Thinking of putting this 1970 Honda cb350 on the road

[wildmaninal]

My father bought this bike back in 1969 or 70 new. I mentioned to my father that I would like to put the old bike back on the road with his permission of coarse. He said it would be alright with him. I have no idea what the insurance would be for this bike. You can tell that the bike has been around, even though it has 11,000 miles or so on it. I painted the gas tank a while back and didn't do a very good job by the way. We had my uncle redo the seat on it. My father had to replace the original mufflers years ago with straight pipes which makes the bike loud . I bought a starter for it a few years back to replace the original starter that only worked when it wanted to. The bad part is that the starter that I bought off of Ebay didn't work at all and I didn't find out that it was to weak until after I got it on the bike. Back when I was in my early teens me and my cousin yanked this old bike out of the shed and rolled it off after putting fresh gas in it and fired it up, my father couldn't believe it actually started after sitting for the length of time that it did.

My problem is that I have a truck that only gets 20 miles per gallon if not less and this is my only transportation. I asked my father what the bike use to get on gas back in the day and he said it use to get 30 to 35 miles per gallon. I was wondering if the modern fuel would actually make the bike get worse gas mileage? Or maybe it would help it get better gas mileage?

The old bike still runs but needs new tires, carb work, and (eventually) a new starter but it does have a kick start. I have the carbs off of it, I replaced the diaphrams in them a few years back don't know what they look like today. The problem is that the carbs were leaking around the press in fittings where the gas line hooks into them and they were also leaking out of the bowl drain pipe. So I tapped the press in fittings in with a hammer thinking that this may flare them out so that they would seal into the carb body. I figure I need to go ahead and check the diaphams for cuts or holes and adjust the floats or even rebuild the carbs if needed. The worst thing is that these parts can be very expensive. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get away with adjusting the floats and maybe stopping the leak.

It makes me sick that I sold my 1969 Honda cb 350 for $450 a while back. I only paid $400 for it and did a little work on it then decided that with my physical condition that maybe I don't need to be on a motorcycle. With the price of gas going up I may have no choice but to put the 1970 model back on the road to help my money situation.

I hate seeing the old bike set around, but at the same time I hope that it would be worth my time and money getting it back to road worthy condition.

 

[FLATHEAD]

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

I would think you get it on the road. Plenty of people collecting those bikes and restoring them. I see more and more of them at the Antique motorcycle club of America meets. To get it running well the carbs are probably your biggest obstacle. I would bite the bullet track down the parts to rebuild them and go that route. If I remember right those carbs were rubber mounted, you might want to check those rubber fittings for dry cracks that'll make it run like crap. If your really going to put miles on it I would go through the wheels and bearings also. The sprockets were something that was high wear also check them out. Make sure your gas tank is not full of rust and/or sludge before you try to run the bike, or your new carb job will be for naught. Put a Little light oil in the spark plug holes and kick it through a few times before you try to start it. That'll get some lubrication on those cylinders. If it were me I would strip it down to the frame and do a total restoration, but then again I am a cycle nut (hence the name flathead)


Here is a connection for you. It is for Bob Markeys Indian shop. I have dealt with Bob for years. His son Robin is an old Honda guru and I am sure they can hook you up with what ever you might need.

http://bobsindian.com/

 

[wildmaninal]

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

Thanks for the input and heads up Flathead.

As far as checking the gas tank for sludge and all I've been through that already a few weeks back. I am missing the pep **** on the tank I took it off to put on the 69 cb350 that I sold. So just to get it running I plugged off the pep **** hole and ran the lines from each side of the tank to the carbs. May have mentioned it in the other post that the bike will run.

Durring that time I drove the bike down the road a few times (not very far just in case something happened). Me and my uncle checked it out the other day and it is only running on 1 cylinder at idle, and 2 after you throttle it up. I was thinking that might be caused partially by the leaking press in fitting but I'm not for sure. I have 3 or 4 sets of carbs for that bike but where are all the parts to them? I haven't a clue. Be that I have the carbs off it will be interesting to see what the diaphrams and needle and seat look like. Either way those carbs must be out of sync.

