1973 Honda CB350F

B541Niner

Been Around the Block
Time to get of my ass and get this thing roadworthy again. Not a restoration but didn't really see another category that fit. I bought the bike at auction almost two years ago for less than $500 (titled) and have had it stashed away since... VIN Plate on the neck is stamped 1/73. Usually I start stripping parts before I even get home but for some reason this one needed to stew for a while. The history I got on it was that it last ran in 1997 when the PO had it tuned up so he could take it on their RV. Then health issues kept them from going on the road and the bike sat in a out-building until the kids had an auction at the property.

Plan is to just go thru it from front to back and get it cleaned up, running and paint the tins. Rear fender will be rolled forward and the front rolled back and trimmed. The front fender will only be supported by the mounting bracket and the four supports will be removed. As with all bikes I've had since the 80's, handlebars will be of the Superbike flavor. I would consider keeping the stock bars but the throttle side has a kink down by the clamp and I just don't trust them. I will notch the controls for the wires to have clearance. The seat is in great shape so it stays for now and the stock pipes will be cleaned up and used as well. Mirrors, turn signals and brake/taillight will be downsized.

First thing will be to replace the tubes so the tires hold air and it's easier to move around. Tires will need to be replaced at some point but not till it's running and has made a couple of trips around the block. Next I will move on to the carbs and tank. Bike was parked with gas so it's a sticky mess and the tank will need to be bathed in phosphoric acid.

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I have a turkey roaster that I cook on a Coleman stove when cleaning carbs...have used lemon water in the past but might try a different soup this time. No those are not the carbs from the CB and yes I take them apart first.
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Re: 1973 Honda CB350F

Picked up some supplies.
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Thanks to Tune-A-Fish for the barrel with hose on lip idea this AM...much easier to work on wheels. Two new tubes in and wheels back on the bike.
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Also makes a good puke bucket for the nastiness in the gas tank. I'm glad it's a beefy metal cuz a lot of crap came out of it...no soft spots but we'll see after it's cleaned up.
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Carbs off, tank is full of phosphoric acid.
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Ordered complete front caliper, SS brake line, brake switch, Super Bike bars, kick start rubber and bar-end mirrors.
 
Looks good.......would like to do that with the rear fender of mine......but mines all original from the factory still, ('cept exhaust of course) with only 2800 miles.
 
Thanks for the support.


budlite282 said:
would like to do that with the rear fender of mine......but mines all original from the factory still, ('cept exhaust of course) with only 2800 miles.

I'm committed to not hacking up the frame but will sacrifice the fenders. Both are original just nipped a bit...the back has been cut and rolled forward so I could keep the lip around the edge.
 
Getting the new bars and controls situated. Would like to trim up to an inch off each end of bars but MC with new brake light switch is a tight fit the way it is. Controls still need to be notched for external wires.

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Left for dead by a medical office I do some work for. Blowing air out of the Unloader Valve when the unit turns off so I pulled and cleaned the Check Valve and everything is nice and tight now and not leaking at all. Used in medical/dentist profession so it is only about as loud as a refrigerator when running. Great for small tools, staplers, nail guns and air brush. And the price new...holy *#$$%&. I have a large air compressor but this will come in handy.

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thats an awesome score!
Funny how some people think its broken but it really just needs a little service
 
Sooo many things get thrown away these days that just need a cleaning or adjusting it is retarded, but great for smart folks like us that can see that all it is and get stuff like this cheap/free. My central vac was blowing breakers, discovered it was a stuck brush, 10 min with some emery cloth and like new again. Service guy my wife called said its 30 years old, throw it away and get a new one. The new one would be half as well built. I don't let her call service people anymore until I have looked at the item and decided if I can fix it.
 
I often think about how things got to the place they are, where things get thrown out, mostly because repair would cost more than replacement. Back in the Ole days, my grandfather was a GE repairman for 35 years. Today I don't know if he'd even have a job. Anyway, nice find!
 
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