  Just be sure to keep up with your studies!  (BTW when I was in university back in the 1960's, I had a 305 SuperHawk that I rode around on.  I still have that bike - and the the gal that rode around on it with me!)

[Jim]

Hey,
Good luck with that. I have a project thread going right now ('73-350F) and the support here is amazing. Stay with it I'll be watching.
J

[hoodellyhoo]

Sweet! Another 350f Project Thread!

[DarkRider]

Welcome to another cannuck member. If you get a chance talk to Seaweb and 754. They are both in your part of the world. Hell if you get to know them well enough one of them may even be able to help you sort the bikes out in person.

[HondanutRider]

To answer your other query, I had a peek under the covers yesterday and did a bit of measuring on my pipes.  Without removing its pretty difficult to get any accurate measures, however I did roughly gauge what my left outside pipe length was.  What I measured on this one side/pipe is pretty well the same for all of them, I believe.  I tried to get the tape from the engine itself, along the bottom outside to the mufflers (which on mine are no longer the stock versions but the slip-ons mentioned earlier).  I estimate (its only an estimate as the measurement can't be called accurate by any means) 27 inches to the start of my muffler.  Then there is another 3-4 inches that would be inside the slip-on muffler, making a total of 30-31 inches for the original pipe that I cut off.

Hope this helps in the assessment of your pipes.  I really like the looks and sound of the four-into-four arrangement and if you can swing the cost would definitely recommend that route rather than the alternatives.  However, I must admit that those four little silencers don't get very much heat and I have already noticed some condensation blowing out minuscule gaps in my joints unless I give it a good run...hopefully these mufflers are heavier stock to keep their shells intact.  (I'll just make sure I always give-r a good road run and then cap the ends.)

[Pirate]

  Alright, I know I've dropped off the face of the earth for a while.  Exams and end of term projects hit with a vengeance, but I'm glad to say I passed everything and can now spend part of my winter break diving into the CB 350s.  Pics will be coming within the next few days, but I've managed to strip absolutely everything removable off of the unregistered half frame.  The difference between some of the parts is like night and day...

  Unfortunately, some of the bits I've got are not in as good a shape as I thought they were -- the seat pan is unusably rusted, which means another thing to hunt down, and the rubber piece that fits between the front of the seat/back of the tank and the frame is torn.  I checked out the two motorcycle salvage shops I know of in Victoria (where I am for the holidays), but both are closed pending further notice.  I don't have a full list of the kind of stuff I need for the bike, but are there any places people could suggest in the lower mainland/island region for stuff?  I know of 'Bent Bike' in Langley, but I haven't had a chance to check them out yet.

  My plan (as it stands) is to strip the other frame down, bead blast it, and repaint it with POR 15 - an incredibly tough, rust-proof (yes, proof!) paint.  I'll then start the reassembly with the pieces I do have, and then I expect the rebuild to come to a crawl as I try to scavenge parts off of Ebay etc.  .

  Belated thanks HondanutRider on checking your pipe lengths for me, as soon as I get a chance to label all the downtubes by cylinder, I'll take off the rusted out home brew muffler and check my measurements to see if they match up.  I'm definitely thinking of going the 4-2 route if I can.

  Thanks for reading, and pics/further progress should be coming soon, but no promises!

[HondanutRider]

Hey Pirate!  Just noticed your list of other vehicles and you have an Austin Mini - I also have a '65 Austin Healey 3000. I've owned it since 1969.  (Insurance this past year for it cost me $166 and for the CB350F its going to cost over $400 - go figure how ripped I feel.)

Make sure you post those pics of your CB350F project.  Maybe the Mini will make a good photo backdrop for the pics, or a place to stash those parts.

[Pirate]

Hi all,

 I know it's been a long time since I last posted in this thread.  The weather wasn't suitable to work on the bikes much over winter break (we had near record snowfalls for our area).  Then, while the weather did improve ~2 weeks ago for reading week, most of it was devoted to a 15 page paper on professional ethics.  However, I did have time to find (and pick up) the project I initially wanted to start with, a CB550F (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=46942.0).

  This means that I'll likely be selling off all/most of the CB350F stuff, to fund the resto of the 'new' bike.  I'm trying to put together a list/pictures of what I've got, and if I put up a posting in the 'For Sale' section, I'll cross-reference it to this thread.  I'm going to keep a few choice bits that'll fit the 550 (rear shocks, front caliper, disc, etc. - to see if I can work a dual disc conversion), but the rest'll be up for grabs.

  HondanutRider, it was really funny that you mentioned the Mini being a good backdrop or place to stash parts -- it ended up doing double duty (pic attached).



  This isn't the expected end to this project/thread, I know, but now I'm fortunate enough to have gotten what I wanted and I might as well help out fellow SOHC4 owners whose interests lie with a different displacement of the same lineage.  My 'loss', their gain!

[tbpmusic]

    Unfortunately, some of the bits I've got are not in as good a shape as I thought they were -- the seat pan is unusably rusted, ..........,  

The seat pan can  be saved - you need to carefully remove the cover and foam, then soak the pan in some MSR (Milk stone Remover) to de-funkify it.
Then prime it with some Duplicolor sef-etching primer, then Duplicolor engine enamel, and put it back together.
Just did a seat pan like that last week - mine was even cracked, but a quick date with a wire welder and bob's Yer' Uncle.

[Krixxer]

Canadian winter syndrome.

TV suks and I've seen the end of the internet ;what to do with yourself for 6 months of winter