As for the sprocket like you said it may need to be checked, I totally wasn't thinking about that, I was only thinking lube the chain. I wanna say we might have a spare rear rim around that has a sprocket but I'm not 100% sure that we still have it.

What gets me is that my father has been told by the police that he needs to quite that bike down. But there is other motorcycles out there that are louder.

 

[Bob_VT]

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

Sprockets, exhaust, tires are easy..... The rebuild kits for the carbs might be more of a challenge but they are out there just not OEM..... I suspect the hardest thing to get hold of is the brake lines. I have seen more people go through hell trying to find brake lines.

The old CB was quite a bike for it's time. Not as fuel efficient as the newer ones but it will do the job.

 

[arks]

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

Funny that you posted this- I have an original '75 CB 360T in my shed that I've been thinking about rehabbing because of the gas prices. 6 speed, front disc brake.
I bought this bike from the original owner back in 1978 and used it (off and on) for the next 10 or 12 years. Once we had kids the bike didn't get used much for the next couple years, then not at all.
Fortunately, I was smart enough to put the bike away properly (rust-proofed the tank, stabilized the gas, etc). The last time I looked at it, the hydraulic fluid for the front brake was bad and the caliper was frozen. I also need to completely rebuild the carbs before starting it- last time it ran there was gas leaking everywhere. Otherwise, I think it'll just need a general going-over and tune-up to make roadworthy. The original mufflers are on and look OK but I might need to replace them. I did put new tires on it maybe 8 or 9 years ago (the last time I had these thoughts). I even have an original Vetter fairing for it (remember them?).
When I rode, I regularly got 40-50 MPG. I don't think todays gas would hurt these old bikes except for maybe the 10% ethanol swelling the rubber parts in the fuel system, but it might make sense to run premium.

FLATHEAD- Thanks for that link! I've been looking for someone to do the carb work and Bob's shop is only an hour from my place. I'll definitely be talking with them.

 

[FLATHEAD]

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

Your welcome guys. Bob's is the place to go for vintage Honda stuff.

 

[i386]

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

Something to consider since you mentioned straight pipes... You may be running leaner since you don't have the same back pressure. Air filter, carb jetting, and exhaust all work together as a system. Any drastic change is one usually requires modifying the others as well.

 

[wildmaninal]

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

Sprockets, exhaust, tires are easy..... The rebuild kits for the carbs might be more of a challenge but they are out there just not OEM..... I suspect the hardest thing to get hold of is the brake lines. I have seen more people go through hell trying to find brake lines.

The old CB was quite a bike for it's time. Not as fuel efficient as the newer ones but it will do the job.

I have heard that these motors are "bullet proof" to explain how tuff they are. I was thinking the same thing as being fuel efficient, they may not be that great on gas but would be a heck of allot better then my truck.

Funny that you posted this- I have an original '75 CB 360T in my shed that I've been thinking about rehabbing because of the gas prices. 6 speed, front disc brake.
I bought this bike from the original owner back in 1978 and used it (off and on) for the next 10 or 12 years. Once we had kids the bike didn't get used much for the next couple years, then not at all.
Fortunately, I was smart enough to put the bike away properly (rust-proofed the tank, stabilized the gas, etc). The last time I looked at it, the hydraulic fluid for the front brake was bad and the caliper was frozen. I also need to completely rebuild the carbs before starting it- last time it ran there was gas leaking everywhere. Otherwise, I think it'll just need a general going-over and tune-up to make roadworthy. The original mufflers are on and look OK but I might need to replace them. I did put new tires on it maybe 8 or 9 years ago (the last time I had these thoughts). I even have an original Vetter fairing for it (remember them?).
When I rode, I regularly got 40-50 MPG. I don't think todays gas would hurt these old bikes except for maybe the 10% ethanol swelling the rubber parts in the fuel system, but it might make sense to run premium.

