Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

Its worth fixing up (as long as the powerhead isnt blown) BUT if you plan to make it an everyday means of dependable transportation your best bet is a much newer bike.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

I can't get some of the links to work on that http://bobsindian.com/
I can get the home page to pull up but not the parts for sale link or bikes for sale link.

WM,, You should call over to Bobs, dont count a whole lot on their website. I have dealt with them on the Indian side for many years. They are not the type of guys to be super internet savvy. Also they are pretty particular when it comes to matching up parts and getting the correct parts that you need. Believe me they would rather talk to you on the phone.

I'll share a little story. Many years ago when I took on my first Indian restoration I had nothing more than an old 34 bottom end chief motor mated to 1940 jugs and heads. The heads were pristine, no broken fins ,, No heliarc,, just beautiful. That cant be said for the rest of the mill. It layed in an old shed and was in water off and on for many years, The thing was rusted solid. I walked into Bobs shop and met Bob for the first time. I reluctantly told him I had a motor that I would like him to look at, I also said I am sure you will probably tell me its junk. He took a look in truck and said bring it in we can do something with this. It was so bad he had to drill and chisel the old pistons out, but a month later the motor was done. When I saw it my jaw hit the ground. It looked factory new. That bike ran like a new one also. That was when I learned not to look away from any project that looks hopeless. I have many pictures of that bike but that was before the days of digital cameras.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

I hear ya thefairlaneman, I don't plan on using it on an everyday basis I don't want to push my luck with my bad ankle.

That is an interesting story Flathead. I hear ya when I get ready for parts I'll holler at them over the phone.

I have an interesting story for you all also. While my father was driving truck back years ago he came up on a deal from a friend at a rest area. A man had 2 old motorcycles, one was a 1917 Indian and the other was a 1918 Harley. The man just gave them to my father, my father didn't know what he just got a hold of. Both bikes were complete but my father turned around and sold them for $100. We lived up in New York at the time, probably was before I was born though.

I use to watch American Chopper every week, and Paul Sr bought 2 old bikes to restore it made me wonder if those were the same 2 bikes or not but one was missing pieces when they showed them on TV. It would be interesting to find out if those were the same old bikes or not, most likely they were not.

I did a compression check on the Honda today and got 125 on both cylinders. Here's the kicker, I was checking the spark by grounding the plugs to the head and I got spark on both plugs but I think the one plug is weak which would explain it running on one cylinder on idle. So I decided to check the coils with a spark tester and forgot that the spark tester may be bad because I was having problems with the spark tester in the past. After all that kicking on the kick starter I didn't realize that the spark tester was bad until I got back to the house, before I got back to the house I was beginning to think that the bike was possessed :redface:.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

two things: time and money. I have a CB350F#

Any chance of a pic? You know how rare those things are over here? They fetch a fortune.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

They were very good running bikes, Once a friend had one and we both rode it to the mountains and back. A 2 day trip and we each weighed about 200 lbs.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

Fairlaneman that is a perfect example, people think that you half to have a big bike to ride these mountains and all but you really don't. I seen a great deal on a 2006 250 Honda the other day for $2500, the owner posted on the ad that it gets 80 to 90 miles per gallon. My brother just bought a 2004 Yamaha V-star 1100 today, has 4000 miles on it sorry soul . Must be nice. My brother new to him bike is supposed to get 55 miles per gallon. I'll be darned if I'm going to ride with him, it is bad enough riding with him in a car. He can't get that led out of his right foot.

Even more reason to get the honda back on the road so we can go riding together even though he'll probably blow me away with the way he drives .

He was looking at a new V-star a few days back.

I still have to take the carbs apart and check them out.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

With those straight pipes you will have to re-jet the carbs....but it isn't worth it ...noise and lessing your gas mileage....grab some stock mufflers.....those rubber plastic intakes do give problems with age ,,,they leak tailtale sign is whiteish smoke from exhaust.....press in inlet usually locktite on it...By the way the newest bike I still ride is an 83....stuck in the past and lovin it

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

With those straight pipes you will have to re-jet the carbs....but it isn't worth it ...noise and lessing your gas mileage....grab some stock mufflers.....those rubber plastic intakes do give problems with age ,,,they leak tailtale sign is whiteish smoke from exhaust.....press in inlet usually locktite on it...By the way the newest bike I still ride is an 83....stuck in the past and lovin it

Thanks Dolluper. Never even considered locktite for the press in inlets.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

I really like the old CB series Hondas - I owned both a CB350 and a CB750, back in the day. I bought the CB 750 at age 17 and it was my only ride until age 21. It served as both my daily driver and as a touring bike, and took me all over the U.S.

