1973 CB350F - "Shakespeare"

Pull the number 1 plug and ground the threads to the head then crank it over to see if you're even getting spark, then work backwards from that. With that low mileage I doubt anything in the motor is shagged. If you are getting spark check the timing and make sure it's happening when it's supposed to, and if that's good, do the compression and leakdown.

Told you those carbs would be spot on ;)
 
SquadraCorse said:
Pull the number 1 plug and ground the threads to the head then crank it over to see if you're even getting spark, then work backwards from that. With that low mileage I doubt anything in the motor is shagged. If you are getting spark check the timing and make sure it's happening when it's supposed to, and if that's good, do the compression and leakdown.

Told you those carbs would be spot on ;)
Click to expand...

Was going to do this all today, but having on a covered porch to work on.... Damn I need a garage.
 
Got spark, header is no longer cold, but takes a bit longer to warm up to match the others, idle is still crap. Going to take a crack at timing tomorrow, not looking forward to it.
 
For the life of me and all the PB oil in the world, cannot get these damn tappet covers off, why the hell did Honda build them out of cheese, and then make them a 16.8mm socket instead of a 17mm (yes, they are undersized by exactly that on mine, enough to shred the corners of the bolt with a 17mm box wrench). Tried everything, brass hammer, hex socket, athletic tape, more PB oil.

About the only thing I haven't tried yet is a torch, because I don't have one.

Freaking old ass pieces of freaking crap ah god why did I inflict this on myself RAGE, ALL MY RAGE.

Well, back to the porch. lol
 
After a bit of a hiatus, the bike is now running like a clock, took it out for a bit today around Pawtucket to enjoy the sun, and damn if she isn't the finest machine.

Now that she is running to form, it's time to get down to the tear-down, looking for a place to wrench as it gets colder, numb hands and working on an exposed (albeit covered) porch all winter is simply not going to do.

I have something VERY special in mind for the tank, I think you will all be quite jealous when that little project is finished.

Oh, and for future users, the running issues were the timing being several degrees off, and the air-screws on the carbs being set horridly, after timing, valve adjustment, and taking it down to the local old jap bike guy for synch, all was made clear. Learned my lesson, check the freaking air-screws and never trust a Previous Owner!

Stay tuned, more to come!
 
Looking to tag along on this one too.. I have a 350F that I just got running like the sewing machine it should be. And I'm in the same position as you now, winter teardown and modifications. I don't ahve a build thread yet. I haven't gotten my pictures uploaded on photobucket yet haha.. Good luck bud!
 
Keep up the good work Swiss. Ill monitor this thread, and have my own thread up in a few days. Need to go pick up an air compressor for the cleaning.
 
Oy, talk about resurrecting the dead.

I still have the bike, and have done some cleaning and mods to it, but nothing spectacular. The kicker is I just got hit by a drunk driver last week, so might miss part of riding season.

Anyway, I'll grab some new pics once I get the bike dropped off and try to restart this damn build!
 
§neakyGit said:
That sucks man, I hope you arent hurt to bad.

Also yeah, I apologize for the thread necromancy.
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No apologies needed here on DTT, Sneaky. Unlike our other mutual website, threads here last for years!

Anyway, not hurt in the least, got whacked while parked by a drunk driver, fucked my car all to hell, but beyond that and a stiff back, I'm right as rain... It's more the fiscal expense of the whole thing that hurts.

That being said, I finally got around to getting some work done on the ol' girl. Got the new bars all rigged up, ordered header wrap, and started shopping for a shot seat to tear apart and build off of. I definitely need a bump-stop seat for style, but I want to build it off of stock pan so I can still have access to the tool-box and whatnot. The seat that came with the bike is pristine, not a scuff, tear, scratch, or stain on her, and with a nearly 40yo bike, that's saying something. Plus, having a 2up seat on hand for rides with the lady-friend is always a good decision. Decided, after running her around with the clubmans, that I don't need rearsets. I'm 6'2", so even the farther reach of the clubmans isn't uncomfortable, and I'm still plenty tight against the tank for the fun stuff. I'm not in-love with my current 4-2 exhaust, mainly because I hate the style of the pipes, but damn I've fallen in love with the sound they make, so there is another hard decision.

My GF is a professional Illustrator, does all kinds of nifty art stuff (and makes a killing doing it)... She's drawn up a really nice Cafe Pin-Up girl to adorn the tank once I get it repainted. I also picked up a new helmet, one of the Bell 500 customs, specifically the RSD Grand-National model. Got an amber shield for it, she's a beaut and extremely comfortable. Basically, a lot of decisions made, not much work accomplished. Considering when I bought it it ran like a total and utter dog, the fact that it purrs away now is enough to make me happy. I thank the good lord that I got this instead of the 360T I almost bought.

