Honda-SOHC

General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: BenPowell on April 08, 2021, 12:36:55 AM

Title: Newbie Member
Post by: BenPowell on April 08, 2021, 12:36:55 AM
Hi Everyone,

Newbie member, recently joined a few days after picking up my first project bike (CB350 1971).

Initially I had a read through and had to join, absolute goldmine of information on here.

I decided to buy the bike as a bit of a treat to myself (bit of an impulse buy), as I'm coming to the end of what feels like forever studying.

I got the bike from Summerbud Classic Bikes via eBay, overall really happy with the condition of the bike given its age, and only seeing photos up until i collected it.

At first I wasn't sure what to do with the bike, modify it or restore it, but after seeing it on the day and plenty of arguments with myself over it, I've decided to restore the bike as original as possible.

Photo of the bike below showing how it is at the moment. Cannot wait to get started on it.

Definitely welcome any advice along the way.

Cheers
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: MrDavo on April 08, 2021, 12:50:00 AM
Hi Ben. I got my CL450 as an eBay project from Summerbud, I’m sure you will enjoy restoring and riding it.

There are plenty of willing members here willing to give expert help and advice, plus Ashimoto is local to you, a couple of others aren’t very far away.

Dave
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: BenPowell on April 08, 2021, 01:01:09 AM
Hi Dave,

I'll enjoy restoring it, probably be a while before I'm out on it though.

I actually work with Ash, he pointed me to the forum, and towards Honda Cb's :D

Seems like a great community on here.

Thanks

Ben
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: Bryanj on April 08, 2021, 07:50:28 AM
We will let you off with the two missing cylinders. Welcome
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: Nurse Julie on April 08, 2021, 08:54:48 AM
Welcome to the Forum. Enjoy your project.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: ka-ja on April 08, 2021, 09:28:48 AM
Welcome from the south end of the bridge.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: hairygit on April 08, 2021, 10:20:05 AM
We will let you off with the two missing cylinders. Welcome
Bryan, as far as I'm aware this is the SOHC Honda group, any single cam Honda is welcome, it's the yank forum that only allow fours in!
Anyhow, welcome to the madhouse, those 350 twins are nice little bikes, and dare I say quicker to 60 than the four cylinder ones!

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: MrDavo on April 08, 2021, 10:54:16 AM
When I classic raced, the Honda 350 based race bikes  were super quick, and the race programmes were generally rigged so they didn’t do the same races as thoroughbred GP bikes such as Manx Nortons, AJS 7Rs etc, as the outcome could have been embarrassing.  8)
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: BenPowell on April 08, 2021, 11:12:39 AM
I had read somewhere that the twin was slightly faster, couldn’t get my head round that, suppose it must be down to the increased weight?

There was a 4 cylinder for sale at the same time as mine, personally I like the look of the twin.

I imagine it’s a little less complex too.

Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: AshimotoK0 on April 08, 2021, 11:18:37 AM
Ha ha ..glad you joined and posted Ben. Let us know what you are short of and you never know other members on here as well as me might have parts to sell/donate. When we looked at the oil in the bottom end, it was still clean and gold looking so ...fingers crossed ...you will be OK with the engine and I am almost 100% certain that the low mileage is correct and most of the chrome is lovely .. I guess I will have to join the queue at work for the bead blaster now ..lol  ;D Trigger on here is your man if you need a rebore to proper Honda specs.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: AshimotoK0 on April 08, 2021, 11:26:25 AM
Original 'fat cam K0' and later K1 and early K2 skinny cam engines were 36 bhp for 350 model ..(actually 325cc)  and 30 bhp for 250. K3 and onwards were a bit less power with 312 style rockers but the cams tended to be a bit less susceptible  to pitting and wear generally. Regular oil changes are the key but at least on the K series you have replaceable cam bearing end caps ...whereas on the later G5 models the cam runs directly in the head.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on April 08, 2021, 02:55:10 PM
Hi there,

If I've learn't one lesson here since I began my 400 four project it is NOT "You will need a bigger hammer" it is of course "You will need a bigger budget".

On a serious note a very helpfull bunch of members  with a wide knowledge base of skills / experience spanning not just decades but different generations & marques of bikes & owners.

Cheers Ted
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: BenPowell on April 08, 2021, 03:31:54 PM
Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

Hopefully the clean oil is a sign the engine is in good condition, as Ash said, and just seized from standing, won’t know till it’s apart though.

First job is to try free it up, think it will need a long soak with some stuff in the bores.

Won’t be getting properly started for a few weeks so could leave it soaking for a long while
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: Bryanj on April 08, 2021, 03:51:28 PM
Most common neglected item is the centifugal oilfilter under the circular cover on rh case
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: Orcade-Ian on April 08, 2021, 04:24:34 PM
Hi Ben,
Welcome to this mad world of tinkering - from yet another native of 'ull, although I was sent away for bad behaviour  :o and now living in Orkney.
Diesel is good stuff for freeing things up if left for a good while but Ash might have some more potent magic liquid to do it in minutes!
Best regards
Ian
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: Moorey on April 08, 2021, 05:23:59 PM
 

   Welcome to the forum and have fun.  ;)
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: Laverda Dave on April 08, 2021, 05:35:22 PM
Welcome to the forum Ben.

