Author Topic: Ignition help on a CL350  (Read 910 times)

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Offline schwebel

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Ignition help on a CL350
« on: November 16, 2009, 07:39:29 PM »
I have a 73 CL350 that I have been building (in secret, it's my gf's christmas gift), and I can't seem to get it to run. I fully rebuilt the engine, honed and re-ringed, new gaskets, clutch,...etc. The carbs are fully rebuilt, it has a new condensor, plugs and points. It has spark in both cylinders. All I can get it to do is backfire out of the right cylinder. I had a flame shoot out of the carbs (I put a little starting fluid in it). I know the cam was installed right and the valve lash is correct as well as point gap.

I think the piece that fits inside the spark advancer (I think the technical name is a point cam) might be my issue. There is a line carved in it and I can't figure out how it should be installed. I tried lining it up with the notch on the back of the advancer that rides the cam. But when it is there, the advancer mechanism doesn't work. I have the shop manual an it mentions nothing about the point cam. Any ideas?, suggestions?
« Last Edit: November 16, 2009, 07:44:39 PM by schwebel »

Offline Grant

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Re: Ignition help on a CL350
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2009, 01:27:49 PM »
It could be that the rotor cam that triggers the points and slips on to the advancer is 180 degrees out. They go on both ways. If it backfires out your carb then it is probably trying to fire on exhaust stroke. Take it off turn it through 180 and replace and see how you go.

Offline tbpmusic

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Re: Ignition help on a CL350
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2009, 01:34:46 PM »
It may well be that you didn't set the timing properly - check out this link for a detailed explanation of the somewhat counter-intuitive process.

http://www.hondatwins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=883

Here are two Honda shop manuals, an olser one and a newer one -

http://home.comcast.net/~tbpmusic3/CB_CL250_350RepairManual.pdf

http://home.comcast.net/~tbpmusic3/CB_CL_SL_250_350.pdf
"If you can't fix it with a hammer, then it's an electrical problem"

Bill Lane
 '71 CB450 Mutant/ '75 CB200/ '81 CM200/ '71 C70M

Offline lordmoonpie

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Re: Ignition help on a CL350
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2009, 04:51:04 AM »
Backfiring and flames - I'd go with Grant's view and the timing is 180 degrees out or thereabouts. You've got soemthing on upside down or back to front perhaps, like that cheeky little advancer cam...
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