SL350 Rebuild (Also For Sale)!!!!!
- Thread starter honda53rider
- Start date
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
That must be the part that I thought was slipping. Well I might mess with it some more but I didnt think it will work.
Been looking around and cant find anything about the SL350 spedo raito, but he CB350 has a 2240-60 the same as the XS400. So im going to have to go through my parts been back home and find that other spedo and get it on the SL, but the YAMAHA will look out of place on the honda! oh well if it works it works!
Photo of the broken spedo from my xs400
I also tried putting some gas in the tank to see if the petcock was going to work, and it lets gas out but from everywhere haha. So looks like I get to rebuild it. But i found a replacement from ebay that only $24 so I might give it a try. Going to look through some CB350 forums and see if anyone has used the replacement one with any luck. So one more thing added to the list!
But im really looking forward to getting the bike on the road and doing some over night trips with it. I could do them with my XS400 but the SL350 would be much more comfortable and could get me to the camp site on the dirt roads! Might even remove the "for sale" bit on the tittle!
Been looking around and cant find anything about the SL350 spedo raito, but he CB350 has a 2240-60 the same as the XS400. So im going to have to go through my parts been back home and find that other spedo and get it on the SL, but the YAMAHA will look out of place on the honda! oh well if it works it works!
Photo of the broken spedo from my xs400
I also tried putting some gas in the tank to see if the petcock was going to work, and it lets gas out but from everywhere haha. So looks like I get to rebuild it. But i found a replacement from ebay that only $24 so I might give it a try. Going to look through some CB350 forums and see if anyone has used the replacement one with any luck. So one more thing added to the list!
But im really looking forward to getting the bike on the road and doing some over night trips with it. I could do them with my XS400 but the SL350 would be much more comfortable and could get me to the camp site on the dirt roads! Might even remove the "for sale" bit on the tittle!
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Ya it should work. After some looking around I think that all jap bikes should use the same speedo gearing.
Well Iv ordered new brakes for the front and rear! so the bike will be safe and stop when I want it to. After spending some time online I found what model # the brakes were with a company and found that pads on ebay for pretty cheap. While I was there I ordered a new petcock witch was about the same cost as a rebuild kit. Im hopping that it works well but I wouldn't see why not.
My xs400 broke down on a ride the other day something with the shiftier is wrong so im going to have to split the case to fix it. So im hoping that I can get this bike going so ill have something to ride!
Also got some stuff to soda blast the carbs on both of my bikes. Here is a link to the "kit" im using. Iv used it before and it worked well! Not as good as a pro kit but for less than $20 its amazing.
http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/
So im hoping to have big news by the end of the week!
Thanks again for all the help guys!
Well Iv ordered new brakes for the front and rear! so the bike will be safe and stop when I want it to. After spending some time online I found what model # the brakes were with a company and found that pads on ebay for pretty cheap. While I was there I ordered a new petcock witch was about the same cost as a rebuild kit. Im hopping that it works well but I wouldn't see why not.
My xs400 broke down on a ride the other day something with the shiftier is wrong so im going to have to split the case to fix it. So im hoping that I can get this bike going so ill have something to ride!
Also got some stuff to soda blast the carbs on both of my bikes. Here is a link to the "kit" im using. Iv used it before and it worked well! Not as good as a pro kit but for less than $20 its amazing.
http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/
So im hoping to have big news by the end of the week!
Thanks again for all the help guys!
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Ya I got both shoes from EBC and the part numbers for the Sl is #308 & #309 easy enough to remember!
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
So iv found some time to do a lot of looking into on the gearing of the SL, I know that the little motor will be really revving at highway speeds (45-60) so im wanted to drop the revs by swapping the sprockets. The 16/42T sprockets on the bike are grate for off road and some on road but I think ill mainly be on the road. I know these bikes love to rev but a drop in RPM will make me more comfortable at speed and keep me from going to numb from vibrations! So here we go
Stock gear raitos
CB350 SL350K1 SL350K2
1st 2.353 2.353 2.866
2nd 1.636 1.636 1.800
3rd 1.269 1.280 1.333
4th 1.036 1.036 1.035
5th 0.900 0.900 0.870
Final 2.250 2.500 2.625
So I looked at all of the bikes for caparison and to see what I should be looking for. Since iv ridden a stock CB350 I used that as a base line. I looked at all the changes and how they effected the RPM at 55mph since this will be the speed I stay at the most. The CB350 with 16/36T sprockets runs at 3,458 RPM at 55 MPH. The stock SL350K2 with 16/42T sprockets runs at 3,895 RPM at 55 MPH.
