Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Anything else ya ride!
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allspeed
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Location: East Sussex

Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by allspeed » Fri Dec 29, 2017 12:00 pm

Diesel Dave wrote:
Wed Dec 20, 2017 9:16 pm
Might need a sympathetic MOT tester...........
On the subject of mot, is it legal to have no indicators? I had a 2006 125 monkey fail in the summer as they weren't fitted. I did get a daylight Mot which has done me just dandy
.
Is the XL exempt due to its age?

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Newtsalad
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:11 pm

Yes the XL is indicator exempt by age, however if fitted they must work.

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Newtsalad
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:26 pm

Time for an update! :D

Set off Boxing day on my jack Jones to do some local byways. Aside from finding most of them closed by TRO's, I had a fair amount of fun.

See my post about joining the TRF. (Trail Riders Fellowship)

However, the bikes regular tickover was not to be, and it would mysteriously peter out. Exiting one byway, looking back I could see a vehicles restricted sign. There was no sign when I entered, and I could see zilch reason for a TRO, so decided a pic was in order.

The bike stalled as I took my pic. Fifty kicks later and with the light fading, the kickstarter broke. :shock:
I had no idea why it wasn't starting, and it didn't bode well for a bump start, even if I could get the rear wheel turning in gear.

Which after pushing it along the lane in 2nd gear with the back wheel locked solid, I realised wasn't going to work.

At this point I was 10 miles from home, and light was fading fast. Who could I call on Boxing day evening that wasn't too trolleyed to come and get me?
RAC? OK if I could survive the night I reckoned. I had a sinking feeling I was on my own. Not looking good!

Up ahead I could see a lane to the right going off across the fields, which looked like it had a gentle slope. So I pushed it the half mile or so to the junction, and was delighted to see the first part, if I included the entrance to a house on the junction, was a reasonable slope.

After some put-put-putting the bike fired, and I thrashed it mercilessly all the way home, keeping the revs up at every junction realising that hills to aid bump starting are in very short supply in Suffolk!

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Image

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Newtsalad
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project. Kickstart Ordeal.

Post by Newtsalad » Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:48 pm

So I got the bike home, but no further work to be done as no way to start it.

A Goggle on the web, revealed one kickstart for sale in the UK. Only £192 buy it now. :shock: :roll:

I measured the spline, and with what I read reckoned it was a 16mm spline, so I ordered a couple of pit bike kickers that supposedly were 16mm.

I didn't realise both were the same seller, the second one I ordered I thought was longer, however they both arrived in the same package only difference one was chromed the other was black paint.

It became obvious they were the wrong size, and although I opened one up some 3mm with a wedge, and it started to go on aided with a knockometer, I could see it was now oval, and likely to wreck the splines on the kickstarter shaft. I'd already checked the availability of the shafts, and If I thought the kickers were rare.... :o :o :o So that was already £35 wasted. :(

So one slide hammer later, it was in the bin and back to the drawing board. Almost. :D

In the meantime DRAG90 had been having a rummage, and came up with a kicker that fitted the spline on Christine's 500cc Honda in his workshop.

A trip to the fens later, and I was eagerly trying it for size. Yep, it was a fit. :D Not perfect, but does the job. The knuckle looks stronger. This one is cranked, and needed careful positioning between the casing and side panel. It rests on the new £130 side panel copies from Indonesia, so to prevet wear I stuck a clear vinyl patch on the side cover. Job's a good 'un, and many thanks to DRAG90 for getting me back on the road!

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Newtsalad
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:59 pm

So now, I needed to find out why the thing was not starting properly. And guess what, started 2nd kick. :x

By now I had taken delivery of a new 6v AC coil and condenser. It was from Hi-Level, but looked ok. ish.

Tank, seat, and coil removed, it became apparent I needed to fabricate a bracket to hold the coil, not a simple replacement. It involved welding studs, and welding captive nuts, and even drilling holes and stuff! :(

Long and short of it, it's sorted all the last two years of starting problems, that were so apparent when I took delivery of the bike. Everything about it screamed that it had suffered poor starting, from the kickstart, to the carb, to the minimal hacked back wiring eliminating lights, key, indicators, the lot.

So there we are.

Went out on New Years Day with BenB, Maverick and aliengravy, + 2 others, did over 40 miles of byways around Thetford, over 200 puddles(Ponds!) up to 2ft deep, with one witnessed to have come over my seat! Water came in my fly and wet my pants!

All in all around a 100 miles, the bike never missed a beat, and never cut out or died. Job's a good 'un, and the tyres were fab too.

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Bogger
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Bogger » Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:04 pm

I'd of checked the coil and condenser first if it were mine. :| .Just saying like.

Bogger :roll:

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Newtsalad
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Thu Jan 04, 2018 4:21 pm

Bogger wrote:
Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:04 pm
I'd of checked the coil and condenser first if it were mine. :| .Just saying like.

Bogger :roll:
Well I did change the condenser... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Coils were quite expensive, until I found a cheapy!

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Newtsalad
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Posts: 17611
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Wed Jan 24, 2018 12:40 pm

We got out New Years day. XL gave a brilliant account of itself.

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Newtsalad
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Wed Jan 24, 2018 1:07 pm

The bike is now booked on the train, Innsbruck to Dusseldorf, 7th June.At a cost of £140, and they will not accept changes to the booking, so thats a fair commitment to be taking the old girl! :lol:

The XL headlight is a sealed beam affair, replacement bulbs are around £70. Obviously, If I'm abroad and it fails, it would be a problem. Not that we plan riding in the dark, but no headlight on a bike even in daylight, is not good.

The UK spec. XL 250 does however have a metal headlamp shell as opposed to plastic, and the front assembly takes a regular bulb, more easily available than the sealed type.

However, I've had no luck finding one, and when they come up, they are very expensive.

This morning this little beaut rocked up, for the princely sum of £10.99, posted! :shock:

I have to say, I am absolutely bowled over by the quality, and value for money! It's dead smart! Even comes with a bulb, albeit 12v.

I just need to see now, if I can make it fit! :lol:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-Round-Moto ... 2749.l2649

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Newtsalad
Admin & site janitor.
Posts: 17611
Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 8:30 am
Rides:: XL1200c, Cali III, C125,GS750,XV535,XL350,BN125,C90's,C200's,CT200,Little Cub's
Location: Essex boy loose in Suffolk!

Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Wed Jan 24, 2018 8:58 pm

I did say it gave a good account of itself! :D


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