Winter project 1972 CB350F - FOUR

Discuss anything about other motorcycles, accessories, riding gear and other motorcycle related topics.

Moderators: Whiskerfish, ascot, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Winter project 1972 CB350F - FOUR

#1

Post by flyin900 »

I have recently picked up a nice CB350F for my collection. A PO did a decent job of replacing many of the expensive bits, yet really cut corners on many other items. Cut/spliced wiring harness, painted rusty bolts black and used cap head bolts on the engine and elsewhere. Chinese rims and spokes and tires with poor paint on the frame etc.

The PO had the bike professionally photographed as shown, so it looks really good at first blush. For all the money he spent on key parts, there are lots of short cuts done on the restoration.

So my plan is to take it to the next level and tear it down completely and repaint the frame and all the key parts including the motor. Get rid of all the Chinese parts that are everywhere. I have purchased all new correct bolts and JIS screws for the entire bike. The engine runs well, so just some paint and buffing.

The colour is Candy Bacchus Olive which is a rarer and favorite colour of mine over the Matador Flake Red that was a more popular colour.




cb350four.jpg
cb350four.jpg (142.42 KiB) Viewed 2408 times
Last edited by flyin900 on Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:42 pm, edited 5 times in total.
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#2

Post by flyin900 »

New parts repainted and ready for reassembly. Gauges are before being sent to CB750 faces in Holland for new faces and rebuild.
Attachments
gauges before restoration
gauges before restoration
P1070569.JPG (137.22 KiB) Viewed 2397 times
carbs rebuilt with correct OEM parts. Got rid of Chinese junk jets etc.
carbs rebuilt with correct OEM parts. Got rid of Chinese junk jets etc.
P1070600.JPG (135.81 KiB) Viewed 2397 times
motor painted and buffed
motor painted and buffed
P1070602.JPG (115.29 KiB) Viewed 2397 times
motor front painted
motor front painted
P1070603.JPG (148.37 KiB) Viewed 2397 times
frame, forks and rims ready
frame, forks and rims ready
P1070596.JPG (129.71 KiB) Viewed 2397 times
Last edited by flyin900 on Thu Nov 11, 2021 9:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
User avatar
Graham Cracker
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1133
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:24 pm
Location: Bradford, PA

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#3

Post by Graham Cracker »

👍🏻
Mark

1975 GL 1000 Candy Antares Red
1976 GL 1000 Sulfur Yellow
1977 GL 1000 Pearl White
1978 GL 1000 Candy Limited Maroon
Gowing
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2314
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:50 am

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#4

Post by Gowing »

Like
Dave

1975 GL 1000
1980 XS650
1981 ct110
1972 F7 KAW 175
2000 moby blaze 40cc
Chihuahua (Ellie)
Chihuahua #2(Blaze)
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Reinstalled motor and some electrical components

#5

Post by flyin900 »

I had some help in reinstalling the motor by setting it on a pad sideways and finessing the frame over top of it and aligning the motor mount holes. Since the oil pan sump is deep it would take quite a bit of maneuvering and strength to do it upright.
The PO really did use a lot of Chinese parts and no proper JIS screws or Honda bolts in any areas on the bike. Many fasteners were the hex style cap head bolts, or any of the few original bolts were painted black to hide their poor shape and rust.

I have replaced all the electrical components on the battery box side with all new Japanese parts and installed OEM Honda hex bolts, flange bolts and JIS screws everywhere on the frame and motor.

This is the first time I have gone this in depth with fasteners and while many would not go to this trouble. I do like the fit and finish of new parts, so this has been a treat so far in the build.


P1070612.JPG
P1070612.JPG (117.18 KiB) Viewed 2335 times
P1070613.JPG
P1070613.JPG (136.28 KiB) Viewed 2335 times
P1070618.JPG
P1070618.JPG (131.9 KiB) Viewed 2335 times
I also replaced the Chinese rims and spokes plus the cheap Duro tires with new DID OEM rims and spokes. I installed new vintage tires to match the period with a Metzler block tread style rear tire and Bridgestone straight line tread on the front. I learned a new skill with lacing and truing the wheels after a few YouTube videos to guide me through the process.


P1070615.JPG
P1070615.JPG (116.17 KiB) Viewed 2335 times
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
digger
Billet Alum. Member
Billet Alum. Member
Posts: 207
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:42 pm
Location: Ashland Ohio

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#6

Post by digger »

Wow, a labor of love, thanks for sharing, brings back memories, my girlfriend (now wife) had a 73 Matador Candy Red, my younger brother bought a new 74 Blue Black Metallic. Super smooth bikes, if I remember correctly it had a little buzzing around 5k to 6k, still fun to ride.
1975 GL1000
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#7

Post by flyin900 »

:lol: More of a burn some Covid cash project.

Thank you though, as it has been a move to smaller bikes now for restoration projects with age and parts weight a factor these days. :oldies. I always liked these tiny fours as an exercise in Honda's engineering skills. Apparently Soichiro Honda liked to ride one around the Honda factory to visit various work stations.

Waiting on chrome work and gauge parts, so in a holding pattern for now.
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
Prospect
Zinc Member
Zinc Member
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:45 am
Location: Toronto Canada

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#8

Post by Prospect »

Wow. Original exhaust as well. As rare as hens teeth. The cb350f exhaust mold broke at the factory and Honda didn’t think it was cost effective to make a new one. Once they rotted out that was it. Until about 3-4 years ago it was unobtainable until replicas came along.
Current Bikes
1969 CB750 Sandcast
1971 CB750K1
1972 CB750K1
1975 CB400F
1975 GL1000 Goldwing
1954 Harley Davidson Panhead
1957 Harley Davidson Panhead
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#9

Post by flyin900 »

Well truth be told the exhaust is an aftermarket system from the same manufacturer Sanki in Japan and the seat is also a repop from DSS. It is almost impossible to find a NOS exhaust system as you noted; even the other bits are 50+ years old. Unless a time capsule in a museum from day one the pieces do age out.
I sold a CB350F I restored to a couple in Ottawa about 6 years ago, they fortunately found an original NOS Honda exhaust from a Quebec fellow. A once in a lifetime opportunity I would guess.