3,895 RPM is not as bad as I though it was going to be but it is still a little to high for my liken. My stack XS400 spins at 3,127 RPM at 55 MPH witch is much better and still seems a little high but its not to bad. So after looking at this I have a base line for what RPM I want the SL to run at at 55 MPH so it was simply looking to see what size sprocket gives me the RPM range that im looking for.
So after looking at everything Iv found two that ill have to decide on
16/30T witch has an RPM of 2,785 at 55 MPH
or
16/34T witch has an RPM or 3,155 at 55 MPH
Im going to ride the bike first and see what I think of the power and go from there.
All of this info can be found at http://www.gearingcommander.com/ and with the SL K1&K2 gear ratio you and figure it all out!
And for refrince
79-81 XS650 55 MPH at 2,322 RPM
2005 bonneville t100 55 MPH at 2,029 RPM
75-76 CB360 55 MPH at 3,142 RPM
80-82 KZ440 55 MPH at 2,911 RPM
81-82 GS450 55 MPH at 3,400 RPM
Just for kicks 2006 Sporster 55 MPH at 1,811 RPM
Stock gear raitos
CB350 SL350K1 SL350K2
1st 2.353 2.353 2.866
2nd 1.636 1.636 1.800
3rd 1.269 1.280 1.333
4th 1.036 1.036 1.035
5th 0.900 0.900 0.870
Final 2.250 2.500 2.625
So I looked at all of the bikes for caparison and to see what I should be looking for. Since iv ridden a stock CB350 I used that as a base line. I looked at all the changes and how they effected the RPM at 55mph since this will be the speed I stay at the most. The CB350 with 16/36T sprockets runs at 3,458 RPM at 55 MPH. The stock SL350K2 with 16/42T sprockets runs at 3,895 RPM at 55 MPH.
3,895 RPM is not as bad as I though it was going to be but it is still a little to high for my liken. My stack XS400 spins at 3,127 RPM at 55 MPH witch is much better and still seems a little high but its not to bad. So after looking at this I have a base line for what RPM I want the SL to run at at 55 MPH so it was simply looking to see what size sprocket gives me the RPM range that im looking for.
So after looking at everything Iv found two that ill have to decide on
16/30T witch has an RPM of 2,785 at 55 MPH
or
16/34T witch has an RPM or 3,155 at 55 MPH
Im going to ride the bike first and see what I think of the power and go from there.
All of this info can be found at http://www.gearingcommander.com/ and with the SL K1&K2 gear ratio you and figure it all out!
And for refrince
79-81 XS650 55 MPH at 2,322 RPM
2005 bonneville t100 55 MPH at 2,029 RPM
75-76 CB360 55 MPH at 3,142 RPM
80-82 KZ440 55 MPH at 2,911 RPM
81-82 GS450 55 MPH at 3,400 RPM
Just for kicks 2006 Sporster 55 MPH at 1,811 RPM
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Well USPS makes no since to me... Iv ordered 3 parts one from Canada one from California one from South Carolina. I live in North Carolina and the one from Canada will get here first followed by the one from California and then next week the one from South Carolina will get here... Oh well just a part of it.
So iv spent the time looking up lots about the CB350 motors and what to check on them. I know that the cam chain tensioner runs off a little rubber wheel that can fall apart at high RPM and if it gets dry rotted. So I pulled it off to check it and found that it was in grate shape, but I will keep my eye on it.
Also pulled the carbs back off to get to everything a little easier, and when I did I decided to go head and clean them! After pulling them apart I had a look at the idle jet and found both to be open after a few sprays of cleaner! So that means that I should have a bike that can idle when I get the petcock on there. I also set the float bowl height after I finely found it online.
