400/4 started again after 2 years.

[PatM]

I thought id say hello again to the Forum, as its been a while since I've been on here- No, I'm not dead yet.

it must be 2 years ago i parked the 400/4 up in the carpeted garage, plugged in the trickle-charger covered it up and just forgot about it. i had a couple of other projects- one was a Mobylette that finally defeated me and id brought a fun car to get to away matches as Im a non-league fan.

I rebuilt or got the Honda running about 5 or 6 years ago and due to a change in circumstances- not ridden bikes much over the last few years.
So, I thought id better get the Honda going or sell him- not something i could have imagined previously.

Oil out, filter out, rockers off and tappets- I forgot how fiddly they are to do in-frame. The bike had never been a good cold-starter. The simple things you miss- at least two valves were too tight.

I drained the tank of something that no longer smelt of petrol.

i managed to damage one of the tappet-covers as I had to revert to a hammer/chisel to get it off (new one ordered)

Fresh oil today, filter, and fuel- the carbs were empty! id rebuilt them 5 years back, so I knew the jets were good.

i rigged a petrol supply and tap and filled the carbs- they did leak!

As the battery was obvious charged (due to the Optimate) 3 jabs and he started and ran!

MOT Friday- I need to use him rather than just park him up.

[hairygit]

Welcome back! Always nice to hear a bike that has been laid up a while starting again relatively easily. Good luck for the M.O.T. and let's hope you can get some miles on it this year!

Sent from my X6pro using Tapatalk

[mike the bike]

Good luck with the MOT,  let us know how it goes.  Glad it's back on the road now summer's on it's way.

[Green1]

What they said 

Plus don't forget to post a pic

[PatM]

Id stick a pic on here but can't due to file size. I did a vid of it running for the crew on FB


ill let you guys know how Friday goes. Weather doesn't look promising.

[PatM]

A quick snap

[PatM]

Its passed! So I did a 100 mile round trip to the Rote 66 Cafe on the A21 with my brother (GS600) and sister-in-law (EN500 , I think- just passed her test) lots of Brit bikes there, a few old- mostly new. I gave me a chance to run the 400 for a decent time and it was ok. i notice no3 pipe has heated (DSS Replica) so will re-balance carbs as will be a bit weak. The original downpipes were double-walled and the replacement not- so it doesn't take much heat to do it.
So, I've now got 3 legal bikes :-)

[mike the bike]

Well done.   There's no finer feeling than having a rideout on a bike that hasn't run for a while.

[Drew400]

Well Done PatM!

From a fellow rebuilder of a tatty maroon 400.

Cheers, D.

[PatM]

Drew- noting your range of bikes, Ive had a few of them! Got to say, CX500 was probably the best on many fronts- i knock up the miles on bikes using them for work. But less so these days.
From the bottom since 1974- CB175, A100, GT750(!!- it was stolen) 400/4, CX500, ZXR400, CBR1000, R1 (still got it- first BN bike i brought 2001), Daytona 955i , GS1150, GSA1200R, GSA1200R, Triumph Explorer, 400/4, Mobylette (!!)

Thats my biking history- the BMWs and Daytona were Firm supplied as I had them instead of car. Then the Boss sold the firm..Good while it lasted for 12 years.

[mike the bike]

I had a mate with a CX500 once, we swapped bikes for a bit, and after the ride he offered to swap his CX for my 400four.  "Er no thanks" says I.

[PatM]

Rode the CX to Cornwall one summer- it pissed down with rain, i got soaked- bike gear wasn't what it is now- Im guessing it started raining 150 miles in- only another 150 to go from home. Bike ran faultlessly- it was by no means a new one- Id say it had nearly 50k when i did that trip. very comfortable (massive seat) Managed to get 3 points for overtaking on double-whites. Toured around north and South coasts down there- bike gear didn't dry out all week- even gloves...We (a mate who had a GS550) were staying at my mother-in-laws farm (no heating, yep- i know I said summer , but this is UK)
Dispatch riders loved them- and so did I. I traded it in for the ZXR and it was a mistake as I blew the head-gasket after about 9 months of ownership..

[PatM]

Bit of a surprise today- battery fkd! It was a AGM one 3 years ago and always on a trickle-charger. now it won't charge, I can get it up to 10.6v but it just fades away. i thought those MOTORBATT ones were fit and forget- I've had one longer in my R1 and Im sure I had one for years in a R1200GS.
Oh well, I've ordered a lead-acid one, just in case my electrics are overcharging it beyond its tolerance. i don't think I'm lacing it with A/C- and my lights don't dim or fluctuate.

[Green1]

I swear by Mottobatt But I did buy a couple of duds from them a few years ago.

[PatM]

I've gone for an imperial type rather than the metric :-)