Author Topic: New with a '74 CB350F and lots of questions! (Read 2570 times)

hondamatteo · « **on:** April 24, 2011, 04:14:23 PM »

Hi guys new to the site and I just picked up a 74 cb350f in pretty good shape for a great price. It has been been sitting in a garage for 12 years and was fairly dirty but very little rust. After a quick wash she cleaned up super nice!

So after a very thorough going over, a good carb cleaning, fresh gas and oil she started right up!

So my questions are:

1. I have a oil filter on order but while trying to check the old one I couldn't get it out past the exhaust headers. It has an after market 4-2 exhaust but not sure of the name. Is this normal to have to remove the headers to get the filter out?

2. The front brake is sticking on the rotor a little too much. I could still spin the wheel but it was rubbing a little too much and got very hot after a short ride. I have the calliper apart right now and there was a fair bit of gunk behind the piston but anything else I should check? *edit* I also played with the adjustment screw to no avail

3. I have a slight oil leak from the head but i hear this is quite common on the 350s. I will try and retorque the head bolts and see if that helps. But I also have another inconsistent oil leak coming from the oil pump I think (right below the starter motor) It is strange cause I didnt notice it leaking yesterday but saw it today only to have it stop a little bit later? Any thoughts on this?

Sorry for the long post and all the questions but I appreciate all the insight that you guys might have!
Thanks again.

donpark1086 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2011, 04:32:46 PM »

Nice find. The header is a pain, but filter changes don't have to be frequent.

MoMo · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2011, 06:26:57 PM »

1. Not normal but in your case unfortunately necessary

2, Make sure you get all the crud out from the groove the seal sits in and disassemble the master cylinder and clean it too.

3. Head leaking is prevalent with older 350/400 fours, usually seeps. After a bike that has been sitting for years gets some miles on it seals start to swell and seep. My GL500 had been sitting since 1983, when I first got it running no leaks but after some miles several slight leaks developed. I had to replace the rear seal but the other leaks eventually stopped.

4. Welcome and very nice bike...Larry

keiths · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2011, 06:47:46 PM »

Nice bike. I love the blue.

You can change the oil filter without removing the stock exhaust.

Make sure you clear the very small hole in the bottom of the master cylinder reservoir. Clean it with a very thin wire. When you squeeze the lever you should see the fluid squirt up through the reserve fluid.

camelman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2011, 06:52:33 PM »

Beautiful bike. I love the blue.

hondamatteo · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2011, 07:06:38 PM »

Thanks guys, I really like the blue too. So I had a look at the parts diagram for the oil pump. Is it sealed just by a couple o-rings, no gasket? Seems like you can drain the oil, unbolt it, change the seals and then bolt back on.

Kanticoy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2011, 07:07:42 PM »

Wow, beautiful.

yo2001 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2011, 07:09:37 PM »

I do like the blue as well. Not offered here in the US?

hondamatteo · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2011, 08:20:15 PM »

The PO mentioned that he painted the bike, I think he said it was green before. But I am really liking the blue, he did a good job.

DarcyCB400F · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2011, 08:24:23 PM »

+1 on the color and the "find_!
How can you ever go wrong with blue??? (unless it's baby blue

)

faux fiddy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2011, 08:36:37 PM »

Quote from: camelman on April 24, 2011, 06:52:33 PM

Beautiful bike. I love the blue.

+1

I first thought , Dang!

it really did clean up well. Different blue bike...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CB-Honda-CB350-four-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a0fd1d136QQitemZ180654035254QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles

hondamatteo · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2011, 08:54:15 PM »

Ya and she will clean up even better. That was just a quick rinse to get all the saw dust and dirt off so I could work on it. Once I get it road worthy with new tires and my brakes figured out I will scrub her down real good and her real beauty should come out! Alot of little things to be done before though. I am looking to clean the points and the manual said to use a point file and not sand paper. If I cant get my hands on a file is there anything else I could use?? Thanks for the compliments guys, really looking forward to getting her on the road!

hondamatteo · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2011, 09:58:47 PM »

Adding to the question list (I told you I had alot!) I broke a main jet leaf spring retainer thingy while cleaning my carbs. I tried to epoxy it back together but I dont think it will hold. Has anyone rigged up there own holder of some kind or perhaps someone has a spare they would kindly sell me?

faux fiddy · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2011, 12:20:36 AM »

Quote from: hondamatteo on April 24, 2011, 08:54:15 PM

Ya and she will clean up even better. That was just a quick rinse to get all the saw dust and dirt off so I could work on it. Once I get it road worthy with new tires and my brakes figured out I will scrub her down real good and her real beauty should come out! Alot of little things to be done before though. I am looking to clean the points and the manual said to use a point file and not sand paper. If I cant get my hands on a file is there anything else I could use?? Thanks for the compliments guys, really looking forward to getting her on the road!