The last thing I did was pull of the valve cover to check and see the cam and make shore that everything was in order. Don,t have any pic but it was all very clean and the only thing I saw was one spot on one of the cam lobs that had 2 tiny pits from rust. But they were out of the way of the lifters so I think that ill be fine. And one day I hope to swap in a head from a CB350 so ill have the larger cam and larger ports.
So iv spent the time looking up lots about the CB350 motors and what to check on them. I know that the cam chain tensioner runs off a little rubber wheel that can fall apart at high RPM and if it gets dry rotted. So I pulled it off to check it and found that it was in grate shape, but I will keep my eye on it.
Also pulled the carbs back off to get to everything a little easier, and when I did I decided to go head and clean them! After pulling them apart I had a look at the idle jet and found both to be open after a few sprays of cleaner! So that means that I should have a bike that can idle when I get the petcock on there. I also set the float bowl height after I finely found it online.
The last thing I did was pull of the valve cover to check and see the cam and make shore that everything was in order. Don,t have any pic but it was all very clean and the only thing I saw was one spot on one of the cam lobs that had 2 tiny pits from rust. But they were out of the way of the lifters so I think that ill be fine. And one day I hope to swap in a head from a CB350 so ill have the larger cam and larger ports.
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Parts are here! Well I got the petcock last night and fitted it it looks like a perfect match and im very happy with it.
And today both brake shoes came in so I tore into the bike and after a hour or so I found that the front shoes were just a hair to big... so I don't know how im going to get them to work. And the rear ones are the wrong ones all togeather so I talked to the seller and he said that he sent me the wrong ones and is going to send the right ones as soon as he can so im hoping that means ill get them quickly. But they looked grate! haha
So looks im two weeks behind again... Well im headed home this weekend and iv got a bag full of parts that im going to powder coat black so ill do a wright up on that early next week!
And today both brake shoes came in so I tore into the bike and after a hour or so I found that the front shoes were just a hair to big... so I don't know how im going to get them to work. And the rear ones are the wrong ones all togeather so I talked to the seller and he said that he sent me the wrong ones and is going to send the right ones as soon as he can so im hoping that means ill get them quickly. But they looked grate! haha
So looks im two weeks behind again... Well im headed home this weekend and iv got a bag full of parts that im going to powder coat black so ill do a wright up on that early next week!
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Well im doing what it feels like im always doing just waiting on parts. So Im getting a new rear brake shoe and I don't know what is going on with the front one yet. But anyway as promised Iv got some powder coated parts that are nice and shinny! So here we go
Got the parts home and fist step was to strip them them to bear metal. I did this with a wire wheel and a bench grinder and it made quick work of the old paint.
Once I got them clean im not going to lie it was hard to put black over all that amazing aluminum. But the tipple tree on the Yamaha is bare aluminum so I had to go black with this bike.
and got them wired up on the rack
Then it was a simple following instructions on the hot coat system, here is the part with the powder before it went into the oven.
Then they went into a oven set at 450 till they got shinny then I droped it down to 400 for 20 min. and here is what we got!
They look grate! I didn't have enough powder on some spots so its not perfect but it was the first time iv ever done this so now ill know for next time. Don't have the parts back on the bike yet but when I get them on yall will see them!
In other news I got to get on my dads new old bike. He got a 1973 BMW R75-5 since me and my brother have gotten into motorcycles. It was a fun ride and a whole different word then my little bikes .
Got the parts home and fist step was to strip them them to bear metal. I did this with a wire wheel and a bench grinder and it made quick work of the old paint.
Once I got them clean im not going to lie it was hard to put black over all that amazing aluminum. But the tipple tree on the Yamaha is bare aluminum so I had to go black with this bike.
and got them wired up on the rack
Then it was a simple following instructions on the hot coat system, here is the part with the powder before it went into the oven.
Then they went into a oven set at 450 till they got shinny then I droped it down to 400 for 20 min. and here is what we got!
They look grate! I didn't have enough powder on some spots so its not perfect but it was the first time iv ever done this so now ill know for next time. Don't have the parts back on the bike yet but when I get them on yall will see them!
In other news I got to get on my dads new old bike. He got a 1973 BMW R75-5 since me and my brother have gotten into motorcycles. It was a fun ride and a whole different word then my little bikes .
