Howdy from the Midwest

[Wangofree]

Hello fellow gearheads,
I'm 60 years old, name is Mike, and I've owned a good number of bikes. Original 69 Honda Mini 50, 76 Honda CB500A, 78 CB750A, 82 Yamaha Maxim XJ 750 J, 05 Yamaha Vino 125, 05 V Star 1100, 05 Stella with sidecar, and the list goes on. I've decided I need a new project, and I've settled on a 74 CB360.

My wife asked what I'm going to do with it, and I told her that this will be a "design as I go" project. Definitely a CR, but we'll see how it evolves.

This is the project, seized engine, 20 years of just sitting out in a shed, but most of the parts are there:



I was feeling good about this $400 Craigslist purchase until I saw this piston:



That baby on the left was rusted shut. It took 2 days of penetrating oil, a torch, light tapping, more oil. . .

She finally broke free, but the valves didn't look any better:



But a little work and things cleaned up nice:



The next step was pulling the valves. My homemade valve spring clamp blew up on the first one:



But that didn't discourage me. A little ugly reinforcment welding and all the valves are pulled:



I discovered this great site a few weeks ago. I'm sure I'll be searching for information as the build goes on.

Mike

 

[Big R]

Welcome to the site Mike!

Sounds like a great list of past scoots, and quite a project you have currently.

 

[Wangofree]

Thanks Rich. This project will test both my wife's patience and my wallet. I was bummed to find that my top triple tree bridge was cracked on both sides. But, that's just part of the "fun", finding parts and like the fabled Phoenix, bringing something back to life.

Mike

 

[trek97]

Bookmarked!

I for one am excited to see where the "Phoenix" is headed. So, from one 360 owner to another, Welcome to DTT. If you need any advise on where to find/buy parts and any other 360 info I may be able to help...or steer you towards someone w even more "solid and reliable" 360 knowledge.

 

[barnfinder]

Tear down is always fun. Usually a laundy list of "I need to fix this and..." But stick with it. Looking forward to seeing your build as you go 360.

 

[trek97]

Looks like you may have things under control...but here are the free Official Honda workshop manual for the 360 and the tensioner update.
http://www.carlsalter.com/download.asp?p=840
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/106752/Manuals/Honda/360_Tensioner_Update.pdf

 

[Wangofree]

Thanks for the encouragement guys...I guess I'll start a "real" thread on the big arse project board and we'll see where it goes. . . ;D

Mike

 

[MatthiasSalzburg]

wow that's quite the basket case of a motor ;D

 

[Wangofree]

wow that's quite the basket case of a motor ;D

Believe it or not, she's coming back to her glory days.

 

[yorkie350]

Hi glad ime not the only newby to this site any way but am also new to projects as big as these i am seing .You have some great previous as we say over here in UK i would have lost the will to live if i found my pistons like that ime on with 350f at the moment sure it wont be the last good luck with ya project i aint no mechanic but if theres an easy way to do something i always find it so i mite have some words of wisdom at least cheers fella

 

[blazemaro]

Hey mike, I am new to the board as well... and I am working on the same bike in the midwest lol. I have a thing for the small bikes... glad to see your post. Maybe we can borrow some ideas from one another! Cant wait to see your progress.

 

[Wangofree]

Hey mike, I am new to the board as well... and I am working on the same bike in the midwest lol. I have a thing for the small bikes... glad to see your post. Maybe we can borrow some ideas from one another! Cant wait to see your progress.

Sounds good Blaze and welcome to the forum. I'm waiting on crazypj to diagnose and bring my carbs up to speed. Got my new jugs in and they are in much better shape than the ones that came with the bike. I should have progress on my build thread soon:

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=43522.0

Mike