Points file = the set of tiny files you get in a red and clear package from Harobr Freight for under $10. About a buck a piece, chose the flattest, finest one.

Emory cloth with a fine grit will work in a pinch.

Trevor from Warragul · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2011, 02:06:42 AM »

Quote

I broke a main jet leaf spring retainer thingy while cleaning my carbs

I have a few spare - $500.00...

...only joking! PM me your name & address & I'll pop it in the post for you (free).

Trevor
Melbourne, Australia

Kevin400F · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2011, 03:45:48 AM »

The front end is interesting as well, since the 350F originally came with painted headlight mounts and metal shrouds over the fork tubes rather than the rubber gaiters. Any idea what the front end is from?

You may want to check and see if you still have 33mm fork tubes, or whether the triple clamp and forks have been upgraded to 35mm from a different model. If the tubes are longer than stock and you want to restore stock chassis geometry, you can probably slide the tubes up through the triple clamps the required amount.

Nice looking bike!

Kevin

hondamatteo · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:28:37 AM »

Quote from: morini on April 25, 2011, 02:06:42 AM

Quote
I broke a main jet leaf spring retainer thingy while cleaning my carbs

I have a few spare - $500.00...

...only joking! PM me your name & address & I'll pop it in the post for you (free).

Trevor
Melbourne, Australia

Thanks a bunch trevor, i'll send you a pm right now

Quote from: Kevin400F on April 25, 2011, 03:45:48 AM

The front end is interesting as well, since the 350F originally came with painted headlight mounts and metal shrouds over the fork tubes rather than the rubber gaiters. Any idea what the front end is from?

You may want to check and see if you still have 33mm fork tubes, or whether the triple clamp and forks have been upgraded to 35mm from a different model. If the tubes are longer than stock and you want to restore stock chassis geometry, you can probably slide the tubes up through the triple clamps the required amount.

Nice looking bike!

Kevin

The PO said he changed out the fork covers for ones from a cb750, everything else on the front end is original I believe. Does anyone know if those handle bars are stock? I have seen others with bars that raise up a bit more

A pic with her big bro, my '84 VT500c shadow:

camelman · « **Reply #17 on:** April 27, 2011, 11:53:38 PM »

So... I really like the blue. I think my bike is going blue before long. Can you tell me what color the decals are on the tank? They look white, but all of the ones I've seen are white and orange.

One a side note, I have loads of odds and ends for these things. PM me if you are having trouble finding anything. I don't have spare carbs though.

Camelman

hondamatteo · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2011, 07:19:48 PM »

Quote from: camelman on April 27, 2011, 11:53:38 PM

So... I really like the blue. I think my bike is going blue before long. Can you tell me what color the decals are on the tank? They look white, but all of the ones I've seen are white and orange.

One a side note, I have loads of odds and ends for these things. PM me if you are having trouble finding anything. I don't have spare carbs though.

Camelman

Ya the decals are just white. Another quick question though. When the bike is idling and I switch off the head light the rpms pick up quite a bit and then drop again when I switch the light back on? It makes sense this would happen but I was just surprised with how much it did affect the idle.

camelman · « **Reply #19 on:** May 02, 2011, 09:09:43 PM »

How old is your battery, what voltage does it hold when the engine is not running, and have you cleaned up your electrical connections lately? Your symptoms point to low voltage in the electrical system. This could come from a weak charging system, loss in the electrical system due to corroded or loose connections, or a battery that is on its last legs.

I would start with the battery and the fuses if I were you. First, check your battery to make sure it is holding adequate charge (someone else will hopefully weigh in on what it needs to be) If the problem is not your battery, then clean off the contacts for any fuses (stock and the random aftermarket ones that POs tend to install), clean off your battery connections, and clean off the connections from the battery to ground. If the problem still persists, then check back with the results.

Camelman

hondamatteo · « **Reply #20 on:** May 02, 2011, 09:33:43 PM »

Ya its prob the battery then. I just threw in an old battery that I had laying around to get the bike up and running. I'll get a new battery in there and try it out again. Thanks Camelman

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Author Topic: New with a '74 CB350F and lots of questions! (Read 2570 times)