Tune Motorcycle Carburetors, Idle & Adjust Throttle Cable

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This video series features the complete restoration of a 1972 CL350 Honda Scrambler motorcycle. The videos should help anyone whether working on a cafe racer build or a full-on original restoration. I'm definitely not an expert so please refer to your manuals for proper disassembly and assembly instructions. Please leave comments if you have any questions. I'll be happy to help answer questions if I can confidently provide solutions. Again, I'm not a professional. This is my 2nd Honda motorcycle restoration and I'm learning every single day. I'd love to hear your tips if you have better ways to do things. I hope you find the series useful and entertaining. I strive to show as much detail as possible so that the videos can be used as not only a how-to resource but also a reference for the placement and original set up of parts and systems.
If you don't have one already please get a manual for your specific project. There are many available online for download for free. Common Motor Collective, from which I source many of my replacement parts, has a fantastic resource on their website: bit.ly/CBManuals You can also join groups on Facebook and get involved in the community.
Keep on wrenching, Friends! b
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Your support is extremely appreciated. THANK YOU!

[@kaseybowen]

One of the best if not the best videos on this topic on youtube. Explain very well at a good pace. Thank you

[@KeepOnWrenching]

That’s great to hear. Thanks for taking the time!

[@JabberWacky970]

This was so so helpful. Your channel is the closest thing I have to an in person mentor. Thank you so much for everything throughout the restoration processes!!

[@KeepOnWrenching]

That’s so great to hear, man! Glad the channel is useful to so many.

[@rmfun-qo3ge]

You have great videos! I recently dove into the world of old honda's buying a 1970 cb350. These bikes all deserve a second life! Keep on wrenching,and riding!! Thanks

[@dieseltu1035]

Thank you ,I'm on the verge of starting my dad's 1970 sl350. Awesome work

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Go get it! Good luck. I hope the channel is useful

[@terrencenbanbury5220]

I am so impressed with the amount of work that you put in on this bike. You started from almost zero. Amazing. Thanks for showing the way. Now off to the garage to adjust the carbs.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Good luck, man! I’m honestly a bit amazed myself how well the 72 turned out. Lol

[@BFox-zs2uu]

Great video, just getting into this and so helpful. Especially taking it slow for those of us who don't come from much mechanical background! Nice pace!

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Great to hear! I’m glad it was helpful. I hope you get yours humming soon. Good luck!

[@zachfender8693]

Congratulations on finishing it up Brian it looks freaking awesome been hooked on the videos for a while now hopefully you will continue with another project keep up the great work

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Thanks, Zach. I really appreciate the support. Coming up with ideas for some future vids and next steps. Hopefully keep this going. Still a couple things to do on this one.

[@Basscrabb57]

Thanks for these videos Brian, I find them genuinely useful

[@KeepOnWrenching]

That’s awesome to hear, Andy. What a great compliment. Thank you.

[@nickjames205]

Dude you have done such a great job on this bike. Your patience has really paid off.and you're right I hear a lot of people referencing one-and-a-half when it comes to the airmixture screw. Maybe that's why I've been getting fouled plugs I got to go back down to three quarters and go from there.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Thanks, man. Can’t hurt to give it a try. I need to check my plugs after riding a bit. Now the maintenance begins. Lol

[@nickjames205]

@@KeepOnWrenching yeah. hey let me ask you something so you know how the muffler's have a little hole where condensation can come out there should be one on each muffler the top and the bottom. When you get a chance check and see if you have exhaust coming out of those. Cuz I noticed I have exhaust coming out of the bottom one but not the top.so it throws off the pressure one of my mufflers is stronger than the other when the exhaust is coming out.

[@TulaTom]

Congratulations! It must feel incredibly satisfying to bring that bike back from the dead.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Literally back from the dead. Lol. Felt great. What a process.

[@ToadSprocket-bv6sy]

You can pull the threads in the spark plug hole, taking the plug in and out on a hot engine. Especially on a aluminum head. Then your screwed. Have to heli- coil it. Which isnt a bad thing. You cant strip the threads then. But with a heli-coil the plug fits loose until its tight.

[@CodyBonanno]

This was an awesome video! Don't even a bike yet, but I am learning before I do!

