Description

Honda CB250, 360, CL360, CJ250T, CJ360T 1975 Workshop Manual

If you’ve ever tried to set the tappet clearance on a CB360 using a reprint from some third-party publisher, you know the problem: they cut corners, leave out steps, and sometimes print the wrong spec. That costs you time. That costs you gaskets. I’ve been turning wrenches since the 80s, and I’ve seen more than one cylinder head ruined because someone used an aftermarket torque table that was off by 10%. This Honda CB250, 360, CL360, CJ250T, CJ360T 1975 Workshop Manual is the real deal – a 173-page OEM document printed by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in 1976. It covers every model variant: CB250, CB360, CL360, CJ250T, and CJ360T. The factory built these bikes, and the factory wrote this manual. Nothing else comes close.

Cam Shaft and Valve Mechanism: Section II, Page 2

You want to pull the cylinder head on a CL360? This manual walks you through the cam shaft and valve mechanism starting on page 2. It covers the cam chain tension mechanism, the lubricating system, and the exact order of disassembly. The section on tappet clearance adjustment (page 17 in Inspection and Adjustment) gives you the cold-clearance numbers – no guesswork. I’ve seen guys try to use a generic 0.004-inch feeler gauge on these engines because some online forum said so. Honda says 0.05 mm intake, 0.08 mm exhaust – that’s about 0.002 and 0.003 inches. If you don’t have the factory spec, you’re flying blind. This manual keeps the valve train safe.

Electrical System Diagnostics – Factory Wiring Diagrams

The electrical section (Section VI, starting page 97) breaks down the charging system, ignition system, and starting motor. The wiring diagram lives on page 120 – not a reprint jpeg that’s been scanned three times and loses color codes. Honda printed this with actual wire colors labeled. The A.C. generator and starting motor removal procedure is on page 47. If you’re chasing a no-spark problem on a CJ360T, you need to verify the breaker point gap and ignition timing (page 18) before you start swapping coils. This manual gives you the dwell angle and the point gap in metric. No shortcuts.

7 Systems Covered in the Construction Section

Section II (Construction) doesn’t waste pages on theory. It lists seven systems: cam shaft and valve mechanism, cam chain tension mechanism, lubricating system, power transmitting system, carburetor, frame, and electrical system. Each one gets a dedicated subsection with exploded views and torque callouts. The carburetor section (page 6) shows the internal passages for the Keihin units used on the CB250 and CJ250T. Want to rebuild the clutch? Page 22 tells you the clutch plate thickness minimum and spring free length. The oil filter rotor cleaning procedure on page 24 is something most aftermarket manuals skip entirely – they’ll just say “replace filter” without showing you how to disassemble the centrifugal rotor. Honda expects you to do it right.

Real-World Audience: Who Needs This Manual?

If you’re a home garage guy with a 1975 CB360 that sat in a barn for twenty years, you need this manual. The engine removal and installation steps (page 31) give you the exact sequence for pulling the mill out of the frame – including which bolts come out first and which are captive. The special tools list (page 108) tells you exactly what Honda-designed tools you’ll need, and where you can improvise with a puller or a socket. For professional mechanics doing restoration work, this manual saves you from hunting through microfiche or calling a dealer that closed in 1995. The supplement sections (CB360T/CL360J/T on page 127, CJ250T/CJ360T on page 131) cover late-model differences that a generic manual would miss.

Why OEM Documentation Beats the Reprints

I don’t trust aftermarket documentation on principle. I’ve seen reprint houses scan the pages, lose the greyscale shading, and crop out the footnotes that say “torque to 2.0 kg-m” (that’s about 14.5 ft-lbs). This manual is a direct scan of the original Honda Service Publications Office document. The page numbers match the factory TOC. The tightening torque standard chart on page 111 gives you values in Newton-meters with engine-specific notes. The maintenance schedule (page 110) tells you when to adjust the cam chain, clean the oil filter rotor, and replace the spark plugs. If you’re working on a CJ250T, you’ll find the unique clutch cable routing on page 132 in the supplement. No generic stuff.

Check out these related factory manuals for other Honda twins: Honda CB250 CB400N 1978-1984 Workshop Manual for the later models, HONDA CB/CL/SL 250/350 Shop Manual for the earlier generation, and Honda CB250/350 CL250/350 Shop Manual for more coverage. For broader context on auto repair standards, see the Automotive Industry Overview from authoritative sources. The Manual Transmission page on Wikipedia offers a decent primer on gearbox basics, but nothing beats the Honda-specific procedures in this manual.

FAQ

Does this manual cover the fuel system beyond the carburetor?

Yes. The manual includes the carburetor section (page 21) with float level specs, pilot screw adjustment, and throttle cable routing. It also covers the fuel tank removal as part of the frame section (page 93). But it does not cover fuel injection – these are all carbureted models.

What torque values are listed?

Page 111 has a tightening torque standard table.

This isn’t a photocopy from a coffee shop. It’s the original 173-page Honda workshop manual that tells you how to do the job the way the engineers intended. If you’re touching the valve train, the electrical system, or the crankshaft on these 1975 twins, you need this on your bench. Access the Factory Manual now and stop guessing.