SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB350/400

Engine rebuild - bore glazing

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Mr-Gear:
Thank you all, the responses are appreciated. I am a little on edge because I had a failure (detailed in a previous thread of mine) during a trip in Europe where the bike didn't make it home.

Hopefully this post reaches others who may be wondering the same.

McCabe-Thiele (Ted):

--- Quote from: Mr-Gear on September 05, 2026, 08:45:01 AM ---Thank you all, the responses are appreciated. I am a little on edge because I had a failure (detailed in a previous thread of mine) during a trip in Europe where the bike didn't make it home.

Hopefully this post reaches others who may be wondering the same.

--- End quote ---

That explains your exploration down the bores.

My anecdotal view for what it's worth, looking back to when these air cooled bikes were new, they were in the days when you bought a bike to go to work, nip out to see your mate etc. All relatively short journey work on bendy A or B roads.
Aside from the M1 there were relatively few motorways outside London or opportinities to ride at a constant rpm for long distances & time. (Water cooled engines are in my view a different animal.)

Back in the 1960's my longest journey on my Honda 250 Dream was Derby to Chester each Sunday night, returning home on a Friday evening after work (75 miles each way). No motorway back then, or dual carriageways of any length. It was a journey that took 2.5 -3.00 hours, up and down the gears all the time. When engines are hot, running on mineral oil, on Motorways  its likely to break down the oil relatively quickly.

To ride an old relatively small engine capacity capacity bike great distances is in my opinion not good for the engine. My Yamaha XJ900 was the only air cooled bike I rode on Motorways, I did not find it an enjoyable experience.

I'm sure there are members here who have ridden into Europe on a bike like yours, I think they will not have been riding for hours a day at a constant speed, just my opinion.

Back in the 1960 I had an 850 Mini, I travelled home at weekends on the M1 from Bradford to Derby, no speed limits, being young and stupid I would drive flat out whenever I could. After 50 or so miles I would stop at the services for petrol. I found that the gearbox would not move out of 4th, when it did I could not easily select a gear. Lots of clicking as the engine cooled down whilst I had a Cuppa. All would be well again with the gearbox until I reached my destination. It was a common issue on the old A Series engined Minis.





 

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