The carb insulator problem
The rubber insulator between the carb and the head is cracked, Honda doesn't make it anymore, and nobody has a good one. So I'm making one.
One bike · one garage · no idea what I was getting into
A 1984 Honda XL350R, bought not running.
Eight hundred dollars, a trailer ride home, and a few surprises I did not see in the listing photos. This is the log of getting it back on the road, kept in public because when I went looking for clear photos of where everything goes on this bike, there weren't many.
STATUS: NOT RUNNING YET · LAST ENTRY OCT 4, 2026
The running tally
- 39days owned
- 13hours in the garage
- $800spent, bike included
- 0parts replaced
- 0things I broke
- 0attempts on my life
- 0times it has run
Hours and dollars add up from the build log automatically. The other numbers I update by hand, usually after a short walk to cool off.
Latest from the garage
Build log
Under the tank
Tank off, airbox out, first proper look at the wiring and the intake. Photos of how it was before I touched anything.
Day one: $800 and a trailer
Bought a non-running 1984 XL350R off a listing. Got it home. Started counting the surprises.
Where does this go?
Photo atlas
Detail shots sorted by region of the bike instead of by date. Hose routing, bracket orientation, which bolt is the long one. The stuff you need when yours is in a bin.
Problems solved, mostly
Parts & fixes
Carburetor insulator
The spacer between the carb and the head. OEM is gone. I'm modeling a replacement to have CNC machined, and may make extras.
The reference shelf
Library
The shop manual, the wiring diagram, torque specs and carb settings, in one place and searchable. Go to the library →