Author Topic: I need Help straightening my frame:no shop or experience:FIXED ! (Read 8106 times)

grcamna2 · « **on:** September 10, 2011, 04:31:29 PM »

Hi folks,
I bought a very nice Honda CB350K4 back in May & I've been piecing it together
from ebay & craigslist up until just 2 weeks ago.I got it all together & running
& rode it to see a guy from the Honda twins forum. We checked it for frame straightness & the front wheel is riding 2" to the right of the rear wheel.The bike
was crashed from about the 10 o'clock position from the front(12 o'clock would have
been directly head on) and the head tube is very slightly canted w/ the actual slight twist somewhere underneath tank.I can ride it this way but it isn't as nice as having it "True". The bike has no points of stress on the frame anywhere to indicate a sharp bend in the steel; the original paint on the frame is Nice.

I want to ask if anybody on this forum has any experience straightening CB350's;
maybe some of you race & have already done this a few times ?I live in a 13th floor
Apt. in Bethlehem,Pa. & I am working out of a storage locker w/ no electricity &
I don't know anyone; I just moved here.I don't have experience in this & can't
afford to take it to a frame straightening place. I will take responsibility for whoever
helps me make this repair & will sign a piece of paper saying that they will not be
held responsible legally for any reason whatsoever. I just want to get my bike
fixed and ride ! I will transport the bike to you & will take it right back home again.
I am able to drive quite a distance in my car,so I can come to you.
I have a spare frame but it doesn't have a title yet...I want to repair my nice
original frame,even if it takes time to find somebody who will help me;it's a keeper !
I am saving my pennies(I'm on a fixed income)for the day that we meet.
I will pay you what you think is best;the $ isn't really the main thing,I just want
to find someone to help do it right that likes old CB350's;it's too nice for the crusher.
Thanks in advance,
Bill

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2011, 04:49:48 PM »

G'Day Bill, frame straightening is not a "Home Mechanic" job mate, I took a Suzuki GS1000S to a frame straightener's after it went into the back of a car, (you should have seen the dent in the back of the tank made by the riders testicles, ouch!) anyway, the entire bike (less front forks) was fitted into a straightening jig and was straightened under enormous hydraulic pressure.

It's interesting that the paint is so good considering that the frame has been tweaked, normally the damage is around the steering head, under the tank, have you checked it there? Also, are you sure it's the frame that's bent, and not just the forks or triples? Cheers, Terry.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2011, 05:08:24 PM »

Hi Terry,
Yes,it is the frame.I can look at the bike from the front & the front wheel is a little
to the left(2");a little to the right as I'm sitting on the bike.The place where it's bent
is in the backbone underneath the tank.There is no peeled paint anywhere on the frame. Terry, there are folks who have straightened these CB350's before & I'm
sure that a helpful person will come along eventually.I lack experience & a shop.
The frame is manufactured out of mild steel and the forks and triple trees took the
brunt of the hit.I have straight parts on there now & it is very rideable; I just want
it completely straight.
thanks for you post Terry; it's good to hear from Australia !

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2011, 05:18:45 PM »

No worries Bill, best of luck mate!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2011, 06:47:25 AM »

Terry,
The trick is to find a nice individual with positive energy who "cares" to do the
job. I have spoken to a few members of forums & 1 man in particular will
do the job...only he wants me to sell the Frame to him w/ title.He wants to own
it. I know I will find a good person to get me back on the road.
I must keep a positive attitude in my search & then I will find what I am looking
for. I have been researching some shops & I can't afford them.I am disabled &
only receive a check once a month which cuts back my options.

I hope you enjoy your riding season

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2011, 07:44:21 PM »

No worries mate, and I'm sorry to hear about your disability, I broke my back parachuting, but I'm lucky that I can still walk, ride, and (sadly) work. Cheers, Terry.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2011, 08:43:47 PM »

Terry,
What was it like parachuting for your "1st" time ?!

