Project "Caroline", 1973 CB350 four

I picked up this 350f in July, it was really in great shape for its age. It was running ok when I got it but after a little tunning she really ran much better. I have had a it of a drippy carb situation ever since I got it, that just turned into a pissing carb....that is what spawned the begining of the work. So for I have changed the stock bars for clubman bars and srtipped and polished the top triple clamp and idiot light cover. I have the bike on the work table now with the carbs removed to rebuild. While I had it down, I decided to do a bit more polishing. Here are some pics to catch you up.
When I first got it.




Top clamp before.


and after!


Getting carb work!



and some polish work while I am in there!



I plan on making it into a classic cafe style with lots of fun go fast mods. As for the go fast parts, she will be getting a Dyna CDI electronic ignitions system, Dyna 5 ohm coils, port and polish, K&N cone filters, MAC 4 into 1 exhaust, and rejetting. I plan on upgrading the rear shocks to dual rate twin spring springs on hydrolic dampers and replacing the front fork springs with progressive springs and instal imulators. Before it is all said and done the entire bike will be torn down and rebilt, with all new paint and hardware. Thanks for looking, and feel free to leave me feedback of any kind!

Looks like a good start. Keep us posted.

Fine job. Lookin good so far. Keep us posted.

Lookin nice bro. You're getting quite fond of that polishing eh?

niiice and pretty.

Let me know when the parts for your carbies come in and I'll head your way for a carb session/polish party! I've got some bits I'd like to pull off of my bike, polish, and throw back on real quick like!

Tonight I got out in the shop and finished the polishing of the carb bowls and top covers. After finishing, I had some more time, so I decided that since she was on the lift, I might as well do a few other things until the carb parts come in. I had a spare front fender, so I chopped it and then cleaned it up a bit and mounted it. I hope my new float seals come in by the end of the week, and I should have my SS bolt kits for the carbs and engine in the next few days. After I came in from the shop was the best part of the night. I came in and my wife told me I smell like old motorcycle! SCORE! Here are tonights pics!

Looking good brother. And tell your wife, that smelling like motorcycles is a good thing, the bikes are the other woman, Beats the alternative right?

That is look sweet. Keep it up. awesome.

She is looking good bro! you sure don't see many of those 350 fours cruising anymore, I am always happy to see a vintage honda returning to its former glory! keep up the good work, and your polishing looks very nice!

Thanks for the Kind words guys, helps keep me motivated!

Joey, Thanks for the compliment on the polishing, really feels good to hear that from you! I am not perfect at it by no means, but I did just learn as I went. I bet you could give me some lessons for sure! The top clamp is not really done yet, when I did that I was in a hurry to get it back on so I could ride. I plan to take it off and work on it some more in the future.

Polishing work looks awesome to me.. Great job man.

You don't need any lessons bro, your polishing looks killer!

Very nice looking bike, and I agree with everyone else the polishing is awesome.

I Have not gotten my parts in yet, but decided to slap it all back together to try to get some riding in this weekend. While doing the carbs, I went on into the top end and did some adjusting on the cam chain tensioner because it has been rattling a bit. Good news is, I got her to fire right up and the tensioner work was a great success! Bad news, my carb work was not...since I did not get the new float seats, I did not expect to fix the dripping, so that was no suprise, but now I have a new carb issue.....when I twist the throttle, it is like it chokes out, and it does not want to respond to full throttle. fluff!....back on the lift!
Oh, and a pic!

Are teh main jets clear? getin enough fuel? Float level right?

sounds like she is starving out to me

I had a massive air leak around the air box intake and it was getting way to much air for the stock jets. I got it fixed now and went for a short ride.

LOOKS GREAT !! WHAT KIND OF POLISH ARE YOU USEING ?

OKIE wrote:LOOKS GREAT !! WHAT KIND OF POLISH ARE YOU USEING ?

All of my polishing rue bars are just generic bars. I start with a black emory rue on a medium sewn 6 inch wheel running on a 4000 rpm bench grinder. I work it until I get a even semi polish look with no visible streaking. I move then to a brown or clay rue on a 6 inch loose sewn wheel on the bench grinder too. This is where I use several different directions of movement and different amounts of pressure until I get it to a real polish shine. I then wash it all real good with soapy hot water. Once it is cleaned and dried I move on to an un-sewn 6 inch wheel with white rue and I lightly buff the surface for a rather long time. It is hard to tell the difference while you work, but after a good bit of time, when you compare the part to one that has not had the final buffing, the shine of the finished part has a much cleaner and warmer shine to it with much more of a mirror like reflection. I wash it all good at this point with soap and water.

I have been thinking of using a clear coat in order to protect the polish but have not done it yet.

Twisted you know I respect you brother and I promise I am not hijacking your thread just thought I would throw this out there for all those wanting to do it yourself polish...Lowes carries the bench grinder size polishing wheels and small sticks of polish that are very economical if anyone needs some that are great for doing small parts etc. just be careful as the wheels will snatch a part out of your hand and throw it across the shop quickly if you let it! Also we hand polish alot of parts and all rims especially, and when doing most all parts we sand them down to a mirror smooth surface before polishing which you will definately have to do on cast or machine finish parts. And when polishing large pieces or circular pieces polishing is directional so for an even finish all around make sure you polish a large piece in one direction or a circular piece work from the the middle out all the way around if using a polishing wheel or it will leave what looks like streaking in the finish. If hand polishing a lot of people like the mothers which we use too but if you can find it White Diamonds is awesome just make sure you use white diamonds with a dry cloth as if you apply it with a damp or wet cloth it turns to glue and you wil never get it off!

I am glad you put this on here Joey, I told you I could learn something from you on the polishing!

You have your polishing down bro I told you it looks awesome! I just put that out there in case other folks wanted to pick up affordable polishing supplies, you ever try the white diamonds? it stays wet a long time and is the most unbelievable hand polish I have ever used, I was only able to find it at truck stops for years but actually saw it in advanced auto parts the other day, it is a little pricey at $16 a bottle but one bottle goes a very long way as it takes very little to polish with it! I can put you some in a little bottle and send it to you if you wanted to test it

Caroline got several miles put on her yesterday and ran great, so I took her to work today too. Once I got to my office I noticed a strong burning oil smell so I inspected her. Turns out she has developed a pretty severe oil leak from around the shifter, and dripping on the pipes! DAMN IT! If it is not on thing its another! Anyway I have ordered the seal, but what really ticked me off was the cost of shipping. Its a $2.50 part, but $6.50 to ship it. The seal would fit in a envelope for gods sake, a stamp is only 47 pennies!

Anyway, I should have the seal in a few days and it should be a quick fix.

Took the primary cover off to get to the oil seal that needs replacing and found another problem. The old primary sproket has lost all but three of its teeth! Seriously all of the teeth except for three of them have the tips of the teeth missing! So now I will have to order a new drive sproket. On another note, my camera is roached so no pics, but I am sure ther are a few of you out there that know what damn near 40 years of road grime, grit, and grease under a primary cover looks like! If not, then stop being a pussy and get dirty!

I hope to get her back on the road quick as Barber is coming up in less than a month! Wish me luck!