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Well guys iv jumped in deep but hopefully not over my head!
Got the bike home over thanks giving brake so I can work on it at my dads shop over Christmas. Had to ride the bike home on a trailer in the rain for about 6 hours... But the next day I striped down the bike to bear bone and dried everything. Iv pulled everything off the frame so I can paint and clean everything! Then simply put it all back together. No mods or anything, so it should be easy and make a huge difference!
Don't have any pic but the motor is out of the frame and the forks and swing arm are off to! Waiting for exams to get done then headed home to work on it!
Got the bike home over thanks giving brake so I can work on it at my dads shop over Christmas. Had to ride the bike home on a trailer in the rain for about 6 hours... But the next day I striped down the bike to bear bone and dried everything. Iv pulled everything off the frame so I can paint and clean everything! Then simply put it all back together. No mods or anything, so it should be easy and make a huge difference!
Don't have any pic but the motor is out of the frame and the forks and swing arm are off to! Waiting for exams to get done then headed home to work on it!
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Well been buisy with chriatmas as im shore we all have been. But also on my car (2001 mustang that decided to blow a spark plug out of the head thanks ford!) But iv been cleaning the motor on the SL. Nothing crazy just getting off the old dirt mud and grease to show the metal that lives under it all.
Started at the top as in the pic above and slowly worked my way down.
Almost done but I don't have a most up to date pic. There is still dirt in the cracks and hard to get places but it might have to stay and it will be harder to see in the end. Im just trying to get the bike ready to sell. I don't know if it came from the factory with painted side covers or if some one did it after the fact but they have paint on them now. One side cover the paint came right off the other is taking a lot more time. SO I should have the shinny aluminum showing soon.
Also have the swing arm ready for paint hope to be getting paint from work tomorrow and doing some painting!
Started at the top as in the pic above and slowly worked my way down.
Almost done but I don't have a most up to date pic. There is still dirt in the cracks and hard to get places but it might have to stay and it will be harder to see in the end. Im just trying to get the bike ready to sell. I don't know if it came from the factory with painted side covers or if some one did it after the fact but they have paint on them now. One side cover the paint came right off the other is taking a lot more time. SO I should have the shinny aluminum showing soon.
Also have the swing arm ready for paint hope to be getting paint from work tomorrow and doing some painting!
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Well iv had some more time over the holidays! this is kinda going to be out of order but here we go!
Here is the motor when I got it out of the frame all dirty.
The motor took a lot of work to get out of the frame! So im hopping its easier to get back in. Any tips would be grate! Im hopping to wrap the frame in rags to keep it from being scratched.
And talking about the frame here is what I did to it.
I was just going to clean the frame and ruff up the original paint and then respray it. But after seeing all of the little spots that I could never get clean I decided to hit the small spots with a sand blaster and finish up with a sander. But after sand blasting a little I found that the sand blaster worked better than expected at removing the paint. So I fully blasted the frame and swing arm.
The keen eye would see some dirt still on the frame. I didn't notice it till I took the pic. As it turns out sandblasting works grate on paint but wont pull off grease and mud that has stuck to the frame. So I had to scratch it off with a screw driver then re blast it.
Also had time and the sand to blast one of my dads wheels for his 77 capri race car!
From there I went to painting since the frame will never be as clean as it is right after sandblasting. I went with the original paint with primer. I would have loved to powder coat it but I couldn't fit the frame in my oven.
Then after 2 coats of primer I laid on the top coat. But I didn't like the color. So I jumped online and back through all my old pic to check the frame color. So after seeing that I had the wrong color I jumped on my dads bike and rode all over to every place that was open on Christmas eve and finaly found the right color.
The frame turned out really nice and im happy with the color.
I also did a little powder coating while I had the time. Along with the parts I also did the one wheel of my dads as a early Christmas gift.
I got a lot more work done and a lot more cleaning, but that does not make for good photos so ill leave it out. Here is a better up to date photo of the motor. Not perfect but much better than what I started.
And some random pic of the bike and shop.
Here is the motor when I got it out of the frame all dirty.