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2011, 11:40:32 PM »

G'Day Bill, my first jump was mostly blissfull ignorance, as part of my special forces selection course it was a "water jump" out the back of a Caribou into the Hume Weir, as we only had around 20 minutes of formal instruction by an SAS Sergeant in the unit gymnasium before getting into the aircraft.

It was a nice sunny winters day, we got up to 1000 feet and I was the first out of the aircraft. I remember the wonderful sight of my canopy deploying, and slowly turning around in the breeze, watching the other guys in my stick jumping out.

It was very quiet, so quiet that I could hear the guys in the Zodiacs talking on the water, hundreds of feet below. It seemed like quite a long time before I hit the water, but it was only about 1 minute. As soon as my toes hit the water I popped both capewells (releasing the harness from the canopy) and disappeared under the water.

I re-emerged, and was dragged into the boat, then got back in the aircraft and did it again. great fun. Sadly, my first jump onto land (during my parachute course) was not as much fun, a 200 pound man hits the ground with some force, and I remember not enjoying the experience much at all.

Have a good one Bill, Cheers, Terry.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2011, 04:58:00 PM »

Terry,
I really do hope to find a CB350 or Honda person w/ a heart who will help me
tackle the job of straightening my frame...it will be a great experience to be there
& see it come back to dead center...I will use lots a patience in my wait.
I imagine that first step that you took out into thin air.....MUST HAVE BEEN GREAT ! !
To overcome your fear of dying & just "go for it";must have taken good courage.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #9 on:** September 14, 2011, 10:19:33 PM »

G'Day Bill, thanks for that mate, but not much courage was involved, I'd never jumped before so I didn't have much to be scared of, once I'd hit the ground hard a few months later on my parachute course though I was a lot more "aware", ha ha!

The same day that we jumped for the first time we also rapelled for the first time for most of us, doing "Run downs" down a 180 foot cliff, which was scarier than parachuting, to me at least. All there was to look at were the car sized granite rocks at the bottom, and by the time our Commanding Officer managed to break his ankle doing a demonstration run down for us, we were all a lot more nervous, ha ha!

Anyway, enough "war stories" mate, good luck with your bike fix, and if you're able, take some pics so we can see how it's done. Cheers, Terry.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 15, 2011, 02:48:07 AM »

I will as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Danno · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2011, 03:51:24 PM »

I have the front tubes for your bike and I can tell you how to straighten the back bone of the bike even with your dissabilities pm me if you like danno

Danno · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2011, 04:10:57 PM »

aw hell Look I am in michigan and you are in PA what are your disabilities?
how much are you willing to pay ?
can you get the bike or frame to michigan?
how long are you willing to wait for it to be done? if I were to do it over a weekend so you could take it back with you it would take good timing
after october I don't have any more contracts to do so I could help then

grcamna2 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2011, 10:11:50 PM »

Danno....your'e speaking my language. I can get it to you in Oct. & my disability is
is not a problem;I'm fighting it & overcoming it day by day; No sweat.I got a good
Volvo 240 and the mileage isn't all that far from where I am.
This frame I have IS titled already & I'm getting around on a frame I swapped into
it just to ride it for now. I have the bent CB350 frame pretty well stripped down.
Just let me know how I can work around your time schedule and I'll be there when you ask. I haven't gone on the forum until just now Sat. 9-24-11 at 1 AM.
I'm in a pleasant state of shock right now just reading your post reply to me & look
forward to getting in touch with you.The $ issue at this present moment isn't any
good for me,but I'll be better by Oct.3...THAT'S FOR SURE !

grcamna2 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2011, 06:14:50 AM »

Danno........? I look forward to hearing from you.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2011, 04:32:31 PM »

I helped straighten a frame once, but it was not a honda. We used a bridgeport mill, bolted the thing down to it and used the table to measure squareness and a big cheater bar to pry the head tube back square (perpendicular) to the rear axle.

It's been years, not exactly sure what we did other than the machinist guy was happy with the results.

