The Service Dept

THE SERVICE DEPT

WALT FULTON

The Service Column welcomes all requests for advice regarding motorcycle maintenance, principles of operation and riding techniques. In order that your questions might be answered most effectively, please include model year and engine, frame and model numbers.

COOL OIL'S A BREEZE

own a Honda CB350, and because oj the warm climate in my country, there is a problem with the camshaft wearing itself out very quickly. This is caused because the oil arriving to the head is very hot, doesn’t permit sufficient oiling, and also causes the oil pressure to drop in a dangerous way.

I think that I could solve the problem by affixing an oil cooler. While planning this radiator, I faced some problems that I can’t overcome, and I would sincerely thank you if you could give me the proper answers.

First, I would like to know where will be the most efficient place to contact the radiator. Also I would like to know what the oil pressure is just as the oil comes out of the pump.

Another question is, what’s the oil pressure in the inspection screw mountec^^on the left side of the engine, c^Qrding to the engine’s rpm? I would like to ask, too, if there is a possibility of getting graphic drawings that illustrate the difference in the oil pressure with the oil radiator and without it, or any other drawings that could help me solve the problem.

Mrs. A. Boltin Ramat Chen, Israel

American Honda is unable to furnish us with the oil pressure figures, but we are certain that the premature wear on the camshaft is caused by something besides hot oil and the climate in your country.

With the K3 and K4 CB350s a heavy-duty oil pump is used in place of the earlier unit. The extra flow volume of the older pump actually caused unsupported sections of the left and right

Äkcase gaskets to flutter and break . Pieces were then carried through the oil passages. The pieces would become lodged where the passages turn at the cylinder studs and lead to the head.

It is this restriction that prevents oil from properly lubricating the cams.

It is necessary to completely clean all oil passages when replacing the camshaft for this type of wear. The illustrations show the gaskets and the areas that need to be removed, unless a new modified gasket is available to you.

The CB350, we feel, does not require an oil cooler. If your mind is made up, then mount it on the frame down tube where it will receive some cooling air. There is no substantial difference in oil pressure with or without a cooler.

GROOVIN' IN THE RAIN

After three years of reading other people’s problems with motorcycles, dealers and the local “law,” I’ve come up against my first real motorcycle problem...rain grooves. After pushing a ‘71 Honda CB350K3 through dust, heat, mud, snow and potholes while residing in Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan and now San Francisco, I’ve finally found a state full of roads I can’t handle.

During my first sweep around the Bay area, I repeatedly nearly lost control on patches of rain-grooved highway.

From 30 mph up to the raw edge of my nerves, at various rear shock settings, front and rear tire pressures, and with bled and refilled front forks, my Honda and a rain groove are totally incompatible. I have 6080 miles on my original-equipment 3.50-18 rear and 3.00-18 front Bridgestone tires. From the fact that they’re wearing like iron, I gather that softer rubber is available, but is that the way to go?

I can see money and time being poured into this problem out of blind desperation so please...help!

So far, my California riding consists of commutes to work (no grooves between here and there), and suburban puttering around with every major highway barred as effectively as if barbed wire blocked the entrances. Dropping from 50 to 30 mph, in a headlong wobbling plunge for the shoulder of the road with a Mack truck breathing up my

pipes, is aging me too rapidly.

As to my Honda’s other vices, there have been very few. As my mileage shows, the bike was not purchased for long trips, and vibration in grips and pegs on the few I’ve tried have confirmed that shortcoming.

A cold-natured tendency to foul plugs has occasionally reared its head also, but I’m not usually willing to wait for warm up either so I can’t fault Mr. Honda too heavily there.

And that brings me to a CB350’s glory. Reliability. When my bottom hits a seat, car or motorcycle, that vehicle rolls or it’s junked! I can and do service my own, but, by god, I’ll decide when! No loosening bolts, flopping chains, loose wires, cracking whoozits or missing whatsits... this bike stays together!

You may roar past me in a curve or “smoke” me off with ease from a light, but I’ll purr right past you while you’re parked just a mile further on hunting for that one loose wire that’ll never be found.

Now if I can just get the State of California to pave over every rain groove and put them in at right angles to the road the way God intended....

Bob Cape Foster City, CA

We aren’t so sure that God intended rain grooves to run at right angles to the direction of travel. That, beyond a doubt, would give you a lot more grief than you already have. Of all the bikes that we test in a year’s time, it is unusual to find one that reacts in such a violent manner as yours. There are, of course, instances that we hear of from time to time, but they are usually traced back to the owner or dealer.

Here are a few suggestions. Tire pressure will effect the handling to an extent, but not so radically as to account for your problem. It is conceivable that your tires are worn to the limit, even though you can’t see it. But before you go to the expense of replacing them, check wheel alignment. Remember, just because each side of the axle is adjusted to the same mark on the swinging arm, this is no assurance that the wheel is straight.

We take it that you don’t carry a lot of extra gear with you. This can present a problem to the road rider who brings everything but the kitchen sink. Remember to equalize whatever load you do carry. Also, have you ever dropped the bike? This could have tweaked the frame or forks, which would put the wheels out of line.

There are many people who feel the same way you do about rain grooves. This is evidenced by signs being erected warning of these inconveniences. Aside from all that, lets realize that we are in the minority of highway users, the majority does benefit from these grooves. Whether we like it or not, that’s the way it is.