Honda 350, found in a storage ulnit.

[rundown]

Just bought a 73 Honda CB 350. It is remarkable shape, 4,500 miles and what appears to be the original front Bridgestone tire. Still has its licence plate, 1975! All the fluids were drained and the inside of the gas tank looks nearly perfect. Tops of carbs are dead clean. However, the clutch may be stuck and there are some blemishes to the paint etc, corrosion on many surfaces, etc.

I'll post pictures when I get them. For now I need to go pick it up, and then start the process of "refurbishing" it. I do not believe I'll keep it, my plan, if so grand a name can be given my idea, is to polish it up get it running well, and sell on to a nostalgic old fart, in the spring. I am a nostalgic old fart myself, but not especially for a Honda 350.

I'll have a million questions, but for now I want to get it started, how do I proceed?

 

[Bozz]

Organization is your friend.
After you wash/clean, be methodical.
I prefer to focus on function first, form second.
So slowly and carefully go through each system while everything is still completely assembled.
Brakes? Suspension? Engine? Trans? Electrical Harness?
Expect to find some surprises, both pleasant and un.
Be aware that no matter how well stored, some things just don't age well.
(rubber is a major offender here) but engine oil, fork oil, bearing grease, etc. should all be replaced even if things look good.
Do a thorough carb cleaning and then see if you can get it to run.
If it is obviously not in running condition, then start the tear down.
From your initial test/check lists you now know where to look and what to expect to have to replace/repair/upgrade and their associated costs.


Now decide if your plans and your budget are in agreement. (this check happens often for most people)


Now you start down the list and purchase or repair each system.


What I would expect it would need after all this time is Brake lines, throttle and clutch cables, Battery, Intake boots, airbox boots, tires, chain, sprockets full fluid change/update and likely fork seals and such.
Depending on the motor and electrics, that list will likely be much longer before things start getting checked off of it...

Enjoy!

 

[rundown]

Bozz;
Thank you for your prompt reply. Got the bike home and it still looks good. Some problems I didn't initially otice are the headlight bucket seems cracked and made of plastic?? There was a white powder in the brake resevoir, it had been drained and I suppose that is the residual brake fluid 40 years later? One of the tires is apparently original and one, the rear, seems relatively recent? sprayed a lilttle bit of gold paint on it, but it seems to come off pretty easiltyPerhpas someone started to put it back on the road some time in the past 438 years and only got as far as replacing one tire? Someone sparayed a little paint on the front of the bike but it seems to come right off, perhpas overspray on anoother project? Thick oil on the fork gaiters, (the rubber seems surprtisingly nice, the owner thought it must be something sprayed on to protect teh rubber. I am affraid it means the seals are bad in the forks? Ran out of energy and light, have to further investigate tommorow.

Specifically what needs to be done before I turn it over? Marvel Mystery oil in spark plug holes? Sacrifice chickens?

 

[Bozz]

With a barn fresh engine, I'd wash it/degrease it first and visually inspect for any cracks in the case.
Next I'd pull both plugs and look into the cylinders. Looking clean, or rusty?
(Most likely at least 1 of the 2 had a valve open, which could let lots of potentially bad stuff into the combustion chamber. Mice, spiders, moisture, etc.)
Then if nothing major has been found, blow out the combustion chambers of any loose crap and add about a half teaspoon of oil into each via the plug hole.
(Marvel Mystery is a decent choice here, or Automatic Transmission fluid, or even WD-40 if you must)
Still with the plugs out and looking down into the chambers, next try the kick start lever. (or if it will shift, put it in gear on the center stand and rock the rear wheel forwards and back)
Hopefully the pistons move at least a little at this point. (If it's seized, look up Texasstar's thread on his CB200 he revived with his son. Awesome read in general, and some great discussion of recovering a seized motor specifically)
If things are moving around, slowly rotate the motor through several cycles while looking down the plug hole. See if you can see any nastiness in the Cylinder walls.
(The walls sometimes rust where a piston has rested for a very long time)
If things still look decent, pull the carbs and do a compression test.
If you have compression, you're halfway home.
While the carbs are off, disassemble and clean them as best you are able and carefully reassemble.
Grab a battery and see if you can detect spark by pulling a plug, insert it into the plug wire and rest the base of the plug on the head while kicking. If you see a spark, you're 2/3rd of the way home.
Reattach your clean carbs, attach a clean temporary fuel source and see if it tries to fire.

In general, try to get it running BEFORE you pull everything apart.


THe goal is to learn as much as possible about the current condition of the bike before you spend a lot of money.
This way your decisions about the future of the bike are a well informed as possible.

 

[rundown]

Thank you for the advice. Sounds good. I am having trouble getting the rt plug off it is now soaking in penetrating oil.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Old tires lose their grip even if the tread is good. Ditch the tires. You don't want to slide, have a blow out or even a flat if you can help it. Get both Tires and tubes.