Pictures will be coming as soon as I can find my freaking camera.
 
And pics, as she stands now... With the new helmet, because props are awesome.

bike2001.jpg



bike2004.jpg
 
Okay, took her out for a decent little run, high RPM, etc. etc. Noted a few things:

She doesn't want to come down off of high revs to idle when warm. Drops to 4k and then slowly drops to 1.2k (where it should be). I'm thinking this may be a throttle linkage problem moreso than anything else, the cables are original. Also, holy balls this thing is revvy.

I also noted quite a lot of water coming out of the pipes. This is the first time she's been ran in a while, so a little white smoke (more like vapor), and a ton of liquid water (doesn't smell like gas, or feel like oil) dripping out of the pipe, especially when i gun it. Not overly concerned about this one, oil needs changed anyway, smells like pure gasoline, albeit that's more than likely my fault for forgetting to close the petcock before I stored her for the winter. Gotta run her hard to burn off all that moisture, changing the oil will help quite a lot I am sure.

Due to the meddling of the PO, when I got her, she was running super-crazy rich, and thus waiting for my seafoam to work its way through all that gunk over the next couple tanks and oil-changes. Had her gone over by the local jap-bike mechanic, he loves it, and set all the timing and tappet clearances and whatnot for me.

Oh, and the rear wheel needs trued, figured this out by having it up on the center-stand and putting it in gear to check all the gears... They all work, thankfully, and quite briskly too. But that rear wheel definitely needs TLC. New rubber and a new chain is getting put on soon, so might just knock it all out then, which will give me a chance to polish up the hubs and spokes.

This bike has 8025mi, original everything down to the rubber, and looks like it might have been a damn good buy at 800usd.

One last thing: Starter button doesn't work, most likely because my dumbass fried it with soapy water while cleaning it. Fired it up just to hear it run, turned it off, cleaned it, tried to push-button start it, and nada. She kicks real easy though, my bet is loose wire I knocked around, or moisture fried the switch, either way, not a huge deal.
 
I'd change that oil ASAP.
Being gasoline thinned is the death sentance to the bearings / moving parts. Especially at those high revs you commented on.
White condensation from the exhaust, even liquid water is common until they get warmed up to operating temp. I wouldn't sweat that one right away.
 
Hoosier Daddy said:
I'd change that oil ASAP.
Being gasoline thinned is the death sentance to the bearings / moving parts. Especially at those high revs you commented on.
White condensation from the exhaust, even liquid water is common until they get warmed up to operating temp. I wouldn't sweat that one right away.
Click to expand...

Already done, my stupid ass should've sniff-tested it before I went riding, but instead I just checked the level. Lesson duly learned, hopefully the easy way.
 
Took her out for her first long run of the springtime, 75mi on RI back-country roads. She purrs like a kitten, only issue I found is that my indicators stay solid at idle for a few seconds before blinking, at revs they work as advertised. Rode by some guys on choppers, stopped and had a good chat with them, for a bunch of burly Harley enthusiasts, they were awfully excited about my little CeeBee, even though they made fun of my helmet.

Man, around 7k RPM this thing kicks you right in the guts, I'm pretty damn happy with how much get-up-and-go this little 350cc has. I was keeping it very conservative on the ride with speed and gearing, but there was one really nice flat straight with no-one on it, figured what the hell, and gunned it. Got her up to 80mph right quick... I wonder if she'll do the Ton... Gonna wait on trying that out until I have more rider confidence, doing the Ton would be nice, but cracking myself/my bike up at 100mph because of a rookie mistake would not be. So, gonna be a few weeks of nice conservative riding until I've got the handle on this whole "two wheels" thing.

Oh, for your enjoyment: I stalled it in my neighborhood at a stop sign in front of a few people, they of course had amused grins... The grins turned into laughter as I began frantically trying to kickstart to no avail. I said to myself "damnit, did I break this bike already?"

I was kicking with the clutch pulled in. ;D
 
Allrighty, bike has been fully serviced, new tires, new drive-chain, Balance and truing. Some issues:

Rear Wheel has a small "hop" to it, even though it is balanced and true, noted this with the old set of tires also. Any thoughts?

And compression reads as follows.

1: 110
2: 140
3: 110
4: 150

Anything I should be worried about? She seems to run like a champ.
 
i say ride the hell out of it!
looks like a great little machine....

hop in rear tyre could be from where it has sat for years.....
can you feel it whilst riding??
if not i wouldnt really worry
 
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