FLATHEAD- Thanks for that link! I've been looking for someone to do the carb work and Bob's shop is only an hour from my place. I'll definitely be talking with them.

Interesting Arks. Good luck with your restore if you decide to do it. Mine will be a slow process if I decide to do a complete restore. The old 69 model that I had was used when I bought it but did have the original paint and mufflers on it and was in better shape then this 1970 model. Strange enough it was also the same color as my father's bike before I repainted it. The 1970 was also candy apple red and white. I use to know of another website that was all about the old hondas bit mainly about he 350s. It even had a link to a page about how they use to race 350s back in the day. I have no idea what the name of that website was or if it even still exists.

Something to consider since you mentioned straight pipes... You may be running leaner since you don't have the same back pressure. Air filter, carb jetting, and exhaust all work together as a system. Any drastic change is one usually requires modifying the others as well.

That does make sense.

 

[Scaaty]

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

Part it out Ebay...people looking for those parts. Don't waste time. Grab a few bucks, Gather a few more $, and pick up a running 125 anything..."Endero"...(48 years "saddle time, own still 8 bikes...been there, done that..many times..still at it)

 

[roscoe]

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

I'm with Scatty.
Sell it and find a late model bike that may only need tires, or brakes.
Lots of them around.

 

[wildmaninal]

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

I can't see parting it out, especially with my father still alive. The old bike has allot of sentamental value to him and me for that matter even though I don't recall him giving me a ride when I was a kid but he was always gone driving a truck for a living. My father has toyed with the idea of selling it in the past but after he thought about it I don't believe it will happen. The only down side of repairing or restoring this bike is the price of the parts.

I recall him actually giving me the bike a few years ago but then after talking with him about it later on he doesn't recall saying anything about giving it to me. That doesn't bother me, whatever makes him happy it is his bike I just have the permission to use it and get it road worthy. My old man may actually ride this bike, he did ride my 69 model at times but not much and not far. With the condition of his car (no telling how long it'll stay running) and his truck not doing all that great on gas he may ride the bike even though he does have a back problem. Not only will I be using the bike on the road but I might be using it on the our land and to travel to our other relatives houses near by instead of using my 4 wheeler.

Now I can see keeping the 350 and buying an over grown moped that should get better gas mileage. I actually have a moped out back that I have never had running, but it would take allot of work to get it running and road worthy. I might be parting the moped out on Ebay along with these other parts I am fixing to try and sell.

I have bought and sold other bikes, I had a 1984 Honda 450 that I fixed up and sold (I did restore it back to mint condition). I have also had 4 early 80s Yamaha Viragos (3 750s and 1 920), 2 parts bikes and 2 that I got running once again I didn't completely restore these bikes. I did take the 920 motor and put it on a 750 frame and then sold it. I traded one with no title for my 4 wheeler I have now, I sold the other also and made a profit. Plus I bought that 1969 cb350, I also bought a 1979 Hondamatic for dirt cheap, I never messed with it much and never got it to run, I sold it a few months back and made a profit. Before I got into boats I was in to ATVs and motorcycles. I wished I had more motorcycle parts around to sell on Ebay though. I was doing alright selling or advertising ATV parts locally, but I ran out of what little inventory I had.

 

[FLATHEAD]

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

I would not sell it. Nothing better than the feeling of riding a vintage bike. Especially when you did the work yourself. Once it's gone you wont be able to go buy another like it.

I totally disagree that your wasting time by getting it on the road. Nothing wrong with riding a class machine like the old Honda CB.

 

[wildmaninal]

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

I hear ya. I actually enjoy riding the bike for what little that I have drove it.

Here's a picture of it. Those are hose clamps on the seat not cuts. This bike has been wrecked a couple of times and layed down also but still looks half a** decent.

 

[i386]

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

That's pretty cool. My grandad had a Honda CB125 that he used to ride us kids around on when it was new.

