Author Topic: "Drag Queen" FKA 1972 Honda 350 four restoration. Leave no part behind! (Read 17242 times)

twincityrider · « **on:** April 01, 2009, 01:44:21 PM »

Hi Everyone,

Nice to be on the forum. I've been sorting through all sorts of threads, fantastic amount of information here. There's been some great restoration projects on the 350f but I thought I'd document a complete restoration process from start to finish. I'm no mechanical pro but I have restored a 1977 Toyota FJ40. I guess we'll find out how well that process served me. I picked up a non-running 1972 Honda 350 four with 30,000 miles on it about a month ago. Needless to say the lil bike has seen some things in its day and is going to need some TLC. I live in Minneapolis and this winter has been extremely long. I needed a project and I found one. Paid $375 for it and away I went. I'll catch everyone up as to what's been going on during the month I've been working on it.

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2009, 01:55:54 PM »

Must...Have....Pictures!!!!!!!

Always nice to have another 350f project going on.

twincityrider · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2009, 02:09:59 PM »

hoodellyhoo you beat me to it. Too quick! Here ya go. Great work on your bike by the way. I've been following your post from time to time. Looks great.

kghost · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2009, 02:49:04 PM »

Welcome

Keep us posted

latheboy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2009, 03:38:05 PM »

Cool, i'm doing the same bike at the moment although yours looks abit nicer than mine.
The dumbest thing i did was NOT take any photos of the complete bike before it got pulled down, i'm kicking myself now.
I look forward to seeing your work

twincityrider · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2009, 06:00:38 PM »

Some more pics of the bike before I tore it down.

twincityrider · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2009, 06:05:23 PM »

Bike ran rough after some initial carb cleaning. So what do you do to get a motorcycle with 30,000 miles running properly? Take it entirely apart and put it back together of course. Currently all the metal parts, odds and ends are getting powder coated.

twincityrider · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2009, 06:12:56 PM »

Next I ordered a Keyster rebuild kit. I hear that Keyster may not be the best for this project because of some of the brass components but we'll give it a shot. Carb cleaning was no problem thanks to my fiance's toothbrush (I bought her a new one) and some really toxic 3m carb cleaning product. Note to anyone using carb cleaning solution... wear gloves if you ever plan on having children! Didn't have any problems rebuilding the carbs and adjusting the bowls. I'd like to polish the carbs up a little but that'll have to wait until I tackle the taking apart the engine this weekend (and come up with the time to polish the cases up).

twincityrider · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2009, 06:33:17 PM »

This weekend I'll be taking the top end of the engine and getting a good look at what's going on in there. Hondaman gave me some great insight into taking a compression test on the engine. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=48495.0. Compression test was not looking good even with the addition of oil on top of the cylinders. Cylinder 1 came in with a weak 30psi and the other cylinders barely registered anything. With the addition of oil inserted same results. I'm thinking my valves aren't seating properly allowing combustion gases to escape. I'm guessing the rings are worn out as well.

Anyone have any thoughts on the matter?

Like I said there is 30,000 miles on the engine which may not kill a properly taken care of engine but I don't know the history of this bike too clearly. I'll take the engine components over to my local machine shop and hopefully he can give me an idea of the specs of components so I can compare them to the proper tolerances. I'm hoping I can just reseat the valves with new guides and small top end work, hone the cylinders and get some new piston rings. Crossing my fingers because this could get pricey quick. I think Tim in Ohio did something similar to this. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=38903.0

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2009, 08:39:38 AM »

When you did this compression test, were the valves adjusted properly? Just thinking out loud.

Jheart · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2009, 08:50:58 AM »

Hey, You've got my attention, I've been wrestling with my three 350f's for a year or so now. They say that they were the gentleman's four cylinder, but my bikes are a$$holes. Good look getting your compression up. Keep us updated.

I get looks from salty veteran mechanics for wearing gloves when I work on my bike, but some of the chemicals I'm putting on and taking off have been sitting in the garage since cigarettes were "doctor reccomended". I don't have any desire for mutant children, so excuse me if I put a thin latex barrier between myself and the gnarly 1930's army brand stripper/degreaser/rodent poison I'm using to clean my bike.

Ecosse · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2009, 09:43:21 AM »

Welcome! Nice choice of bike too.

