QuestionHello Falcon --
My name is Matt and I live in Harpers Ferry, WV. I have just obtained a very nice condition, 1970-or-so Honda CB350k with 9.000 miles on it. It has not been ridden in about 15 years.
I am not handy mechanically, but I have a friend who can repair/restore motorcycles, and he is willing to help me out. Before I go hang out with this friend, I would like to create a checklist of the things that I should be prepared to do to get the Honda bike moving well again. Can you help me with a Honda CB350 restoration Primer 101? Thanks a lot, Matt
AnswerHi Matt.
The most important thing to check is to see if the engine is siezed. Since it is a 70's era bike, it has a kickstart and you can check it out using the kickstart lever. If the engine is siezed, then you are looking at rebuilding the engine on top of everything else. If the engine isn't siezed, then here are the things to check. You will need the repair manual, btw, as it has all of the specs that you need for getting the bike running right;
1) Disassemble and clean the carbs.
2) Reseal the fuel tank. This will keep any "varnish" from contaminating the new fuel when the bike is running again.
3) Check the electrical components for corrosion at the connections and test the wiring for shorts (this will take a while).
4) Replace the tires and inner tubes. They are dry-rotted by now, since the bike has been sitting for quite a bit longer than a few months.
5) Re-grease all of the lubrication points.
6) Replace the chain and sprockets.
7) Check all of the bearings (steering head, wheel, swingarm) for excessive wear. Replace as needed.
That is the major things. A basic rule of thumb, beyond cosmetic , in any restoration is that if it has to do with the machine running right or being safe to operate, then check it out and repair or replace as needed. Since this is a restoration, then be prepaired for the bikes repair costs to rise as you go. After all, it hasn't been used in 15 years and a lot of parts will deteriorate over time.
Good luck.
FALCON
