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I'm not sure with all the amazing builds going on around here that we really need another CB350 café build thread, particularly by a guy who's never done it before, working in his garage... but here goes anyway... My first bike was a CL350 so when I decided to make a café racer that's what I wanted to use... I ended up getting a 1970 CB350K2, but as I was going to replace the tank, pipes and bars everything that's left is the same... It was complete, but not running... I bought it from this really cool girl named Sylvia who went by the handle 'Sly' so I couldn't think of a better name for the project! Here it is on the day I bought it...
I got it sorta running mostly to prove out the electrics. It ran like crap, but my concern was more that when I put it back together and it doesn't run my troubleshooting will be on the mechanical side... Here she is in her new home
So then I started pulling stuff off... I wanted to go with a disc brake front end so off with the drum front....
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
Oh ya, I'm out of sequence already! D'oh! *facepalm* before I took the front end off I got some stainless mandrel bends off Columbia River (www.mandrel-bends.com) and made a 2:1 exhaust that hooks up to a cheapie emgo muffler. I actually like the look of the muffler in spite of the budget pricing...
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
I think we always need more build threads done by people who have never build a bike before before in their humble garage. Those are the threads I prefer, me being one of the aforementioned people notwithstanding. It's the threads I learn the most in because we all make beginner mistakes and ask a lot of questions.
Looks like it's going to be a fun one. Any tank or seat plans? The new exhaust looks nice, I assume you can weld? If so you've got one up on me!
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
while i was detabbing the frame i ground off the chain guard connection on the swing arm to match it up with the other side, and i got rid of the bit of the passenger peg plate that was part of the shift linkage as i am doing the ubiquitous passenger peg as rearset conversion...
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
pulled the CB360 forks apart that i got so i could swap a front disc onto the bike...
managed to gouge the outer sealing surface when i was taking the old seals out. i got it smoothed out enough that i think it'll still work. i highly recommend anyone who's doing this job to go to the local auto supply place and buy a seal puller... i got one (after it was too late) for $9.99...
and here they are all ready to be rebuilt with new freakin' everythings for inside!
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
wheels! i started out with the rear hub that came with the bike and the front hub from the 360 front end i bought...
got the hubs blasted, bought stainless spokes and nipples and shouldered alloy rims from Buchanan's
and laced them up... oh ya, in spite of how it sounds, 'lubing your nipples' isn't as fun as you might think...
and i threw on some battleaxes... i know many of you will disagree with having a non-traditional tread pattern, but i raced on bridgestones and i've had 'em on a few of my street bikes so i decided to stick with something i knew to be sticky!
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
66replica said:
It's the threads I learn the most in because we all make beginner mistakes and ask a lot of questions.
Looks like it's going to be a fun one. Any tank or seat plans? The new exhaust looks nice, I assume you can weld? If so you've got one up on me!
ya, i've been asking lots and makin' mistakes all along!
i haven't welded for years and i don't have a welder so the exhaust was me telling my buddy 'weld here... now weld here', but it sorta worked!
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
lhpegram said:
Nice job so far! You've made it much further than me much faster...
What did you use to blast your trees? (what media)
**and did you blast your lower fork sliders?
it's time lapse photography! shhh! i'm slower than hell! all the blasting was old glass bead. not my rig unfortunately... the suburban garage builder like me doesn't usually get cool gear like blasters!
yes, fork sliders were blasted and then painted. the hubs were just blasted and i was in love with the look but from what i've read i'm gonna be sorry that i didn't paint them because they're gonna grab dirt like a swiffer...
Re: Project 'Sly'... do we really need another CB350 newbie build thread?
ok, so i looked at the 530 chain these things come with and thought, wow, that's the size i have on my 140hp street bike... i think i can get by with something smaller... so i pissed around on the mighty interweb and discovered that the SL version of this bike came with a 520 chain... so i ordered up new sprockets hoping that they'd have the same spline at the front and cush drive spacing at the back... score!
so now i gotta make up the lost thickness on the rear hub... i got two extra of the big ass washer that goes in there and lovingly thinned one down to match the gap... what a pita!
so that's all good, but have any of you tried to put that crazy big circlip on or off? i ended up having to make a tool to do it... worked great, but i'm sure there's a better way?
so half way there! i have NO idea how i'm going to get the front sprocket attached... stay tuned!
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