Somehow he ended up riding it off the dock where his shrimp boat was tied up. As the story goes, he came up the bank with the bike under one arm and his rubber boots in the other hand. The story gets better every time it's told. It didn't hurt the bike at all. It ran for years after that until he eventually gave it to someone.

 

[wildmaninal]

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

That's pretty cool. My grandad had a Honda CB125 that he used to ride us kids around on when it was new.

Somehow he ended up riding it off the dock where his shrimp boat was tied up. As the story goes, he came up the bank with the bike under one arm and his rubber boots in the other hand. The story gets better every time it's told. It didn't hurt the bike at all. It ran for years after that until he eventually gave it to someone.

. I bet that was a scary situation when it happened though. I wonder if he lost his brakes? Knock on wood I have never sunk any type of machine.

I just wished that paint job on the bike looked as good in person as it does in the picture.

 

[Scaaty]

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

If ya want to get it running for sentimental reasons, thats a whole new story...

 

[v1_0]

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

My father had to replace the original mufflers years ago with straight pipes which makes the bike loud .

I'm not sure that this was such a good idea - the stock pipes had some backpressure that the straight pipes wouldn't (if they are the type of straight pipes I am thinking of). That backpressure helped keep the exhaust valves cooler, or so I am told. Bottom line - check your compression...

I asked my father what the bike use to get on gas back in the day and he said it use to get 30 to 35 miles per gallon. I was wondering if the modern fuel would actually make the bike get worse gas mileage? Or maybe it would help it get better gas mileage?

35-40, I've heard. You will probably do well to use some sort of lead substitute. Also, not sure about the 10% alcohol in the fuel these days..

I hate seeing the old bike set around, but at the same time I hope that it would be worth my time and money getting it back to road worthy condition.

I started a kinda collection a while back (when I was single) and have a bunch of bikes that don't run. They did - and could - but I'm up against two things: time and money. I have a couple of CB360T's, a CB350F, CB400F, and a V45 Magna. With gas prices going the way they are, I am considering changing priorities and making the time and re-allocating some money. I'd love to get the Magna running again - its in a lot of pieces right now, phase II of a rebuild (Phase I being 'taken apart'). The same with the 400. One of the 360's and the 350 are all together, but will need carb work/tuneups.

Of course, the boat is in the category of needing some attention too. I guess I have collected more work than I have time to do...

-V

 

[wildmaninal]

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

I hear ya Scaaty, I couldn't see it in my heart to part that bike out.

V1_0. I have never done a compression check on the bike. I don't know how well of a reading I would get by using the kick starter. I might try doing a compression check on it tomorrow.

Sounds like you got your hands full with all of them bikes. Which one would or has gotten the best gas mileage out of all of those bikes?

I've been between projects myself, I have the motorcycle, boat motors, posting parts on Ebay, and I've been working on the old 57 Whitehouse runabout. Trying get it setup so I could at least use the hull to check out these old motors. I might go ahead and fix the deck in it along with doing a patch job on the bottom of the hull. Today I just took it easy and started posting these parts on Ebay.

 

[Scaaty]

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

Find new brake pads..they de-laminate with age...
(Guy with the Magna?..front camshafts had oiling problems..)
Best both of ya do a Google search...particular bike...ya get 100% more knowledge there...lots of real old bike Forums..(gas gets worse, I will "plate/title" my 1986 CT70 MiniTrail.....total restore...still a gas....but like my 3 Harleys, and the 1995 CBR 1000...worked on, 150hp rear wheel, love those "Linked brakes!"...
Never grow up...

 

[wildmaninal]

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

I'll half to do that on the brake pads thanks Scaaty.

Might as well get ready to put that ct70 on the restore/list of things to do gas price isn't going to get any better .

I'll be darned if I can't find another set of crash bars like the ones I thought I took off my Yamaha Virago. I'm trying to verify that they are Virago Crash bars and not to some other motor so I can sell them on Ebay.

I didn't include all the bikes that I have taken to the scrap yard when I was talking about all the bikes that I have bought and sold on an earlier post but I guess those that I scrapped wouldn't count.

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.