Like those old Datsun's.

twincityrider · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2009, 02:05:34 PM »

Thanks all for the comments. hoodellyhoo I like your idea of adjusting the valves. I haven't done that and should before I start burning holes in my wallet.

Ecosse, the Datsun 240z is my brothers. He updated suspension, v8 conversion, 5 speed transmission, wheels and tires, carbon fiber, etc. I come from a car/motorcycle/boat family. Dads always keeping up his 66 corvette and restoring a couple chris craft boats. He restored a 1975 suzuki re-5 wankel rotary last year. I'm interested to see which bike will be smoother, his wankel or this 350f.

Ecosse · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2009, 02:18:49 PM »

a buddy of mine did a v8 240z as well.

as for that wankel... you just have to post that in 'other bikes'!!

btw: check out loonymoons (ex) bike in april's botm thread. these 350s are sharp.

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2009, 03:39:24 PM »

Ditto- Lets see some pics of that RE5

twincityrider · « **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2009, 07:39:30 PM »

Took the engine apart this past weekend. Good news and bad news. As far as the cam shaft and rockers are concerned, a substitute was needed. The nickel plating on the lobes has worn almost through. Ditto for the rocker arms. Bad news bears. Found a used (obviously) rocker set and camshaft on ebay, not a matching set but I hope they're in better shape than mine. Anyone have any problems frankensteining the top end on these engines?

twincityrider · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2009, 07:45:24 PM »

The cylinder head actually looks pretty good. There's excessive carbon buildup on cylinder 2 and 3 valves, I think because these two cylinders tend to run hotter that the exterior cylinders. The buildup actually marked the top of the pistons on those cylinders. Assuming the valves are still straight and everything measures up OK from the machine shop I think everything will be reusable, including the pistons. I'm hoping just a valve job is in order here.

twincityrider · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2009, 07:47:48 PM »

Cylinder sleeves also look good. There's some light surface rust from having sat for a few years but again no sign of major damage. Let's hope all I need to do is hone.

twincityrider · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2009, 07:55:39 PM »

Depending on the cylinder wear I'm thinking I can get away without having to buy new pistons. Anybody got a good place to buy rings for these bikes? I've had some luck at:

http://www.mrcycles.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=121138&category=Motorcycles&make=Honda&year=1972&fveh=2900
http://www.xtremeusa.com/fiche_section_detail.asp
http://www.xtremeusa.com/fiche_section_detail.asp

I don't know the quality of these though. Anybody know if there is any particular trick to honing the 350f engine alloy so that new rings seat properly? I'm assuming it's just your standard honing technique. Also, do I need to buy new c clips for the pistons or can I get away with the old ones?

Thanks in advance. I appreciate any answers.

twincityrider · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2009, 07:57:18 PM »

Bottom end pics. I don't think I'll be touching this. Maybe in another 30,000.

twincityrider · « **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2009, 07:59:17 PM »

Still waiting to get back my parts from the powder coater. Getting anxious to work on something this weekend.

papp101 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 07, 2009, 08:05:01 PM »

I know you're on a budget but if there was rust on the cylinders then there may have been some corrosion on the c clips. They're cheap and if you're doing new rings then I would say do the c clips as well.

Shoot me a pm some time, I'd love to stop by and see it! I'm in uptown, where you at?

PaPP

twincityrider · « **Reply #22 on:** April 07, 2009, 08:39:15 PM »

PaPP, will do. Once I get the bike rolling again I'll invite you over. My fiance and I are on Colfax near Bryant Lake Bowl. Your thread is great. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=42733.0. I'll be keeping up with you.

papp101 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 07, 2009, 08:57:34 PM »

Sounds great man! Keep in touch!

twincityrider · « **Reply #24 on:** April 08, 2009, 09:50:45 AM »

So I got a bad starter clutch. I need an answer with regard to replacing it. Anyone know if I have to split the cases to remove and replace it? It's been talked about in the thread below but I don't think there was an affirmative yes or no answer. I'd rather not if I don't have to. I'll be putting a new (used) clutch basket in at the same time.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=10045.0

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Author Topic: "Drag Queen" FKA 1972 Honda 350 four restoration. Leave no part behind! (Read 17242 times)

Jheart