Wheels reassembled with the original parts and the refreshed rotor on the front rim. The rear sprocket looks decent, as does the chain with only 9K on the bike, so I will leave well enough alone.


P1070627.JPG
P1070627.JPG (137.36 KiB) Viewed 2271 times
P1070628.JPG
P1070628.JPG (139.21 KiB) Viewed 2271 times
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#10

Post by flyin900 »

So I realize that I show the after pics and nothing about the work done to get there. I will try to show more when possible of the process.
A number of years ago I bought a buffing machine from a company like your Harbour Freight and started buffing my aluminum parts and such. I found it a pain to keep changing over to different buffing wheels on a single machine and contaminating wheels with other compounds. So I added machines over the past few years and recently added a new machine where I can buff plastic lens's with a string buff. This string buff keeps the lens cooler when buffing and doesn't melt the plastic, plus a razor buff which is very thin on the opposite wheel. That buff allows me to buff the inner parts of wheel hubs where those ridges are located and impossible to get at with a wider buffing wheel.

Here are the machines and the string buff.

P1070634.JPG
P1070634.JPG (67.92 KiB) Viewed 2252 times
P1070639.JPG
P1070639.JPG (133.81 KiB) Viewed 2252 times
P1070641.JPG
P1070641.JPG (120.83 KiB) Viewed 2252 times

I have also been working on replacing the signals on the bike as the PO used cheap Chinese knock off parts which look OK yet the quality is well Chinese. So Honda still sells the rear chrome bezel which is much better quality and the interior electric parts are all Stanley and high quality. The orange lens are still available too, yet I have lots of older signals that the chrome bezel and lens's are scuffed and scratched.
So my work around was to purchase the replacement chrome bezels and transfer over the electrical bits and buff and polish the signal lens and rear taillight.


Here are the lens and bezel being swapped over and a picture of the buffed orange lens now with no scratches.

P1070637.JPG
P1070637.JPG (160.51 KiB) Viewed 2256 times
P1070638.JPG
P1070638.JPG (127.55 KiB) Viewed 2256 times
Last edited by flyin900 on Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:37 am, edited 3 times in total.
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
digger
Billet Alum. Member
Billet Alum. Member
Posts: 207
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:42 pm
Location: Ashland Ohio

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#11

Post by digger »

Nice to see the attention of detail given, thanks for the follow up
1975 GL1000
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#12

Post by flyin900 »

Chroming and replacement parts that are still available from Honda were also on my list of updates.
The older shocks on these bikes are rebuildable, as they can be taken apart much like the early GL1000 rear shocks. All you need is MTS or (multiple tool syndrome) which I have over 15 years of collecting.

The top chrome caps on the shocks were reasonable, yet did show signs of chrome thinning and in light on many of these parts I have sent out to be chromed they were not great. So with the help of CMS in Holland I bought new chrome top caps and took apart the shock with my Motion Pro spring compressor. I buffed and repainted just the inner spring sections that were rusted with DupliColor chrome paint. Full disclosure this stuff is a reasonable facsimile, but it's not putting chrome platers out of business. It never looks like the cap top colour shows that's for sure.

P1070642.JPG
P1070642.JPG (179.45 KiB) Viewed 2234 times
OLD TOP CAP COVER
OLD TOP CAP COVER
P1070645.JPG (195.06 KiB) Viewed 2234 times

Here are the parts at the chrome platers presently, as they too did show the same chrome thinning. "Everything affects everything" I believe was a Randakk quote and it is true in doing a high level restoration. The weakest part stands out like a sore thumb when finished.

ALL CHROME PLATING PARTS READY FOR PLATERS
ALL CHROME PLATING PARTS READY FOR PLATERS
P1070585.JPG (165.1 KiB) Viewed 2234 times
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36852
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#13

Post by Whiskerfish »

Beautiful little bikes!!
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
Gowing
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2314
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:50 am

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#14

Post by Gowing »

Sweet! I was 18 when a friend bought a new 73 350f. I was so jealous. It was red.
That’s another Honda I’ve always wanted. Very nice.
Dave

1975 GL 1000
1980 XS650
1981 ct110
1972 F7 KAW 175
2000 moby blaze 40cc
Chihuahua (Ellie)
Chihuahua #2(Blaze)
User avatar
flyin900
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Winter project 1972 CB350F - Baby four

#15

Post by flyin900 »

Yep the Matador Flake Red was likely the most popular colour of these bikes from what I can tell. As previously noted I restored one a number of years ago. Not to this level of restoration, yet I regretted selling it.
I have been looking since and I really do like the Candy Bacchus Olive colour, so when this one popped up I grabbed it.
Here’s the early 1973 that I sold to a nice couple. The paint I shot was actually Molton Metallic Red, so not totally accurate.

D87FAB79-1ABC-473F-945C-E2040EEF1324.jpeg
D87FAB79-1ABC-473F-945C-E2040EEF1324.jpeg (388.92 KiB) Viewed 2210 times
916CAD91-EAD4-4C20-AAB8-37FA1763E0E1.jpeg
916CAD91-EAD4-4C20-AAB8-37FA1763E0E1.jpeg (378.5 KiB) Viewed 2210 times
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “General Motorcycle Forum”