My first project - 1974 CB360 K0

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Are those handlebars original fitting they look somewhat US style ones?

[Craizeehair]

Are those handlebars original fitting they look somewhat US style ones?

The bike is a US import.

[Craizeehair]

Sorted the brakes on both wheels, stripped, cleaned, new shoes etc and put them back on the bike so it’s a bit easier to handle. I’ll give them a clean up when they come back off for new tyres further down the line. Next thing is to get the wiring harness back in the place with correct routing, it’s just draped on the bike at the moment.

[Craizeehair]

I made an executive decision this week, instead of spending all summer working on the bike to make it look better, I am going to put it back together and get it running safely this season hopefully. Then come autumn, I can get back in the shed with it and spend the dark nights and wet weekends pulling bits off and fettling. It will look a bit odd, some bits have been refreshed and some not.

That’s the plan anyway, I just hope I can get it back together and running again! So the engine has gone back in the frame tonight. The engine was a runner and I have given it a clean up, lapped the valves and replaced the dodgy rocker arms. All new bushes and bearings on the frame and wheels and new brakes, so I’m hopeful it should run and be safe. Then I get to have something to do throughout the coming winter. With a bit of luck it will work out and not bite me in the backside.

[Laverda Dave]

Good plan and one I should put into practice 👍. Although being retired I could get the best of both worlds, some days fettling and others riding, I just need to get the balance right!
But yes, get it back together and enjoy it, that's why you bought it. Don't forget to allow plenty of spare time during any rides because it will draw a crowd and you'll have to answer questions 😁

[andy120t]

I think that's a good idea. Rolling restoration on bits and pieces in the winter and enjoy riding in the summer.

[Craizeehair]

I figured it was time to bite the bullet and see what carburettors are all about!! I have stripped them ready for cleaning and was feeling quite pleased with myself when I saw a small spring that I hadn’t accounted for, it’s not from the internals for sure, I’m confident it is from the hardware on the outside somewhere and I’m sure I can figure that out. 

What really stumped me was the diaphragms that I ordered from NRP, I realise that I have no idea how to change them, can they be done without cutting the plastic holding rings, I’m sure they aren’t called plastic holding rings but hopefully you know what I mean!!

[cbxman]

That spring goes between the two throttle plate levers providing thrust to keep the butterflies in the right position.  It needs to be there to prevent wear on the carb throat from the butterflies.

The diaphragms are supposed to be pulled out of the rings.  I have not done it, but I believe that copious amounts of lubricant be used to ease the old ones out and the new ones in..

Good luck
Jerry

[Craizeehair]

Thank you Jerry,

I will give that a good thinking about and build up to that in a few days!!!

Greg

[Craizeehair]

I’ve managed to get on with a few jobs over the weekend and got to a pint where I was happy to fit the chain.

It is the correct link count for the bike apparently but no matter what, I can’t get the connecting link to fit, it’s about one link too short. From the looking I have done, it should be 94 links and it is. Original rear sprocket and a new 16 front sprocket so I guess everything should be the same and it should fit, but it don’t!

Stumped again!!

[Laverda Dave]

Do you definitely have the rear wheel in the swingarm as far as it will go? I always join the chain when it's on the sprocket and not in the top or bottom run due to sag.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I use a cable tie to pull the ends together then pop in the link.

[Craizeehair]

I’m pretty sure everything is as it should be, I even took the axle out of the left hand side so the wheel moved forward even more and I could join the chain. I then tried to move the wheel back and tap the axle through but the chain wasn’t long enough to get the wheel back enough to get the axle through again.

I’ve stopped for the day now but will try again tomorrow with any suggestions.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

It's either the wrong chain if it's like that or the front or rear sprocket don't have the right number if teeth.

[Craizeehair]

Exactly what I thought Ted but it’s the original rear sprocket and I replaced the front like for like. All the info says the chain is the right length but there’s still something not right. I counted the links on the new chain just to make sure it hadn’t been sent out wrong but there are 94 links as it should be? I will have another little dabble before getting the next size up chain.