cl360 issues...

jackattack

New Member
I swear every time i fix something on this bike its great for a few weeks, then some new problem arises like clockwork. does this happen to anyone else?? I had cleaned the carbs and timed it about a month ago and its been running like a dream since then up until the other day when this started happening...

While accelerating, it will sputter and sound like its missing or not getting enough fuel. ESPECIALLY while going up a hill, i could be at full throttle with no power and an occasional sharp backfire. This only happens while im riding, not while idling. I just find it strange that it happened so suddenly.

ALSO: There is an issue somewhere in the charging system where its not charging itself up. Ive checked and cleaned all the wires and plugs and they seem ok but i still think theres a short somewhere. Could these issues possibly be related?

Thanks for any info!!
 
It's like you came to my house and went for a ride on my bike. Mine (knock on wood) doesn't backfire but I definitely feel it sputtering. I'm also having some problem with my headlight and brake light being very dim. Sorry I couldn't offer an solutions but I wanted you to know you're not the only one.
 
I would check your floats, make sure the bowls have enough fuel. Also check the ac output from your alternator and the dc from your rectifier.
 
Ok so....checked the carbs they seemed a-ok. I was banking on it being a torn diaphragm but they were just fine. I put everything back together, go to fire it up, and now the left cylinder isn't firing......of course! Didn't even touch the dang thing. Now i'm brainstorming over lunch with no ideas....
 
Check the tension on the chain to make sure it isn't slipping. Then check your timing... your points have probably worn enough to retard the timing. Gap 'em and reset 'em.

I'll put money on one of those two things being your problem.
 
I just did all that good stuff a couple weeks ago! new points, new chain, (old sprockets but they're in good shape) and all timed up. I did change the oil to a heavier synthetic but this started happening before that.
 
no....just a homemade lamp. but it was running like a dream right after i timed it. could it really go out by itself so quickly and suddenly like that?
 
Not usually. Nine times out of ten any sudden change in performance is due to a fueling issue. Plugged jets, air leak... something like that.

But a motor that behaves well when idling but then starts stuttering in the upper RPM ranges (especially when under load as opposed to just revving it in the driveway) usually indicates a spark problem. Most common of these on the small Honda twins would be retarded timing or a battery that's on its last legs. You can try a new battery if you think that the timing is good. And by new, I do mean, new. Recharging the current one usually won't tell you much.
 
Wow lots of good info there! i believe the battery is in fact on its last legs due to those charging issues i mentioned earlier. Well thats good to know, but would that explain why only one cylinder is firing all of a sudden?
 
jackattack said:
Wow lots of good info there! i believe the battery is in fact on its last legs due to those charging issues i mentioned earlier. Well thats good to know, but would that explain why only one cylinder is firing all of a sudden?

Because there's not enough juice to power both coils and one of the coils is going to be interrupting the charging of the other because the firing of those coils is not spaced evenly apart. Most small Honda twins have a 180° firing order. This means cylinder one fires and 180° later cylinder two is fired. The crank now rotates another 540° before cylinder one is fired again. Rather than a steady, "pop---pop---pop---pop" you get from a 360° twin, the 180° twin sounds more like "pop-pop-----pop-pop----pop-pop".

Hopefully that made sense...
 
Ahh that does make sense! And thats exactly whats happening! So my next step is a new battery...

Thanks so much Sonreir! i'll let you know how it works!
 
I have One I just finished up ..... about how fast does anyone know should these old 350 bikes get up to.... speedo says a hundred I feel like im lacking as much power as I should..... I know compression can rob me of power.... would the clutch do the same... in 5th gear i can get to abou 65 is this about right
 
Had the same problem with mine. Messed around for weeks doing all the usual stuff without success. Untill the other day when i flooded it with too much choke on a cool morning. I pulled the plugs which where the recommended bosch plugs in the bosch book and replaced them with the original old ngk plugs that came with the bike. Well what a difference no more splutter at full throttle no more dead spots.
Seems like it was too much for the old gearbox :( See my thread i posted today... :(
 
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