CB360 project Daily Commuter!!!

[ShortyLaVen]

Just picked this lil ditty up last weekend. 1976 CB360. The PO couldn't get it to start (which is why it was cheap)... turns out it was just a dead battery! A few hours on the charger, and it started with 2 or 3 kicks. So for I've just set the points/timing, checked valve lash, oil change, etc... still needs a new batt tho, as it wont hold a charge and the gen can barely keep up. Other than that, I've ditched the lame LED turn signals, and stripped the flat black spray paint off the tank (the original finish underneath looks pretty kool to me). Next up is a new petcock. The setup it has now is janky as heck. Its off a single carb bike, with a T (like a plastic one for vacuum lines) going to each carb, with no hose clamps, of course. Also have some nice clubmans from DCC I'm going to throw on. Ill post updates as I make more progress.

 

[ShortyLaVen]

I also found out that the speedo doesn't work at all. Im tied between fixing it, and ditching it (and the N/turn/highbeam indicators) in favor of having only a tach mounted in the middle... I'll have to mull it over a bit.

 

[Steaksauce]

Looks like a nice start, its always nice when a big problem ends up turning into something minor haha

 

[damiansd]

That's a perfect pickup! I like the idea of a minimal cluster, so looking forward to seeing where you go.

D>

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Thanks for the replies!! I just picked up a battery for it tonight, so we'll see how it does tomorrow after it's all charged and ready to go. Bars and other parts should be in tomorrow or Saturday. Stay tuned!

 

[Big R]

Just my opinion, but if this is going to be your daily commuter, you may want to change your plans a little. Clubmans are really low when you don't have rearsets, and having a functional speedometer (w/ all the dummy lights) is pretty useful too. And depending where you're located, it is probably illegal to not have a speedo / odometer.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Also, see Sparckmoto and replace the regulator and rectifier with his combo unit. Best $ you can spend on it. The R/R has lower internal resistance and charges and regulates more consistently.

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Much appreciated! Im looking into that r/r now.

As for legal stuff, I live in a pretty rural part of the world where as long as you aren't being a moron you wont get hassled for technical stuff.

Rearsets are also high on the list. I'm planning on utilizing the passenger foot pegs and making my own brake linkage.

 

[Sonreir]

I'm 5'9". While rearsets are definitely better on a 360 with clubmans, they're not a 100% necessity for someone of my height unless long distances are covered.

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Oh kool! Im 5'9" as well, thats good to know. Maybe save myself a little work now, and work on rear sets later on down the road. Thanks!

Worked a little bit on cleaning up the wiring. Removing unneeded wires, cleaning connections, etc. Also got a new battery!

 

[pukhkan]

5'8" clip ons and no rear sets vs with rear sets

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Pukhkan, thanks for those pics!! I can see what you mean now, doesn't look super uncomfortable without em, but definitely more comfy with em.

Took my guages off, and making a nice mount for the tach to sit center and a little lower than stock. I found a little light in my stash that I might use for a neutral light or somethin too..

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Put the new battery in last night! And guess what.. That starter that the PO said was dead? Yeah, just another battery issue! I've never been one for electric start, but boy will that make compression tests easier haha

In other news, I took it for a spin around the neighborhood, and discovered some other problems. I'm thinking its carb related, but not sure yet. Right off the line, she hauls butt, and then hits a wall arounf 3,500 and I have to feather it up to around 5,000 or so, and then it smooths out again. Tonight I took the carbs off to clen em, and they were already spotless inside. one of the floats was off by about 1/8". I corrected that and put em back together. The one major thing that stood out was a missing intake bolt! I removed the intakes to check for cracks, and they are almost brand new! very soft, pliable, and not a single flaw. Everything is back together now, except after replacing the petcock with my shiny new one I realized I forgot to pick up some fuel hose and clamps... Soooooo we'll see how everything goes tomorrow.

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Here's some better pics of the bike in the daylight. The longer it takes for my clubmans to get here, the more these drag bars grow on me haha

Also took a pic of the slip on the PO installed. They leak really bad around the xlamp, makes it impossible to feel exhaust pressure.

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Here she is with the new clubmans. Its actual pretty comfy! I guess I could see my back gettin sore on a long ride, say over 299 to Redding... but hey, thats the price we pay to have a sick lookin bike, right??

I also got the carbs pretty well dialed in. She's super smooth now all through the revs. Im very pleased with this thing so far. Now it's just reg and insurance and shes set!!! Im going to start on my new seat pan this week at work too. I get bored on my lunch, and we have an endless supply of fiberglass...

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Took her on the freeway for the first time tonight!!Since my speedo is broken I don't know how fast I was going, but I got up to around 4,000rpm in 6th. Theres virtually nobody around on the freeways at this time of night where I live so I have no cars to judge my speed off of. Boy what a blast tho! You really need to hang on to this thing with the wind pushing you back.

I also decided to get a new speedometer after riding around a bit. It really is practical to know how fast you're going, who would've guessed?? I found a nice working one on ebay for 20 bucks. The housing is damaged but I van jisybput the guts in my housing.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Stock gearing is about 10 mph per 1000 RPM.

Sent from planet Earth using mysterious electronic devices.

 

[ShortyLaVen]

mydlyfkryzis-- Is that in 6th gear? I rode to work today and was around 5,000 when I was keeping up with traffic... the sprockets I have are 16 and 34 teeth. I was passing log trucks at that speed, so I figured I was doing 60 at least. She still cuts out right around 5k there in 5th and 6th. I had never checked the air filters, since the guy said they were new (I know, big mistake).... so I yanked em off on my coffee break... DIIIIRRTAYYYY! Like dirtier than a lot of stuff on the internet. I am going to stop by the fabric store Friday after work and pic up some urethane foam to make new filters (they sell off-brand Uni foam there that I have used in the past).

I am wondering, when I ride the bike back from work would it be best to leave the clogged filters in place or ditch em for the short ride home?

 

[Big R]

Shorty, have a look at this site:

http://www.gearingcommander.com/

Assuming you have absolutely zero clutch slip (you will have a little bit), but you can plug in your sprocket and tire size to get your speed for any given rpm.

 

[ShortyLaVen]

Thats the neatest thing!!!!! Thanks for that!! So I was doing probably 55mph or so... today I'll try to get up to 6000 or 6500. Any input on the clogged filter vs no filter?