Honda CB350 Four - Rust Bucket Therapy- First Bike

[Zen1911]

Hi,

I've been lurking for awhile now and I finally have a reason to join. I bought a 73 CB350F for $300 without a title but the engine had good compression and could kick over so I was content. I just want to give a little back story since this is important with how I will work on the bike. I am in the US Army active duty but I have extremely rare bone cancer and I am recovering from the first 7 surgeries (All physical removal of bones and tissue but no Chemo) so I do not work, I am at home recovering and will be for a long time. I do have some physical limitations also, for example I can't lift more than 5 pounds with my left arm so that may get in the way. I have one more surgery to go but my recovery will take much much longer than anything else so I've been bored sitting at home all day not having something to do (Since November 2013). I've wanted to get a bike for over 3 years now but I've never had the chance. I know my family hates the idea, and my doctors tell me I can't but there's no point in living if I can't have fun. I figured with all my free time and a little extra money I might as well try to complete a dream of mine. I think I can get a lot of the actual work done fast since I can work 6 hours a day about 4 days a week, but money will probably be the limiting factor since a lot of components need to be replaced.

I got this bike about a week ago and it hadn't been ridden since 1985. It was stored in a barn and in good condition until a tree fell on the barn and landed on the headlight! Of course the owner never repaired the roof so it got a little wet sometimes. I will stop just talking and add some pictures.

Here's the first picture of the bike, sorry for the darkness I'm just using my phone.

As you can see she has a lot of rust and is in pretty rough condition.

Since the picture I've taken the carbs off and got them function again. They were completely frozen/clogged and full of 29 year old gas. I had to soak them for a long time in heavy de-greaser and they look better and work pretty well. I guess the real test will be when I reassemble.

I've also stripped it down to just the frame, engine, wheels/brakes, forks, and controls. The tank that I have is pretty dented and had a fair amount of rust so I'm working on sanding that a bit. Like I said I can't lift anything so the engine is loose right now but I can't get it out until I get some help. The engine has cleaned up pretty well but not nearly as nice as sandblasting would have done. I think I will try to find someone to do that or a different media blast as well as the whole frame then also. I also bought some electrical components like the points/ignition/plugs and a few other odds and ends. The clutch handle broke off the assembly because I was trying to free it up using PB Blaster . So I've decided I will put all new controls when I get the $. I'm selling some parts on ebay right now to finance buying new replacement parts since my original pot of money is already gone. I originally was trying to get it running before stripping it down but after breaking a few bolts and components I figured I would just break it all the way down. I'll keep posting updates and my plans on what I want to do and probably a lot of questions eventually.

If someone is parting out a 350F please let me know, I will need more parts and if they are nice I'd like to try to get them.

And finally as she sits tonight.

 

[1fasgsxr]

I am building a 350 F as well....I may have a few parts, but not many. Good luck on your build, I will be following. You are off to a good start

 

[whynot]

Good progress so far.........sorry, I don't have any extra parts.

But want to see what you do to her......................

 

[Zen1911]

Thanks guys! I started the application for the Abandoned Vehicle Title today. I also did some
Work on the bike, I'll post and overview and some pics.

 

[spotty]

good luck with it mate, looks like you've got your work cut out but bike building is great therapy (not that i've had anything like you're getting through, just some fairly unpleasant structural injuries)

my advice is to start hitting EVERYTHING thats going to need undoing with whatever your local version of penetrating oil is (RP7, WD40 etc) and keep doing it......theres a lot of very rusty looking fasteners there and the more oil the better. get yourself some sort of heat delivery device (oxy/acetylene torch, propane torch, even a heat gun (usually for paintstripping) will make a difference ), an impact driver (and somebody to swing the big hammer til you arms get back to normal) or an air-driven impact gun. just using normal sockets/spanners without the heat/oil is either going to lead to many headless bolts/screws or stripped threads

good luck and keep us posted

cheers from spotty in australia

 

[Zen1911]

As I promised some pictures of yesterdays progress.

I removed all the wiring harness and some small little parts.

I sold one of my guns to finance some more parts lol, I think I've caught the bug. I ordered some Avalons to replace the wrecked tires. I do have a question about that though, what sizes do I need for stock replacement of the tubes.

Once I can get some help to move the engine out I found who I want to sandblast the frame and misc parts. I'm gonna have the rims powder coated if they aren't damaged by the rust. I'm planning on a black/blue paint scheme with a blue frame and black tank with blue racing strips. I'm debating whether to paint the frame or powder coat it. I'm worried if I do powder coat it I won't be able to get matching paint.

 

[1fasgsxr]

Make sure you inspect your wheels very close...I found a small hole in one of mine from rust..it wasnt through the chrome yet but it was through the steel...you should be able to source tubes pretty easily....go to Dime City Cycles they have tons of stuff www.dimecitycycles.com

 

[whynot]

So, that's what a CB350F looks like stripped down.

Good job on the tear down. Sounds like you have a plan, and a good one at that.

Like 1fasgsrx said, really inspect those rims. Go over them with a fine tooth comb.

BTW, where are you stationed?

 

[wahvtec]

Those look just like the bars that came with my 1969 cb350 out of the barn. Why are these weird jap apes so common? They weren't some kind of strange factory bar were they? Have fun my bike was just as delightfully patina-ed. I still retain some of the "character", but pb blast will be your friend. I had many studs and screws along the way give me headaches. Very fun bike my friends with more modern bikes always try to take it for a spin. Look forward to seeing the progress

 

[Zen1911]

So, that's what a CB350F looks like stripped down.

Good job on the tear down. Sounds like you have a plan, and a good one at that.

Like 1fasgsrx said, really inspect those rims. Go over them with a fine tooth comb.

BTW, where are you stationed?

Thanks, so how perticular should I be with rust. Any worn through just chuck the rim?

I'm at FT Eustis in VA, used to be at Walter Reed and Fort Bliss.

 

[Zen1911]

Those look just like the bars that came with my 1969 cb350 out of the barn. Why are these weird jap apes so common? They weren't some kind of strange factory bar were they? Have fun my bike was just as delightfully patina-ed. I still retain some of the "character", but pb blast will be your friend. I had many studs and screws along the way give me headaches. Very fun bike my friends with more modern bikes always try to take it for a spin. Look forward to seeing the progress

I checked out your bike they do look really similar. Honestly if you happen to want them let me know, I'm gonna get rid of them.

 

[wahvtec]

thanks for the offer. Mine are currently gutted of the terrible wire extensions that hid within them. Im working on wiring some drag bars right now. They were fine, i just want my hands closer to the tree haha. Also people kept asking me down here in south georgia what kind of sportster that was

 

[1fasgsxr]

I took a flathead screwdriver and scraped away the flakey stuff on the inside and the started poking around the inside of the rim with it...you will find any bad or thin spots that way..good luck....I had to buy new rims...but I wanted to anyway just not at that point in the build...

 

[whynot]

Thanks, so how perticular should I be with rust. Any worn through just chuck the rim?

I'm at FT Eustis in VA, used to be at Walter Reed and Fort Bliss.

Good ole Newport News, nice place.

Yep, I chunked mine because of rust through.

 

[Zen1911]

I've got a question guys. What size tubes should I get for stock tire size. I have the chart but it allows multiple sizes to be chosen and I don't want to fuck it up.