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Fantastic! I hope you find one you love soon. Go get it!

[@davidaldrich3488]

lookin good Brian....Thanks for all the videos.....Have been looking back and had to remove my swing arm because I didn't know there were inside rubber dust boots without your video. Found them in my parts bin........ good job

[@NorthPoleDesign]

Howdy! Just bought a '72 CL350 Scrambler and am looking forward to learning everything I can on how to keep her up & running! Thank you for the pro tip on other manuals for these bikes! I noticed you have a free Low Rez Download of the Chilton's Manual - is there a paid version for higher resolution? Thanks! I would love to find an old hardcover version! A guy can dream!

[@KeepOnWrenching]

That’s a great bike. Send a message via the website.

[@seriousros7280]

We had the 250 version of the Honda twin in England mine is a 1970 K1 I'm in process of resurrecting it (and me as a rider) after a 15 year break. Thanks very useful video btw my electric starter never worked so I'm kickstarting It's not having it at mo ........... I'll persevere

[@KeepOnWrenching]

There are starter rebuild kits! Glad the vids are helpful.

[@seriousros7280]

thanks - good exercise tho@@KeepOnWrenching

[@greghamilton5461]

Perfect. Looks good and Runs Good Brian. Congratulations. Thanks for Vids and attention to detail. Great reference.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Thanks, Greg. Got a couple last items to tidy up. Glad to finally take it for a spin.

[@mfc392]

Thanks for info! Working on my CL450.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

My pleasure. Good luck with your project!

[@SinglefinPhil]

@KeepOnWrenching thanks for the tips! I noticed you did this with the choke wide open, wouldn’t that impact the rpm’s quite a lot?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Oh it definitely will. I think those adjustments should be done on a warm engine. Otherwise you’re chasing your tail.

[@SinnerSince1962]

Brian, noticed your points leads rubber grommet was not locked into place behind the cover. Also, the tach cable needs lube? Thanks for the video. I'm going to try this.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

You should definitely live up the cable. Thanks for the heads up.

[@alextrapppainter]

This has been so helpful. TY!! Question: I ride at good speeds between 60 to 70 for half an hour (hwy) then come to a stop and during the deceleration the Left Cylinder cuts off, then jumps on then eventually turns off for a good 10 min while I wait for it to cool down. Then I start up and ride again for a good 10 min then it starts doing it again... All is good until I slow down... So weird! Thinking electric but can carbs cause spark to drop? No popping or anything. I followed your path here. It's dialed so nice. All day at low speeds are fine. But can't go from fast (5000 rmp) to slow without Left cylinder cutting out.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Make sure you’re fully charged! Could be a weak condenser

[@matthewpawlak7068]

Great video my friend! Super helpful )

[@KeepOnWrenching]

That’s great to hear

[@ceyperl]

Really nice explanation

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Thanks!

[@teddycarr4680]

Hey I’m having trouble getting fuel from my brand new petcock from common motor and when I start it up the bike revs to 6k immediately any ideas?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

The high revs would indicate an air leak somewhere. Usually around the manifolds or sometimes even within the carb. When it is running, spray some carb cleaner around the various connections to see if you can get the engine to slow down. If it does, that's where your air leak is. For gas flow, try it without the gas cap on to see if that makes a difference. If no difference, it's something in your carbs that is off. Might need to tear into those again to confirm no obstructions in the various passages, etc. Also, check the float height. I hope this helps.

[@greghamilton5461]

Brian Would it matter if you had he bike on the Center stand?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Not that I’m aware of. I think centerstand would be the way to go tho.

[@CCitis]

I can't get my CL 450 to run smoothly. I am going to try the single cylinder method. One plug always looks worse than the other, so maybe this will help me isolate it.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

It’s finicky stuff, man.

[@davidaldrich3488]

picked up the mystery oil and compression tester....thanks for tip here

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Thanks, David! That’s so awesome. Glad you caught the dust boots. Can’t thank you enough for the support.

[@henrydreilingproductions]

Hey man, I love your videos. They've been very insightful. I'm having an issue with carb tuning that I was wondering if you might be able to help with. My left carb tunes up perfectly with the method you show here. However when I isolate my right carb it seems like I'm chasing the idle. When i do finally get it right and move on to the mix it takes a lot of turns open for the idle to die, then when I close it up the idle improves to the point where the screw is all the way in and the idle has increased by 400 rpm or so. I checked to make sure my jets are the same in both carbs and they are. Any tips?

