Author Topic: cb350f won't idle  (Read 1355 times)

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Offline alodge

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cb350f won't idle
« on: June 21, 2011, 10:20:11 AM »
Hi everyone,

I recently bought a 1973 cb350f, which is actually my first motorcycle.  It seemed to run great when I test drove it.  The next day I washed and polished the hell out of it, and again, it ran fine around the block.  It's been sitting in my garage over the last week or so, while I got the registration and such taken care of.  During that time I only changed the air filter and lubed the clutch cable.  Today, it started fine, but would only idle for a few seconds, and then abruptly die.  I could keep it going if I gave it a little throttle, but then I realized there was a little white smoke coming out of at least the 1 exhaust.  Also, the idle speed seems to be pretty low, like under 1000.  I don't think that was the case last week.  Anyway this is a major bummer, since I really wanted to start riding this thing.  Does the smoke indicate a major problem?

Offline HondaMan

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Re: cb350f won't idle
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2011, 11:39:15 AM »
It sounds like it is running out of gas?
Turn the fuel feed lever to RES (That's RESERVE) and try it again, see if that helps?
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Offline alodge

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Re: cb350f won't idle
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2011, 12:11:53 PM »
Seems to be plenty of gas.

Offline johnny

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Re: cb350f won't idle
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2011, 01:14:01 PM »
Be sure your choke lever is in the closed position. When I first got mine, I mistakenly thought it was closed when, in fact, it was wide open. It's the opposite direction of my 350 Twin. It took me a few instances of the bike sputtering and dying when I attempted to ride it before I figured it out. Of course, this wouldn't necessarily cause a LOW idle but it's just another factor to consider.
How's the charge on your battery?
1976 CB550K
1974 CB350F http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=81781.0
1974 CB550K
1972 CB350 Twin
1965 Lambretta
196(?) Honda S90
1975 Ford Bronco

Offline dave500

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Re: cb350f won't idle
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2011, 01:48:49 PM »
it wont idle straight from cold itll have to be warmed right up,has it got a throttle lock screw under the grip?use this to maintain an idle as you gear up,then release the screw when your ready to ride.

Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: cb350f won't idle
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2011, 01:57:28 PM »
Idle speed is 1200 on those bikes.
Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

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This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250