New member, new owner, lots of novice questions.

[Buddy511]

At age 62 I am now the proud owner of my first motorcycle. A barn find 305 scrambler. It was headed to the dump when my wife rescued it for me.

As best I can tell it is all original. Plates indicate it was last used in 1977.

I took it to a private shop who got it running for me. Work included:
cleaning and coating the inside of the fuel tank, new battery, new tires, adjust clutch and brakes, rebuild the carb, two new coils, compression check.

I rode it for the first time yesterday and realized I know nothing about it. My novice questions.

1) what are the 3 positions on the ignition switch? Off is self explanatory, then a red dot, then another position. What is correct for starting, riding the bike.

2) The tail light seems to be on all the time, but I don't get a brake light when using the foot or hand brake (is this related to question 1?)

3) How do you remove the seat?

4) How do I remove the air filter, and where can I get new ones?

5) Is there a source to buy a reproduction owners manual? I also need one tank emblem and new rubber for the foot rests.

5) What is the gear shift sequence? bottom to top, 1st, neutral, 2nd, 3rd, 4th?

6) how can I determine what year my bike was made? It is blue, original paint with chrome fenders.

7) Is there a trick to starting it, relative to choke setting etc. It is kick start only and was a bear to get it started, but when I did get it going it ran pretty well.

Thanks in advance for tolerating what I am sure are elementary questions to 99% of this forum. I greatly appreciate any advice /info you can provide.

thanks, Buddy

[pemdoc65]

Most of my experience is with CB77's, but I may be able to help with a few of the questions.

1. The ignition switch positions should be off, on, park. In park, you will only have the tail light on.

2. The brake light should only come on with the foot brake. There is a switch attached to the pedal for that. There is no front brake actuated light on that bike.

5. I have not seen any reproduction owner's manuals, but they come up on ebay every now and then. You should get Bill Silver's Restoration Guide. He has also written a book on Honda Scramblers. There are reproduction service manuals available on ebay.
For the emblem and the foot peg rubbers, try Classic Honda Restoration.

http://www.classichondarestoration.com/

5. (The second #5) That is the correct shift pattern.

6. Although it is difficult to say exactly what year it was made, the white tag on the wiring harness under the tank should have a year on it that is close. That is assuming that no one has replaced the wiring harness. There are probably some details specific to the scrambler that can narrow it down, but I'm not as familiar with them.

Congratulations on saving it from the dump! You'll have fun.

[Hoosier Tom]

As best I can tell it is all original.

If you post pictures we can help you determine what is/isn't original if it matters to you.

how can I determine what year my bike was made? It is blue, original paint with chrome fenders.

If it is original candy blue paint with chrome fenders it would be a 1967. If you post the frame number (VIN) along with the engine number it would help us help you. Again, pictures would be helpful. Also, try and update your profile information with the city where you live. Someone may live down the street or in your area and can offer their help. That happened when a young man posted Logansport as his location. He wound up living a block away from me.

HT

[Buddy511]

Thanks to both for the replies, I will be able to get pictures in the next day or two and will post them.

Buddy