This month's Classic Bike Guide magazine has a review of the CB and CL350 twins.

Good luck with the restoration. Ash nay have already mentioned that we like lots of progress photos on here 😊.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: philward on April 08, 2021, 06:07:09 PM
Welcome to the forum Ben - had a 250 k3 back in 71 but blew it up due to youth, trying to keep up with bigger bikes at the bike club and lack of mechanical/maintenance knowledge (the latter linked to the former!)
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: BenPowell on April 08, 2021, 07:50:44 PM
I think there’ll be plenty of photos taken, more so I know how things are meant to look during the rebuild.  ;D

Thanks again everyone, wasn’t expecting as many replies as this

Cheers



Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: 70sHonda on April 08, 2021, 09:23:21 PM
I won’t be able to help you with any of the restoration Ben but if it’s any incentive, I remember these as great little bikes. I had one in 1973 and you could rev it to death day in day out and it never missed a beat. Something to look forward to when the hard work is done.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: royhall on April 10, 2021, 12:05:48 PM
Welcome to the forum. Your just in time to join in with our brand new SOHC twins section.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: AshimotoK0 on April 10, 2021, 02:09:05 PM
Welcome to the forum. Your just in time to join in with our brand new SOHC twins section.

I guess Ben's 1st post instigated it Roy. Funny 'cos about 7 years ago I asked DK why they never seemed to get many CB/CL350 twins in and they told me there wasn't sufficient demand and not worth importing. How times have changed.  Parts were fairly cheap then but now you have this situation:


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-Genuine-Honda-Full-Exhaust-Pipe-System-Super-Sport-350-CB350G-CB350K4/353431171161?hash=item524a23b059:g:4pMAAOSwR6NfUReG

Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: 400 Cafe Racer on April 11, 2021, 07:50:12 PM
Welcome to the forum Ben from another Newbie, who recently purchased a 1979 CB400/4.

Just starting to sort out my project plan of works.

Dennis
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: Athame57 on April 11, 2021, 11:34:35 PM
Hello Ben
Its nice to meet you, you're in good company, lots of experts here too!  ;D
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: royhall on April 12, 2021, 07:28:51 AM
Welcome to the forum. Your just in time to join in with our brand new SOHC twins section.

I guess Ben's 1st post instigated it Roy. Funny 'cos about 7 years ago I asked DK why they never seemed to get many CB/CL350 twins in and they told me there wasn't sufficient demand and not worth importing. How times have changed.  Parts were fairly cheap then but now you have this situation:


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-Genuine-Honda-Full-Exhaust-Pipe-System-Super-Sport-350-CB350G-CB350K4/353431171161?hash=item524a23b059:g:4pMAAOSwR6NfUReG (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-Genuine-Honda-Full-Exhaust-Pipe-System-Super-Sport-350-CB350G-CB350K4/353431171161?hash=item524a23b059:g:4pMAAOSwR6NfUReG)
Bloody hell. I assume you haven't bought those Ash.
Title: Re: Newbie Member
Post by: AshimotoK0 on April 12, 2021, 07:56:59 AM
Bloody hell. I assume you haven't bought those Ash.
[/quote]

No deffo not Roy they are HM344's anyway for a K4 later model.

My holy grail's are the one piece, welded down-pipe, un-stamped 1968-69 type.
I did pay 500 quid for a NOS  one from DS, shipped to me from the USA, only to find they had cocked up the part number and it was for the wrong side when it arrived. So I got a refund and ordered one from CMS .... only to find there was a massive delay in shipping  and then an email to say that the exhaust was in 'one of their remote warehouse locations' and they had found it's part number was incorrect. So, you guessed it, the one in remote warehouse was in Leiston, Suffolk UK ...the one I had sent back to DS.  :(

In the end I bought a shop soiled NOS one and got Allenchrome to rechrome it .. who did an absolutely superb job for £165 (but only because it was NOS .... they won't touch used ones) and I got the other side from the States used but in really nice condition apart from bluing of the downpipe. I am currently trying to find someone to re-chrome it. Prestige will only re-chrome if it can be filled with water and drains completely is a few seconds and I suspect mine will not because the unique 68-69 silencer had lots of welded in baffling. Agbrigg quoted me  a standard £350 to rechrome it but my mate had some CB450 5-Speed exhaust done there and they were of iffy quality. The same guy is having a pair of CB500/4 exhausts, that I sold him, done at Quality Chrome here in Hull, so I am waiting to see how they turn out. They have just started doing exhausts again I think. He's been quoted £200 each.

The repro CB250/350K silencers that DS does look crap IMHO, as the seams are massive and loads of spot weld on them. I got Sam a member here from Brituro to make me a set from the same tooling as the DS ones and continuously TIG weld narrower seams and they look 100% better than the DS ones. I suggested Ben (Powell) gets a set of these made for his K3. I also have a couple of sets of Genuine Honda  NOS 2-piece ones, bought before crazy pricing came in (typically 100 to 150 quid a side back then NOS)
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