suddenly bike won't start??

I

ichitz

New Member
Hi guys,
I'm a little lost. I have recently purchased a very low mile '74 CB350F. Been running for 2 months almost perfectly. Yesterday I rode around 6miles into the city, parked it for 3 hrs, rode it 8 miles to a friend's place. Parked it and it sat for about 5 hrs. When I was about to go home, hopped on the bike. It won't start.


I've always used the electric ignition, but it wasn't responding last night. You can hear the click but it's not firing up. Oil/Neutral light as well as headlight/tail light works. Checked kill switch, oil, etc. Nothing works. Was on the street trying to kick start it for half an hr. Still nothing. It turns over for like half a sec and dies.


I don't know what it is. Gas is full, I just filled her up yesterday morning before the ride. Air filter was clean the last time I checked about 3 weeks ago. Was too dark to check the battery (it was 1am) but the battery was just replaced 2 months prior.


Bummed, I had to leave it in parked in front of my friend's place.


Any ideas? :'(
 
This happened to me on a car once. The solenoid clicked, but the starter would not work, lights worked, ect.... It ended up being the negitave terminal. It just needed to be cleaned. Battery cables also corrode on the inside, too, and you might not be able to see it. I bend my cables on the golf carts I work on, and if I hear and feel it crunch or snap, I replace.
 
checked the battery, all fluid levels are good. Terminals and connections are clean.
Fuse is good.


Finally got a friend to come by with a charger and a multimeter. Readings show 10.2v and drops to 9.5v when firing her up with the charger. Battery can't hold a charge without the charger. Readings also show that the alternator is dead :(


Anybody know of a place where i can get an alternator replacement for a CB350F? Or is my only option to try my luck on ebay?
 
Stop.

Replace the battery first and then check to see if it charges when it's running. If not, test the rectifier and regulator and then test the alternator. Don't just change parts unless/until they have been tested and you are sure which component needs to be replaced.
 
First, you need to load test battery (easiest thing to do is connect voltmeter across batter terminals and hit starter button)
Anything blow 10v is a problem
If battery is good, it's usually the red wire with white tracer on rectifier.
It gets corroded, doesn't make a good connection then eventually breaks off.
If you see any white 'powder' around connector that's probable fault
It looks OK as the 4 wires are pretty tightly bundled, even if you pull on it it may look OK
Plenty of info on aftermarket and DIY rectifiers
 
The problem with the bike is the alternator.if anyone knows where I can get a new one. Not a used one. Please help point me in the right direction .
 
You could try cmsnl.com or davidsilverspares.com

if thats no go, you'll have to search the bay. good luck!
 
Unless you have a faulty rectifier or bike has been dropped hard, the alternator on 350/400/500/550/750's is real reliable.
The electrical side has NO MOVING PARTS
It's what Honda calls an 'excited field' commonly known as EMS.
You have to have 12v to field coils for it to work.
Quick test, (if you have a good battery)
0.003" feeler gauge.
Ignition OFF bring feeler near left engine cover (1/2" or closer)
Ignition ON, same test, feeler should be attracted o cover (you put power into field coil and made a magnet)
If your buddy has only worked on modern bikes, he may not be familiar with this type of alternator, very few manufacturers use it anymore (Honda on Goldwing, Suzuki until 2007on Katana/Bandit)
 
this is a little late.. but turns out it's a slow drain in a mysterious unknown place somewhere. Battery needs to be charged weekly. Now I just leave it on a tender.
 
The only drain would be 'leaky' rectifier diodes and/or faulty ignition switch.
Most probably cause is rectifier
 
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