anybody familiar with cl350's

[JESUS FREEK]

This is my first cl and have some questions. Yes I'm a noob and I have begun the cafe process. I'm not used to these 350's but it seems slow and somewhat challenged. It revs high at 45 mph and is pretty buzzy! Not that I am complaining, I understand its 38 years old. On my way home from work I heard this clanging around my exhaust. I got the bike in the garage and found that in the middle of the bike at the bottom there is a nut that is loose,behind that nut is a metal bar or bracket not sure what it would go to. Also my chain has no play in it what so ever. What the heck? Would that loose nut have anything to do with my chain,its in the same area

 

[Rgrpfdr1]

Pictures always help!

 

[JESUS FREEK]

I have tried and tried with this phone to post pics on here with no avail. I have even tried reducing pics on my cell phone and damnit I can't ever get it. So many pics of what I have accomplished,and I just can't get it

 

[diesel450]

Yeah, they buzz and wheez a bit. I would suggest getting a manual and just go through the whole section on routine and periodic maintenance and do all of it. You should have about 3/4" or so of play in the chain. 9 times out of 10 these things need a new chain and sprockets right off the bat. and don't change one and not the others. do them in unison.

As far as performance goes; get the dead weight off the frame and let that motor breathe and you'll see what they can do!!

 

[JESUS FREEK]

Thanks for the reply diesel. Any idea on that nut? It seems as though it has been greased. Does that have anything to do with the cam chain. I now have a manual on. the way for it Thx to eBay. also when you talk about it breathing do reccomend the pod filters and get ride of the stock airbox and filter?

 

[diesel450]

The cam chain is inside the engine so I doubt that that is the problem. need a pic of the area to see what is going on. If you are "cafeing" the bike and want to get better performance out of it then yes, i am talking about pods and and a free flowing exhaust but this will require you to re-jet and tune the carbs. You need to gauge your skill level and budget with what you want to achieve. everything you do requires you to adjust other things so keep that in mind. If you are just looking for a bike that gives you the cafe cool factor (and there is nothing wrong with that. We all like to get laid) then minimize your mods and do cosmetics. If you are a gear head or wannabe gear head then go for it and plug in here for help!

 

[djelliott]

Are you talking about the rod that has the brass ends that hold the side panels on?

 

[JESUS FREEK]

Ha ha. Nope thats not it. Upon further examination of my bike this morning I believe it to for my swing arm. This potentially could have been disasteress! I also found a chain that somehow got so Damn tight it had no play. I adjusted it to have some slack and the Damn thing started rubbing up against the centre stand on my way to work this morning. No change in the slack,just the centre stand and the position it takes when it is risen.I think I may take diesel450's advise and shed some pounds on my cl350,starting with my centre stand. I have a bike stand to do maintance so I don't really to have a centre stand.

 

[DreadRock]

just wondering if you checked the swingarm bushings ? if there the stock ones might be ready for new ones. might cause swingarm to bind the chain? i know you can pick up brass bushings on ebay or a few other sites. just my two cents !