[@williamrodriguez5271]

Did you figure this out? I’m in the same spot.

[@onemanhisdub1969]

Hello there.... I've been watching your videos and think you or a subscriber may be able to help! I have a Honda cj250t, which is very similar to the cj360t etc... I cannot get this bike to idle 😫 Runs fine when you give it revs but will not idle... If I adjust the idle, when I give it some throttle it settles at a ridiculously high rpm... I have full spark, correct timing with points and valve settings are good. I'm tearing my hair out with this one... Please help.... All the best David.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Sounds like you could have an air leak. Have you tried spraying wd-40 around the carbs, intake boots, etc? Could also have a tear in your carb diaphragms.

[@edwardgolonka-jd4sc]

Hey got anything for Ct90 trail as far as adjustment? Thx

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Sorry. I do not

[@cylekeltner1261]

You make excellent videos....just sayin

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

[@robertmedrano9790]

Beautiful…!👍

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Glad you like it!

[@HepcatHarley]

Great job and probably the toughest part to get right. Just be careful leaving your spark plugs next to an open cylinder hole, you could cause a fire. So how's she running? Have you rechecked the spark plugs for colour etc?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Haven’t checked the plugs yet. It ran really well...did you catch the Easter egg at the end of the video? Great point on the plug near the port. I need to get a metal clip or something. Didn’t think of that. Thanks, Hepcat.

[@HepcatHarley]

@@KeepOnWrenching Use an old spark plug strapped to the handle of a clamp with a jubilee clip, easy peasy :)

[@KeepOnWrenching]

All these years I thought they were called hose clamps. Who knew. This is much more fun.

[@HepcatHarley]

@@KeepOnWrenching I'm just educating you in the ways and terminology of us Englishmen lol

[@HepcatHarley]

@@KeepOnWrenching So dare I ask without making you shudder...what did this rebuild cost? If you don't even want to think about it, I'll understand lol

[@perezworkz]

Im having a high idle problem, no air leaks, cables not in the way…. Once the bike runs for 20 min, she starts acting up ( high idle )

[@KeepOnWrenching]

So I posted your issue in our Facebook Group and checking your diaphragms came up. You may want to go look at the comments there. Lots of suggestions.

[@lizg8622]

Do you think this would work on my CL 450?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

I believe the concept is very similar.

[@whippersnappermoto1286]

What is the blue light under your tank? Look like electrical flash?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Electronic ignition

[@rebelreloading5265]

Thanks man

[@KeepOnWrenching]

No problem!

[@christopheroliver6704]

Where is the idle adjust screw for the 360 ?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

I’m not sure. I don’t have a 360

[@milmex317th]

The Clymer manual for the cmx 250ca is very disappointing.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Most are.

[@sfdrcm]

The only copy of that Chilton book is $768 on Amazon. Maybe you could run off come copies.

[@mikeeger7581]

Try not to use the clamps you have for fuel lines get the squeeze scissor kind because with road vibrations I’ve had the screwdriver screw on heavy clamps you are using tend to cut thru plastic and rubber

[@mikeeger7581]

Ask me how I know and it doesn’t take long for it to wear through either. FYI Brian. Great job on the bike

[@KeepOnWrenching]

You know I’ve noticed that on my 70. Totally. I can look into some proper clips.

[@mikeeger7581]

Seems to be geared more towards my twin tho the 400 cm s

[@KeepOnWrenching]

It’s quicker than my 70 CB. Feels peppier.

[@blackvine1782]

mine's kickstart only, maaaan i'm not looking forward to that!

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Oh I don’t blame you!

[@James_Sovereign]

If you think a Clymer manual is shit wait until you get a Haynes one.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

That’s what I’ve heard. Lol. That Clymer is useless.

[@normandosantos7591]

🎉

[@KeepOnWrenching]

I hope this helped!

[@mikeeger7581]

Dktoasted. Net online is I believe the site that is the Honda twin shop manual

[@lescorox]

Unbelievable!!

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Right!?