My Honda SL-100 fell through--the guy sold it out from under me. I found this one locally and thought it would be a different challenge. Its a 1974 XL350 K0 iin pretty good condition although it is running rough. I'll adjust the valves, rebuild the carb and replace all the ignition parts to see if I can get it running better.
It doesn't need any replacement parts although it needs a lot of refinishing. I'm going to strip it to the frame and have it powder coated, then clean/derust/repaint/rechrome all the hard parts. Rechroming has gotten expensive and luckily this doesn't have a lot. I'll replace a lot of the fastners, gaskets and rubber pieces too. I've got the factory service manual on order, can't wait to get started!
While waiting on the manual and tune-up parts I started tearing it down a little to see what I'd need to do.
Someone removed the turn signals a long time ago, but luckily, they put them in a box and the box kept going with the bike. When they replaced the signals, they put this piece from a XL250 on the bike.
This is the one I need to use the turn signals. Notice the brackets to attach the signals on the bottom of what Honda calls the number support.
Here are the turn signals ready to be polished and derusted. One will need replaced eventually as it looks like the bike slid down the road on it and ground off a good 1/4" of a corner. They are sill available from Honda. The bracket which attached that turn signal to the bike was bent, but I was able to straighten it out.
Here are the rear brackets. They need stripped and repainted.
Making progress on stripping the bike for the frame repaint. I think I'm goinig to repaint it instead of powder coating because powder coating is a PIA to mess with because its so thick. You have to scrape it off to get other pieces to fit. Ive' decided thinking about the engine makes my head hurt so I'm going to refinish the rolling chassis and worry about the engine when that is done.
You can see some of the rust on the frame in this picture, its not bad, but it just doesn't look good.
I'm replacing all the control cables--two were damged and all are rusty. I already have speedometer, front brake, and clutch cables on the way. I need to find a source for the tach cable as neither Honda or Motion Pro have one.
I'm going to repaint the upper and lower triple tree and ordered tapered roller bearings to replace the individual bearings which were stock.
I've also ordered the two bolts at the top of the fork tubes because these are rusty and rounded a little from a ham fisted mechanic.
The handlebars need rechroming because they have a lot of rust on them. I tried to clean it, but I think it'll just come right back.
The front fender is in good condition. I'll just respray it.
The tail light bracket is really rusty and its bent a little. The license plate will cover the bent part so I'm thinking of rechroming it instead of replacing it.
The tail light is rusty, I'm trying to decide between NOS and aftermarket.
The battery is pretty new, but the box is rusty and need sand blasted and resprayed.
The chrome guard on the muffler is in good condition. I ordered the insulators and screws that are used to mount it because they are rounded and rusty.
The side cover is in good condition. I ordered new decals and I'll respray it so its bright like the rest of the bike will be.
I ordered new sprockets and will get a new o-ring chain.
I also ordered new straps for the side cover, battery and tool bag.
I ordered a new tool bag and two of the missing tools.
I want to take the seat cover off and repaint the seat pan, but I'm leary of those little teeth that hold the cover on. I don't want to break them off.
The seat lock (the part with the two philips screw heads at thebottom of the picture) is broke, I ordered another one.
The front wheel is pretty good. First I'll check the spokes, then I'll take the brake shoes out and look at them, if everything is good I'll just install a new tire and tube and be done with.
The rear wheel is pretty good too. Same procedure as the front.
You can see the swing arm is a little rusty. I'll respray it and replace the bushings.
This is the only part I'd like to powder coat. The skid plate takes a lot of rock impacts. You can see the paint damage to the frame here too.
Just need some cleaning here.
Everything here seems to work well so just some cleaning.
I'll up date the post as I make progress on cleaning, stripping, repainting.
Once all that is done I'll contemplate the engine.
It doesn't need any replacement parts although it needs a lot of refinishing. I'm going to strip it to the frame and have it powder coated, then clean/derust/repaint/rechrome all the hard parts. Rechroming has gotten expensive and luckily this doesn't have a lot. I'll replace a lot of the fastners, gaskets and rubber pieces too. I've got the factory service manual on order, can't wait to get started!
While waiting on the manual and tune-up parts I started tearing it down a little to see what I'd need to do.
Someone removed the turn signals a long time ago, but luckily, they put them in a box and the box kept going with the bike. When they replaced the signals, they put this piece from a XL250 on the bike.
This is the one I need to use the turn signals. Notice the brackets to attach the signals on the bottom of what Honda calls the number support.
Here are the turn signals ready to be polished and derusted. One will need replaced eventually as it looks like the bike slid down the road on it and ground off a good 1/4" of a corner. They are sill available from Honda. The bracket which attached that turn signal to the bike was bent, but I was able to straighten it out.
Here are the rear brackets. They need stripped and repainted.
Making progress on stripping the bike for the frame repaint. I think I'm goinig to repaint it instead of powder coating because powder coating is a PIA to mess with because its so thick. You have to scrape it off to get other pieces to fit. Ive' decided thinking about the engine makes my head hurt so I'm going to refinish the rolling chassis and worry about the engine when that is done.
You can see some of the rust on the frame in this picture, its not bad, but it just doesn't look good.
I'm replacing all the control cables--two were damged and all are rusty. I already have speedometer, front brake, and clutch cables on the way. I need to find a source for the tach cable as neither Honda or Motion Pro have one.
I'm going to repaint the upper and lower triple tree and ordered tapered roller bearings to replace the individual bearings which were stock.
I've also ordered the two bolts at the top of the fork tubes because these are rusty and rounded a little from a ham fisted mechanic.
The handlebars need rechroming because they have a lot of rust on them. I tried to clean it, but I think it'll just come right back.
The front fender is in good condition. I'll just respray it.
The tail light bracket is really rusty and its bent a little. The license plate will cover the bent part so I'm thinking of rechroming it instead of replacing it.
The tail light is rusty, I'm trying to decide between NOS and aftermarket.
The battery is pretty new, but the box is rusty and need sand blasted and resprayed.
The chrome guard on the muffler is in good condition. I ordered the insulators and screws that are used to mount it because they are rounded and rusty.
The side cover is in good condition. I ordered new decals and I'll respray it so its bright like the rest of the bike will be.
I ordered new sprockets and will get a new o-ring chain.
I also ordered new straps for the side cover, battery and tool bag.
I ordered a new tool bag and two of the missing tools.
I want to take the seat cover off and repaint the seat pan, but I'm leary of those little teeth that hold the cover on. I don't want to break them off.
The seat lock (the part with the two philips screw heads at thebottom of the picture) is broke, I ordered another one.
The front wheel is pretty good. First I'll check the spokes, then I'll take the brake shoes out and look at them, if everything is good I'll just install a new tire and tube and be done with.
The rear wheel is pretty good too. Same procedure as the front.
You can see the swing arm is a little rusty. I'll respray it and replace the bushings.
This is the only part I'd like to powder coat. The skid plate takes a lot of rock impacts. You can see the paint damage to the frame here too.
Just need some cleaning here.
Everything here seems to work well so just some cleaning.
I'll up date the post as I make progress on cleaning, stripping, repainting.
Once all that is done I'll contemplate the engine.