On Jan 5, 7:31 pm, Gunner Asch wrote:
Ive been trying to get that '74 Honda XL 350 to run properly...with no
luck.

Pulled the carby tonight checked everything, Replaced idle jet seals,
made sure float was at proper height.

Timed it, adjusted valves, point gap..the whole encilada.

Will idle just fine Coughs and runs ragged and will stall if adding
throtle. The idle screw seems to do very lttle if anything. Bike seems
to not care if choke is on or off.


Gunner, your thinking like a Company Engineer with access to unlimited
tools and free parts from the company store room - stop it! - you will
be ruined for civilised company.....start thinking like the
resourceful rat engineer we all know you are....

A few points, from this and previous postings...

have you checked there is fuel flow (ie, more than a leak) from the
tank? - if its been sitting for years, God knows what sediment / muck
is clogging the gauze filter at the bottom of the fuel taps. (or,
indeed, the fuel line to the carb)

Have you checked the exhaust port, even visually - is it carboned up?
- ( you said it was blowing smoke anyway) have you checked the exhaust
pipe and muffler, with an air line or a piece of stiff wire as a pull
through - maybe something has crawled in there and died?

Finally - the ignition system. You say you got a 6v coil and condenser
from an old truck - how old - must be eons, 6v systems went out in the
50's. How do you know the coil is good - obviously it fires, but what
happens when its loaded up, ie you open the throttle. I suggest you
temporary wire up a known good 12v one from an external car battery,
see what happens. You can then use your timing light to see if the
advance/retard thingy is working. And BTW - a 50yo condenser is likely
to be crook as well, either leave it out for the moment, or get a
known good one.

It comes down to carburetion or ignition - the ignition is the easiest
to prove. If it passes, then look at the carby suggestions others have
posted here.

And it will be a nice hooning around bike at the end of it - don't
worry about the camshaft bearings for the moment, it will/should run
reasonably even with stuffed ones. Spend big bucks when everything
else is proved.

Hope this helps, all recollections from when I was a penniless bum and
had to keep my bike gong.....

Andrew VK3BFA.