Topic: 1973 CB350 four

[bobertjp06]

My name is Robert and I'm the owner of a 73 cb350 four it is the first and only bike I've ever owned my father gave it to me for my 17th birthday and told me that if I make it run I can ride it. The motorcycle has 30,000 miles and I started having problems with the oil light coming on so I changed the oil andin the process found part of a piston ring and didn't think much about it until oil started leaking from the head gasket and loosing power. I really love the bike and started tearing into it to fin out what's wrong it's been sitting for about a year now and I'm 23 and it's time I bring it back to life. I would really appreciate leads for parts or people who will work on it because nobody where I live is willing to touch it. I appreciate any advice and help I can get. Thanks in advance.

[333]

Where you at?

[bobertjp06]

Baton rouge, la. The bike does have a lot of miles but like I said I love it an it's my first bike and I would love to get it back together and ride a piece of history around town again. I have a manual for it but extra advice is greatly appreciated

[jbonham]

As for parts and such, I recommend Service Honda out of Illinois. They were recommended to me when I started buying parts for my 750. As for the mileage on the bike. I would venture to say that 30,000 miles on it isn't bad at all. Most of these bikes were made to be ridden for a long time given that the proper maintenance was done. The bike sitting for a year doesn't concern me much unless it has been outside during that time (rust, engine seizure and such). As for the ring you found and the oil leak I can't give nay advice on it as I haven't done that kind of work as of yet. Sometimes the best person to do the work is YOU. With a manual at your side you can fix just about anything on the bike. Sure there are people out there that will work on it but if you do the work at least you know you followed the instructions.

I am sure there are others here that can give you some better advice than I can and I am also sure that they will be along shortly.

Keep us updated.

[flybox1]

welcome to the forum, and nice bike! 
be sure to show us what ya got! pics are a bonus.
Get yourself a Clymer manual for it, and start with a 3000 mi service.
Do as much of the work yourself.
post often, and let us know if you run into any issues. 
Good luck! 

Rob

http://www.hondaparts-direct.com/

[squire7986]

The motorcycle has 30,000 miles and I started having problems with the oil light coming on so I changed the oil andin the process found part of a piston ring and didn't think much about it until oil started leaking from the head gasket and loosing power.

This statement makes me wonder if you did loose a piston ring, that would definitely effect the power of the bike - and set the path of your restoration (top end rebuild).  Can you give us a history on the bike, specifically did your father have any problems with it before he gave it to you?  By the sounds of it, he gave it to you knowing that it needed work.  I would start with a compression test - it is outlined on page 23 of the Clymer manual (6 edition - 21st printing), this will indicate the general condition of the cylinders and valves.  Or there is the leak down test - this will tell you if you need to replace some rings. You can search any of these terms on this forum and read how they did it.  You will need some specialized tools to do this. Or you should be able to find a machine shop\motorcycle shop that would do these tests for you.

But the number 1 easy and free thing a noob can do (I'm a noob too), is read!  This forum is a wealth of knowledge, everything you are experiencing with your bike - someone has too - and fixed it. You need to read the engine FAQ section on this forum here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=369.0, it also has a link to another post describing how to replace a head gasket.

I love reading the project section of this forum, even for other bikes - one it gets me fired up to work on my bike, two it shows me what I problems I may encounter, third it saves me money.  The thing that kills motorcycle builds behind getting married or having children is running out of money.  So take your time, research your next steps on this forum BEFORE you buy the parts, and most of all have fun learning to fix it yourself.  Our motto here is: "Built not Bought".

To add to your reading assignment, I've uploaded some manuals I found in my internet travels:
CB350F Parts Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/tnzzcy5zwj5/350F Parts Manual.pdf
CB350F Shop Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/iqoz0nuynez/350F Shop Manual.pdf
CB350F Owners Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/byazmtzmudy/honda CB350f owners manual.pdf
Honda Tool Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/yyd1jgd1qiz/honda common tool manual.pdf
Honda Common Service Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/yyd1jgd1qiz/honda common tool manual.pdf

Another forum that is fun to read: http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?www

Oh, something I noticed in reading these forums.  You need to post pictures if you want replies.  You cannot have too many pictures - open a photobucket account and use the IMG tag to copy and paste into your posts.  It is all explained here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=14605.msg93296#msg93296

Good luck and have fun!

[hoodellyhoo]

The motorcycle has 30,000 miles and I started having problems with the oil light coming on so I changed the oil andin the process found part of a piston ring and didn't think much about it until oil started leaking from the head gasket and loosing power.

