Trouble starting cb350g

astroscout7 · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:28 pm Post subject: Trouble starting cb350g

Total newbie question... I know, but my bike is incredibly hard to start and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions!?

I don't know if it's because it's so cold outside or what!? My electric start crapped out on me so I am having to kick it which doesnt seem to do the trick.. So then I give up and roll it down my driveway and try to pop it which only makes a slightly more promising sound.. Then I try kicking it for 5 minutes... Then it starts. It takes forever! But once I get it going and it warms up it'll start with one kick.

What gives!?

Hippykid · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 11:15 pm Post subject:

When you say the electric start crapped out what does that mean?I built a 73 CB350g (with the front disc)and
the battery had to be fully charged for the bike to turn over...clean carbs were a bonus...If you havent went thru
the carbs do that next...Try those and if you are still havin trouble then we'll go from there...

astroscout7 · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 11:48 pm Post subject:

Heres the quick history of the bike:

Bought a non-running stock bike and converted it into a cafe racer... Removed the airboxes, replaced with pod filters... Relocated smaller battery under the seat cowl... The carbs have been rebuilt.. Fixed some wiring issues.. Everything worked perfectly. Started it with electric start.. Rode it for about 45 minutes without any problems. Turned it off.. 5 minutes later tried to turn it on with electric start, but it just makes a clicking sound thereafter (crapped out)... Was still able to kickstart within a few times until the weather got cold bow it's very difficult to start...

Thanks for the help!

astroscout7 · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 11:54 pm Post subject:

Also, I feel compelled to say that I didn't do any of that work even though I bought the bike with the intention of learning how to work on it myself... As the summer was slipping away I decided to bring it to someone who could get the stock bike running, but it turned out they needed a website built and that is my cup o tea.. So we traded... Now it just needs some fine tuning. Fixing the horn and a screeching front brake are also on the list, but we'll get to those later....

MR.CHocko · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:59 am Post subject:

The CB350 is a very cold blooded bike. What happened is that your starter most likely burnt out. Remeber the bike is over 35 years old. Now all is not lost, you might be able to find a good working starter at a salvage yard or on ebay. You can also have yours rebuilt. But if you do decide to buy a used starter make sure that they tested it first.

zjeppe · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:01 am Post subject:

Battery & probably charging system probably gone south Confused

astroscout7 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:25 pm Post subject:

The battery is brand new and the stator was just replaced.. So I'm thinking the starter needs to be replaced, but is it so hard to kick over?

Rizingson · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:22 pm Post subject:

How about a voltage reading on the "New" battery. Also another reading when engine is running. We would really like an answer like "the battery has 12.xx volts" just once!! Is the smaller battery rated at the same amp/hr as the original? (maybe that's why it can't crank the motor) Many new batteries are ruined by the purchaser, by charging at too high a rate and too long a period of time after initial acid fill. If you don't have a digital meter 10 bucks for one would be a wise investment now and slightly cheaper than a new starter. Have you checked the timing, points condition and the all important "clean idle/needle and main jets". What do the spark plugs look like? The list of hard starting possibilities can get long.

dorT500 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject:

astroscout7 · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the feedback! I'll swing by the auto parts store in the next few days and see if they can help me getting a reading...

I had no idea the battery was so crucial to kickstarting the bike!? I thought that's why they had the kickstart in case your battery and/or electrical system failed.

Not sure if this is important to know, but when I put the key in, pre starting it, my neutral display lights up bright as well as the headlight and turn signals..

MR.CHocko · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:21 am Post subject:

Your battery maybe weak enough to power up the lights,etc. A strong battery is very critical when starting these bikes.

ol55 · Commuter Joined: Feb 09, 2009 Posts: 391 Location: VA

No offense---Are you using the choke when you try to start it cold? If you remove the pod filters and squirt a little starting fluid into the carbs will it start right up? This may help isolate the problem...

Larry

astroscout7 · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 6:45 am Post subject:

I've tried with the choke and without the choke... Neither way seems to make a difference. Have not tried starter fluid..

Bikegeezer · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:02 am Post subject:

MR.CHocko · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:56 am Post subject:

Listen to Stu's advice. It is very wise. You may have some other issues going here that you may have not noticed. First what I suggest you do is identify the problem. Which you already have. Second you need to diagnose the problem, NOT go in and try certain haphazard things like starter fluid. First check your battery, get a multimeter or have your battery tested. Find out if it is reading 12 volts. If it is then see if you are not getting fuel into your carbs. If you are not getting fuel into your carbs then check your fuel lines and the petcock.