[ol55]

I thought it was time to move away from the technical help for a while. After sitting for 28 years the bike is now able to go around the block and I am wondering what to do next. What does a bike that has been sitting that long need? It looks to have about 8K on it. The front tire tread has some serious dry rot and I would like to replace it with something stock looking but safe. The back tire looks ok. Are new bike tires radial? Is there one brand that stands out?
Thanks,
Larry

 

[66Sprint]

Some bias tires are still available..... Finding a quality tire that "looks" stockish is hard to do....You will be much better off with a modern compound tire in approximately the metric equalivalent size......AND remember, just because you can't yet see dry rot, doesn't mean that the other tire is good...It is as old as the obviously bad one...Replace both tires and both tubes, rim bands, etc......Your life does depend on them, even at relatively slow speeds.... Check the brakes (physical inspection and measurement, not just the "they seem to work OK" bit....
Drivechain and sprockets are another often overlooked area......
I assume you already changed the oil.......
Please excuse the scolding, ....but you asked.....and I'd rather have you safe and upset with me, than upset in traffic or on the highway...... Steve

 

[Jason TEAM SHRALP]

cam chain tension, if the bike runs loud or sounds "loose" inside, check the tension or your bike will look like mine...

How's the front end dip when hard braking? if you sag a ton, maybe pull the forks and replace the oil.

As mentioned before check them brakes. If they are wet, do they even work at all?

And get some fresh rubber, try some Avon tires, or Bridgestone/Firestone makes some cool older looking tires.
avon http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/?page=tyres&method=listtyres&cat=9

firestone/bridgestone http://www.motorcycle-karttires.com/tires.aspx?LookupID=Prod

 

[ol55]

Thanks for the tire link. These look like what I need but they don't list the size that is on the bike now-3:00 -18. Use a wider tire? 3:50-18;

 

[ol55]

I removed the front wheel to finally change the tire. What else do I need to do for maintenance while it is off?. The rotor has lines on it but no deep grooves. The bearings do not feel rough. I broke the end of the speedo casing-can I use shrink tubing to repair?

Larry

 

[Bird76Mojo]

The rotor thickness might be checked. It'll have it stamped on the inner part, what the minimum thickness will be. The speedo cable looks screwed, but maybe you can come up with a clever fix? If the bearings look clean and rotate well, then they're probably fine. If they are'nt the sealed variety (probably are) then you could clean them out with solvent and repack them with grease. Actually you can repack the rubber sealed variety but it requires removing the seal, which I do not like to do.

GB :mrgreen:

 

[ol55]

The inside of the wheel has some rust - this is the worst of it. Rust reformer and or paint? I can get some POR15 but then I wonder if I could get the spokes out if I needed to. [still experimenting with picture size]-Larry

 

[ol55]

Some bias tires are still available..... Finding a quality tire that "looks" stockish is hard to do....You will be much better off with a modern compound tire in approximately the metric equalivalent size......AND remember, just because you can't yet see dry rot, doesn't mean that the other tire is good...It is as old as the obviously bad one...Replace both tires and both tubes, rim bands, etc......Your life does depend on them, even at relatively slow speeds.... Check the brakes (physical inspection and measurement, not just the "they seem to work OK" bit....
Drivechain and sprockets are another often overlooked area......
I assume you already changed the oil.......
Please excuse the scolding, ....but you asked.....and I'd rather have you safe and upset with me, than upset in traffic or on the highway...... Steve

Thanks again Steve. Both tires almost done and brakes checked. Drivechain and sprockets look good.

About that oil... the PO said he changed it right before I bought the bike. So now I am wondering what viscosity to use here in Northern VA. Do I use the same in the front forks?

Also my swing arm has grease fittings. Same grease I use for car ball joints ok?

Do they make a chain oil that doesn't turn the wheel black?

 

[66Sprint]

I run the specified 10-40 in the engine (450 Honda) and use 15wt fork oil most of the time.....Some run ATF in their forks, I do too occaisionally on certain purpose oriented bikes.... I use a chain lube that sprays on as a foam then turns to a light grease, wipe off excess (still messy)..... Any good general purpose grease is OK in the swingarm if you keep it fresh and maintained (re-pack every oil change)..... JMHO... Steve

 

[Jonnydaytona]

I thought it was time to move away from the technical help for a while. After sitting for 28 years the bike is now able to go around the block and I am wondering what to do next. What does a bike that has been sitting that long need? It looks to have about 8K on it. The front tire tread has some serious dry rot and I would like to replace it with something stock looking but safe. The back tire looks ok. Are new bike tires radial? Is there one brand that stands out?
Thanks,
Larry

I love Avons....but they are $$$$$. For the look and price, I think Firestones are hard to beat when you have an older bike.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

I run the specified 10-40 in the engine (450 Honda) and use 15wt fork oil most of the time.....Some run ATF in their forks, I do too occaisionally on certain purpose oriented bikes.... I use a chain lube that sprays on as a foam then turns to a light grease, wipe off excess (still messy)..... Any good general purpose grease is OK in the swingarm if you keep it fresh and maintained (re-pack every oil change)..... JMHO... Steve

Repack the swingarm EVERY oil change??!! :shock: What what what??

Surely you mean to use a grease gun and wipe away the excess..? Or do you?

GB :mrgreen:

 

[66Sprint]

Of Course GB.... Pump enough in to expel the "dirty" grease at both sides of each bush.

 

[ol55]

Thanks GB for asking what I was wondering and thanks Steve for the clarification.

Like Jonnydaytona the Avons were a liitle too much $$$ and Pirelli's same deal so I ended up with Bridgestone Spitfires after reading about a sale here (Jason?).

Larry

 

[ol55]

I have the tires on and have driven just long enough to observe a few problems. The other night my turn signals would not come on, today they did. Can a low battery do this?

I now seem to have a vibration (foot going to sleep is the best I can describe it) through the foot pegs that I do not think was there before . How much vibration is normal?

I fixed the broken speedo cable with shrink tubing. Now I'll see how long it lasts.

Thanks,
Larry

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Have the tires been installed correctly? Direction of rotation? Valve stem at little blue dot? Correct pressure in BOTH? Balanced?

The vibration could be from the tires/wheels, or something altogether different.

GB :mrgreen:

 

[ol55]

I checked the rotation arrow and the dot location. They both are right. The tire says 41 psi and the bike says 26f/28r. Which is right?


Here is the speedometer cable shrink tubing fix. Works so far

 

[66Sprint]

26F...28R...

 

[sakibomb]

Holy sh*t. I have never thought to actually grease the swingarm on either on my bikes. I'll bet after 34 years the triple is asking me to pump that zerx.

Do 360's have a zerx fitting on the swing arm as well, if so i've never noticed it.

 

[ol55]

The grease went right in the right side but on the left the grease would not go in. I used a pin to clean it out and tried it again. It went too well as it pushed the fitting out! I'm assuming I can just tap it back in, hitting the flat edge rather than the tip.

Here is a picture as it is now

Is the black taillight bracket correct for '73? Were some or all of the 350's chrome?

Larry

 

[tbpmusic]

Is the black taillight bracket correct for '73? Were some or all of the 350's chrome?

Larry

I don't believe any CB350 (US model) had a chrome taillamp ,mount, all were black.