This statement makes me wonder if you did loose a piston ring, that would definitely effect the power of the bike - and set the path of your restoration (top end rebuild).  Can you give us a history on the bike, specifically did your father have any problems with it before he gave it to you?  By the sounds of it, he gave it to you knowing that it needed work.  I would start with a compression test - it is outlined on page 23 of the Clymer manual (6 edition - 21st printing), this will indicate the general condition of the cylinders and valves.  Or there is the leak down test - this will tell you if you need to replace some rings. You can search any of these terms on this forum and read how they did it.  You will need some specialized tools to do this. Or you should be able to find a machine shop\motorcycle shop that would do these tests for you.

But the number 1 easy and free thing a noob can do (I'm a noob too), is read!  This forum is a wealth of knowledge, everything you are experiencing with your bike - someone has too - and fixed it. You need to read the engine FAQ section on this forum here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=369.0, it also has a link to another post describing how to replace a head gasket.

I love reading the project section of this forum, even for other bikes - one it gets me fired up to work on my bike, two it shows me what I problems I may encounter, third it saves me money.  The thing that kills motorcycle builds behind getting married or having children is running out of money.  So take your time, research your next steps on this forum BEFORE you buy the parts, and most of all have fun learning to fix it yourself.  Our motto here is: "Built not Bought".

To add to your reading assignment, I've uploaded some manuals I found in my internet travels:
CB350F Parts Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/tnzzcy5zwj5/350F Parts Manual.pdf
CB350F Shop Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/iqoz0nuynez/350F Shop Manual.pdf
CB350F Owners Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/byazmtzmudy/honda CB350f owners manual.pdf
Honda Tool Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/yyd1jgd1qiz/honda common tool manual.pdf
Honda Common Service Manual http://www.mediafire.com/file/yyd1jgd1qiz/honda common tool manual.pdf

Another forum that is fun to read: http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?www

Oh, something I noticed in reading these forums.  You need to post pictures if you want replies.  You cannot have too many pictures - open a photobucket account and use the IMG tag to copy and paste into your posts.  It is all explained here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=14605.msg93296#msg93296

Good luck and have fun!

THAT'S what I call a helpful post! Gotta love this forum....

Good luck with the rebuild. There's a link to my 350f project thread down in my sig, although I've never done a top end rebuild which is what it sounds like you're in for.

[Brian G]

The motorcycle has 30,000 miles and I started having problems with the oil light coming on so I changed the oil andin the process found part of a piston ring and didn't think much about it until oil started leaking from the head gasket and loosing power.

Hi Robert - and welcome to the forum. First, the bad news:

I'm thinking that you have some work ahead of you. If the oil light is coming on, there's a good possibility that either the bearings are on their way out or the pump is shot. The ring bits in the drained oil are also a bad sign - do all the tests you like but if there are bits of metal in the oil then the prognosis is not good. An oil leak as well? Start checking into the procedure for removing the head and cylinder barrels - it's not as daunting as you might think if you go carefully and pay attention to what is written in the manual. If this - or any older bike for that matter - really means anything to you, you're going to have to get into it at some point - might as well do it now. Spend 500 bucks on another daily rider and do the 350F up right.

For that is the good news. A '73 CB350F is a real jewel of a motorcycle. Fixing it will provide you with a reliable classic bike, few of which you will see on the road and a sense of accomplishment which is hard to describe. Not to mention showing the Old Man that you've got what it takes 

And there are loads of helpful individuals on this forum. Good Luck!

Brian

[bobertjp06]

Thanks for everybodys advice and interest in my project. As far as the history on the bike all I know is that my dads friend had it bolted to a wall in his barn and wasn't running at all. I had to rebuild the carbs about three different times and it was running great after tweaking with them for a while quick response and idled smooth.

[bender01]

I think some one on this forum has done a million miles in Australia on a350f! Its been rebuilt a few times. Anyone else see that thread? I miss mine but it was a finished project and a 750f was begging for me. They are really cool and when you get it on the road it will draw alot of attention. Much more than my ugly 750f! I wait every day for a new member too show up here with my old 350f! Some parts are hard to find especially cosmetic and exhaust. Throttle cables and cam chain tensioners are hard to find also. So when you tear it down be very careful with little bits or it will add up in the end! Some pics of mine in my Signature I think!  Red ones are faster