It is not unusual for a frame to be slightly imperfect from factory I hear, wheels can be tracking a few mm.'s out and it goes off the assembly line like that.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2011, 07:37:45 PM »

I'm real new to this & it's going to be a wonderful thing to finally get my
original titled frame back straight again. I really like the little CB350 because it's
small enough to fit into my life and not much trouble to maintain,just like ALL
solid vintage Honda models.
The vibration is a pain if I don't keep it Fully tuned & synched; if I had the $ I
would have bought a CB400F SS; that one is a Great little Light/middleweight.
I like the short(53+")wheelbase for quick handling and always have ever since
the days of my RD350B...but I just couldn't drive that one slow.

Danno · « **Reply #17 on:** September 25, 2011, 08:55:13 PM »

I can't tell from your posts if you have a 350F which is a 4 cylinder or If you have a twin? It does not matter too much but if it was a four it might be easier to swap things over since I have a frame already as far as title I don't have one for it but that should not be a big problem these old bikes are very bizzare in how they are titled mine actually uses the engine numbers for the title so the frame is not important even if you have the frame numbers in the title you can go down to the secretary of state and tell them it is a salvage frame that you are using and get the title switched around or I can just straighten the one you have which ever is easiest sorry I did not respond to you sooner I make rounds and try to answer as many questions that people have as fast as possible but sometimes do not get back to that particular post to see a response i kinda figure that someone will PM me if they need me

faux fiddy · « **Reply #18 on:** September 26, 2011, 12:48:36 AM »

Quote from: Danno on September 25, 2011, 08:55:13 PM

It does not matter too much but if it was a four it might be easier to swap things over since I have a frame already as far as title I don't have one for it but that should not be a big problem these old bikes are very bizzare in how they are titled mine actually uses the engine numbers for the title so the frame is not important even if you have the frame numbers in the title you can go down to the secretary of state and tell them it is a salvage frame that you are using and get the title switched around or I can just straighten the one you have which ever is easiest sorry I did not respond to you sooner I make rounds and try to answer as many questions that people have as fast as possible but sometimes do not get back to that particular post to see a response i kinda figure that someone will PM me if they need me

I guess there is a number stamped into the head tube but the way they used to do it with vw's was take the vin plate off (drill out the rivets) and put it on the new one you plan to import.

Could be a way to do it. Switch the vin plate, and problem solved without a jig.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 26, 2011, 05:06:00 AM »

That number stamped into the Head tube like you say...I don't want to take the
chance on getting caught.I have a titled frame already,my original frame.I do
think that it looks good now for me to get it straightened, & it's not really that
far out. I sure do look forward to the day when it is back on the road;I want to
put many miles on that one.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 11, 2011, 07:45:06 PM »

Does anybody have any other ideas for me...or assistance ? I have no experience w/ frame work & no shop to work out of.I NEED my motorcycle for transportation;it's affordable for me & I'm on a fixed income. PLEASE HELP.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 12, 2011, 02:47:20 PM »

Thanks Danno...it was good to hear from you & I look forward to meeting you.

FuZZie · « **Reply #22 on:** November 12, 2011, 06:27:18 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on September 23, 2011, 10:11:50 PM

This frame I have IS titled already & I'm getting around on a frame I swapped into
it just to ride it for now.

Just a thought but you might try giving dmv a call and ask what is needed if you want to swap out your frame.

Around here they issue you new papers with the replacements numbers, they must have something set up.... you wouldn't be the first guy to replace a frame on a bike.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 12, 2011, 08:38:57 PM »

I can appreciate what you're saying fuZZie...here in the state of Pa.(I just moved here) they have lots of impediments to progress when it comes to doing that...I tried & it's the " Mother...May I

" deal over & over & over.I already have a title for my Original frame & it really isn't that far out &....I found a member here on the forum who has experience w/ this straightening procedure; he said he will help. I'm going for it ! !

FuZZie · « **Reply #24 on:** November 13, 2011, 04:56:06 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on November 12, 2011, 08:38:57 PM

they have lots of impediments to progress when it comes to doing that...I tried & it's the " Mother...May I " deal over & over & over.

It's cool I was just wondering if you'd tried it.

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Author Topic: I need Help straightening my frame:no shop or experience:FIXED ! (Read 8106 times)