The motor took a lot of work to get out of the frame! So im hopping its easier to get back in. Any tips would be grate! Im hopping to wrap the frame in rags to keep it from being scratched.
And talking about the frame here is what I did to it.
I was just going to clean the frame and ruff up the original paint and then respray it. But after seeing all of the little spots that I could never get clean I decided to hit the small spots with a sand blaster and finish up with a sander. But after sand blasting a little I found that the sand blaster worked better than expected at removing the paint. So I fully blasted the frame and swing arm.
The keen eye would see some dirt still on the frame. I didn't notice it till I took the pic. As it turns out sandblasting works grate on paint but wont pull off grease and mud that has stuck to the frame. So I had to scratch it off with a screw driver then re blast it.
Also had time and the sand to blast one of my dads wheels for his 77 capri race car!
From there I went to painting since the frame will never be as clean as it is right after sandblasting. I went with the original paint with primer. I would have loved to powder coat it but I couldn't fit the frame in my oven.
Then after 2 coats of primer I laid on the top coat. But I didn't like the color. So I jumped online and back through all my old pic to check the frame color. So after seeing that I had the wrong color I jumped on my dads bike and rode all over to every place that was open on Christmas eve and finaly found the right color.
The frame turned out really nice and im happy with the color.
I also did a little powder coating while I had the time. Along with the parts I also did the one wheel of my dads as a early Christmas gift.
I got a lot more work done and a lot more cleaning, but that does not make for good photos so ill leave it out. Here is a better up to date photo of the motor. Not perfect but much better than what I started.
And some random pic of the bike and shop.
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Well Iv hot the 1/2 way point on my light rebuild! Started putting things back together. First with the swing arm then the triple tree after some powder coating.
Looks really good and clean now its just getting the other parts to look the same as I put them back on the bike!
Stay tuned because things should start happening fast!
Looks really good and clean now its just getting the other parts to look the same as I put them back on the bike!
Stay tuned because things should start happening fast!
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Well things are still headed in the right detection! Got the motor in with some help. It was much easier going in then coming out. Also I was able to keep the motor from scratching the frame.
I was also able to get the wheels and brakes on the bike. But the rear brake cable went bad so It will need to be replaced...
I also started to get some of the parts back onto the frame. The plastic fender and chain guard is back on after a long soak and scrub to get them clean. Im waiting on some more paint to paint all of the parts that I couldn't powder coat so that's the next step for me.
I was also able to get the wheels and brakes on the bike. But the rear brake cable went bad so It will need to be replaced...
I also started to get some of the parts back onto the frame. The plastic fender and chain guard is back on after a long soak and scrub to get them clean. Im waiting on some more paint to paint all of the parts that I couldn't powder coat so that's the next step for me.
animalrobot
New Member
Digging this.
Spike
SL350, Moto Guzzi Stelvio, MP3 500. ????
You're making great progress. I am working on a nearly identical project with the same end in mind (but not for sale 
). You are just about 2 months ahead of me schedule wise so I get a lot of motivation and great direction from your posts. Keep up the good work and keep the excellent build reports coming.
). You are just about 2 months ahead of me schedule wise so I get a lot of motivation and great direction from your posts. Keep up the good work and keep the excellent build reports coming.
honda53rider
77 XS400,73 SL350, 73 RD350
Hello all! The bike is done!! but my moms camera decided to quit working after I took all of the final pic of it... So all the final pic are 200 miles away. But im working to get them for yall to see.
Got the bike running and rode it around. The gearing is way to short for the road but is grate off road. Had to try it out in the field so I did it rode like a dream a, a dream with soggy soft springs! while off road i got the bike muddy... My fresh clean new bike got muddy! haha oh well it was a blast to ride!
I didn't paint the tank or headlight but that might change. I also got the RD350 so ill have to decided on what project to keep and what to let go.
Got the bike running and rode it around. The gearing is way to short for the road but is grate off road. Had to try it out in the field so I did it rode like a dream a, a dream with soggy soft springs! while off road i got the bike muddy... My fresh clean new bike got muddy! haha oh well it was a blast to ride!
I didn't paint the tank or headlight but that might change. I also got the RD350 so ill have to decided on what project to keep and what to let go.
