Got my CB360T sputtering like a tired old lawnmower last Sunday afternoon. You know that feeling – engine coughing, power dropping out halfway through second gear. Classic symptoms screaming “fix me now.” Figured it’s time to roll up sleeves and dive into troubleshooting. Here’s exactly what went down.
Initial Suspects: Fuel & Spark
Always start simple, right? Killed the ignition first – safety first, people. Popped the fuel line off the carburetor bowl. Turned the petcock to PRI – no fuel came out. Hmm. Switched it to ON, kicked the engine over – still bone dry. Stupid petcock clogged solid from sitting too long. Yanked it off, blasted compressed air through every hole. Black gunk shot out like confetti. Reinstalled – fuel flowed smooth.
The Carb Tango
Fuel flowing didn’t solve it. Still had that nasty stumble when cracking the throttle. Time to face the music: carburetor teardown. Pulled both carbs off the bike – man, those intake boots were stuck like glue. Heat gun and wiggling finally got ‘em loose.
- Stripped every tiny screw, jet, and seal out
- Found the main jets half-clogged with orange varnish
- Float bowls coated in sticky goo
- Pilot jet holes totally blocked
Drowned everything in Berryman’s Chem Dip overnight. Next morning, scrubbed every hole, every pathway with a soft brass brush. One pilot jet took three passes with guitar string to clear. Reassembled carefully, synced ’em with a length of clear tube and some oil. Boots back on – felt like wrestling an octopus.
When Spark Plugs Lie
Fired her up – still uneven. Pulled plugs. Left side looked bone white, right side oily black. Chaos. Checked spark – left side coil was dead silent on a test light. Wiggled wires – still nothing. Remembered these old Honda twins eat ignition points for breakfast. Cracked open the points cover – mice had chewed the left point wire bare. Copper showing through. No spark? No surprise. Spliced in fresh wire, sanded points with fine grit, set gap with a feeler gauge. Plugged everything back. Hit the starter – VROOM! Smooth idle for the first time in months.
Final Boss Battle: Bad Ground
Took it for a victory lap around the block. Hit third gear – headlight flickered like a strobe at a disco. Kill switch felt hot. Shut it down fast. Traced the wiring harness with a test light. Found the main ground strap under the tank – corroded green. Scraped it raw with a knife and sandpaper, smeared dielectric grease thick as peanut butter. Rebolted it tight. Problem vanished. Bike finally breathed proper.
Lessons? Don’t trust one system. Fuel, spark, air – it’s a damn circus. And always, always check your grounds. Old bikes fight dirty.