It is unfortunate that Honda doesn't build them anymore, instead concentrating on sport bikes and Harley clones for the most part. I actually tried to buy a CB450 yesterday because I don't like Harleys and am not thrilled about all the clone bikes either. Oh well, maybe another sutiable CB series bike will show up and I'll have something to cut back on driving my 15 mpg van!

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

What makes me sick is that one of my neighbors bought his son a honda cb 250 a while back for $150, and the bike runs.

The boy is about old enough to get his motorcycle license here in Alabama which I believe is 14 for a 250cc motorcycle only (nothing bigger).

I got a review from my brother on his new purchase, he loves the bike but didn't read the review on the bike until after he purchased it. He said that it is all mainly good reviews but what negative reviews the bike had was true, such as the valves rattle loud and it seems to bounce when taking on curves (which would scare the crap out of me). But if he's happy I'm happy.

Jay keep your eyes on your local swappers and craigs list, you'll find a cb series out there somewhere someday. I bought that 69 model cb350 that I sold out of a pawn and cycle shop for $400, I drove around in the nice size parking lot to see that the clutch and all worked good which it did. Darn it I miss that bike , I was upset when the guy came out and bought it but I needed the money. What upset me more is that the man kept insisting that I come down on the price.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

You may also have to change the head gasket to get it to run right on unleaded reg......decompression {head gasket} try it first, some bikes run ok without it or ask a Hondo dealer

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

By the way the newest bike I still ride is an 83....stuck in the past and lovin it

I hear that. I have a 2002 Electraglide that sits and collects dust, also makes for a good storage rack. This bike I ride almost all the time. 1972
Dont let nobody tell you it has to be new to be reliable.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

That is a nice old bike Flathead.

I haven't got to piddle around with the 350 much. My bass boat has a problem that I will half to dish out some money and a little time on when I get it. I've got to have my boat running.

If I get time tomorrow I will take and dig in to the carbs off of the bike and see what they look like inside.

That bike has been running for a while with straight pipes, my father installed them on years ago after the original pipes rotted out. I figured it could cause an issue with the valves, but never thought it would be that big of a problem with everything else. I believe my father has had this bike fixed 2 different times sense we have been down here in Alabama, but I can't remember what he had done to it.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

You can buy those cheap baffles that slip into the pipes, and are fastened with bolts.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

You can buy those cheap baffles that slip into the pipes, and are fastened with bolts.

I'll look into that.

I tore down the carbs today and the one has a cut in the diaphram . They were pretty messed up, corroded and all.

Back years ago my father was told that there is a piston driven carburator that can be mounted in place of the original diaphram carbs. From what I remember they were Yamaha carbs that would work on this 350 but I can't remember the year or the size of the bike.

Anybody have a clue on what carbs would work on this bike so I can get away from the diaphram?

 

[dolluper]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

You got Khenin {sp} on their now??????,I now the 450 ones Khenin 72 models worked out great on triumphs 650 's ,little rejet for yours

 

[dolluper]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

You got me thinking here when you said diafram leaking,I think your Dad already switched to Yammie carbs .....probably 360 t yammie carbs to compinsate for straight pipes
Try this site go to parts finder punch in your bike and look at carb diagram they have parts for them too
http://www.westernhillshondayamaha.com/default.asp

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

These are the original carbs trust me, or all the carbs I have bought off of salvaged bikes in the past have been swapped over which I don't think they have.

I just trying to think of or find out which carbs would work besides these diaphram driven carbs.

After looking on that website they are definetly the original carbs for that bike. I'm glad you posted that site though Thanks.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

When gas rounded $3.00 I told my wife I was going to find an old Honda CB175 (first street bike I ever rode) to commute with. Something that burned more oil than gas. If it died, I could push it off into the woods!
Still looking...