1972 CB350 / First bike&build

[adam704]

Hey all, bought my first motorcycle around a week ago and finally finding time to work on it. Planning to go more towards a brat style build.

It ran when I bought it, but it needs a new ignition switch. Should be here Tuesday. As far as I know, neither brake works either. Took the rear wheel off today. The front brake lever is held on by a bent nail, gotta find the proper bolt for that as well. It was used as a dirt bike.

I know a few things about cars(drive an 82 vette, have a 63 mercury comet project), but very little about motorcycles. All your help will be appreciated, thanks! -Adam

 

[xb33bsa]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

welcome nice looking bike
you need to get new brake shoes front and back
they can delaminate when old and cause a serious accident i know this from experience :'( clean and lightly grease the cam shafts where they pass thru the hub
then getting it adjusted correctly on the front is the key
as far as bratarding a cb350 it is a terrible thing to do to a cb350
but besides that you can't cut off the fender support and put a flat seat pan on top of the frame.the tire goes up there on bumps
just get that dang thing roadworthy and enjoy it in stock configuration for a while,learn to tune it like a fine instrument

 

[crazypj]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

+1
There is always more to it than you thought. Ride it for a while before doing anything drastic

 

[adam704]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Managed to get the tank cleaned out (vinegar) and the front wheel off. Gotta wait for new shoes and cables to come in now. Planning on painting the rim and spokes black and polishing the hub.

Couple questions: in the carb pic, there's an open space there. The other carb has a small flap In the same place but differently shaped. Is something supposed to go there? Will the dent in the forks affect anything? What should I look for in the bearings as far as being good/bad? Thanks

 

[xb33bsa]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

the carb has a broken choke plate,proly should at least look for more cracks
the dent will be fine as long as it is not rubbing hard enough on the spring to shove it against the stanchion tube
many people get way carried away yanking out wheel bearings that would still last the life of 3 more bikes and in the process do more damage than good
water/rust and sand/road dirt are the only thing that harms bearings,it would literally be impossible to wear them out if they stayed clean
jam yer finger or thumb in the bearing center and push and turn the bearing
if it feels gritty and or sloppy then that is an issue as any dirt or rust will wear it out eventually
if they feel smooth and snug then yer ok run'em

 

[Maritime]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

the carb has a broken choke plate,proly should at least look for more cracks
the dent will be fine as long as it is not rubbing hard enough on the spring to shove it against the stanchion tube
many people get way carried away yanking out wheel bearings that would still last the life of 3 more bikes and in the process do more damage than good
water/rust and sand/road dirt are the only thing that harms bearings,it would literally be impossible to wear them out if they stayed clean
jam yer finger or thumb in the bearing center and push and turn the bearing
if it feels gritty and or sloppy then that is an issue as any dirt or rust will wear it out eventually
if they feel smooth and snug then yer ok run'em

You can also remove the grease seal and look inside and replace it if dirty or put the seal back if clean. I just pulled a perfect set of bearings to get wheels powder coated, that hurt cause to get them out, they are no good anymore most times and so I will need to spend 50ish on a complete new set. They were 17 year old bearing and perfect. pulled the seal the grease was still as clean as the day they were installed.

 

[xb33bsa]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

yep back in the day it was the 25cent carwash what wore out wheel bearings,and more,nowadays with the advent of the home-ownerd pressure warsher you can blast the greeze outta every bearing on yer sikle,replacing it with an abrasive slurry, rite in your own driveway :-[

 

[Maritime]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

yep back in the day it was the 25cent carwash what wore out wheel bearings,and more,nowadays with the advent of the home-ownerd pressure warsher you can blast the greeze outta every bearing on yer sikle,replacing it with an abrasive slurry, rite in your own driveway :-[

Yep, I never let a pressure washer near my bikes unless it is during a rebuild to wash the bare frame before paint LOL. it forces shit into places more than cleaning them. An then you have seized swing arms from grit and dirt and rust and bearing failures and so on. I will say the NSK bearing I took out of the wheels last night were really good shape for age and still like brand new, the fact the bike had sealed bearings and a second set of seals on top of that really helped.

 

[whynot]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Hey all, bought my first motorcycle around a week ago and finally finding time to work on it. Planning to go more towards a brat style build.

It ran when I bought it, but it needs a new ignition switch. Should be here Tuesday. As far as I know, neither brake works either. Took the rear wheel off today. The front brake lever is held on by a bent nail, gotta find the proper bolt for that as well. It was used as a dirt bike.

I know a few things about cars(drive an 82 vette, have a 63 mercury comet project), but very little about motorcycles. All your help will be appreciated, thanks! -Adam

Welcome....good looking bike......really would like to see pics of that Comet..........had one back in the day.

 

[adam704]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Welcome....good looking bike......really would like to see pics of that Comet..........had one back in the day.

Here you go, haven't took pictures of it in a while. Most of it is in primer now. I've got an 81 kz750 project as well, might sell it instead.

 

[whynot]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Cool......thanks man.....that sure is a restore, looks good.

Got a lot of work ahead of yourself.

What part of SC you in?

 

[adam704]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

I'm around the spartanburg area.

Hey guys, quick question here. Need a new rear rim for the cb, so I figured I would go ahead and get the front as well. This seems to be about the best deal: https://www.mikesxs.net/product/34-0009.html $179 for the pair. 1.85x18 36 hole, shouldered polished aluminum. These will work, right? From what I've read it will, just checking. Does anyone know of a better Price? And the best price on spokes? Thanks

 

[imtyson]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

going for the same option for rims, have heard good things about them!

 

[crazypj]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Pretty sure you will not get any better price on DOT stamped rims than MikesXS.
There was someone on DTT who was going to buy 100 rims and offer at better price, can't remember what happened (I think too many people wanted different sizes so order would be several thousand dollars for 100 each size?)

 

[adam704]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Hey guys, got my battery and hooked it up today and to my surprise, the electric starter turns. Bike runs already, but no spark with the electric starter. However, with the kick start I get spark and the motor turns. Any idea why? I'd love to fix it. It makes the first whirring sound as holding it, a high pitched sound when you let go.

Also, took my wheels off and started taking spokes out of one rim today. However, after getting a nipple off I can't seem to pull the spoke out. Any tips? I can cut a spoke and turn it and get it out, but the full length spoke wont come far enough out of the nipple hole to turn down. Thanks.

 

[xb33bsa]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

if you are taking the wheel apart just do it,don't get stuck on trying to remove every spoke as you go,thats not how its done but you did figure that out
,just keep undoing nips and eventually the whole thing will start caving in and give up

 

[adam704]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Anyone know the answer to my previous question? One more as well: do I need a new pivot arm? Not sure if it should be bent like that.

 

[jpmobius]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Brake arm looks pretty toasted - it is supposed to be straight as you suspected. Likely can find a much nicer one on ebay, though you could probably massage that one back to life if you don't care about the appearance. Yours probably got smacked by something while being ridden; That, or the pedal got smacked - in which case better inspect all the parts that connect to it including the frame if the pivot is welded to it. Can't remember exactly how your starter drive works, so someone else will hopefully chime in.

 

[adam704]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Anyone happen to have a spare brake arm?

 

[crazypj]

Re: 1972 CB350 Brat Build

Honda only use 2~3 sizes on the splined shaft depending on the size of bike.
Honda Rebel rear is the same if I remember right and many many more bikes. Suzuki and some Kawasaki's use odd splines or diameters on some early bikes
Finding a new arm will not be a problem.
Looks like someone tried to force it off splined shaft without removing bolt?