CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP, ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD BY JULIE - NOW COMPLETE

[Nurse Julie]

I have been doing the finishing bits on Hettie today. I fitted the carbs and air box etc, throttle cables and clutch cable fitted and adjusted. Engine filled with oil. Gave her a wipe over with an oily rag and  I'm all set to get her fired up.......but it's bloody pissing it down. I will just have to wait a bit longer I suppose.  [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

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[mickwinf]

Thats looking really good Julie, good luck on the start up.

[Laverda Dave]

Is that the original paint on the tank Julie, looks to be in very good condition.

[Nurse Julie]

Is that the original paint on the tank Julie, looks to be in very good condition.

No, it was painted about 5 years ago by the previous owner. Looks bright enough but get up very, very close and you can see it was most definitely not done by Menno Dek 

[Johnwebley]

   that looks lovely that magic wipe with an oily rag worked wonders !!!!!!


  hope the start up goes perfectly

[paul G]

Looking great Julie you need to bag the warm workshop next time
Supposed to be dry tomorrow.

[Nurse Julie]

Looking great Julie you need to bag the warm workshop next time
Supposed to be dry tomorrow.

Do you know something Paul, Graham came out to get something from the workshop I was working in and said ' I don't know how you can work out here, it's bloody freezing', then he shot off back into his nice centrally heated engine building room!!!.

[tom400f]

Got to say I'm a little jealous!

Post a video of the start up 

[paul G]

Looking great Julie you need to bag the warm workshop next time
Supposed to be dry tomorrow.

Do you know something Paul, Graham came out to get something from the workshop I was working in and said ' I don't know how you can work out here, it's bloody freezing', then he shot off back into his nice centrally heated engine building room!!!.
It was nice and warm whilst I was in there talking with him.
You know what these southern softies are like you must have a bit more northern blood in you.

[Spitfire]

That looks gorgeous, hope it runs as nice as it looks

Cheers

Dennis

[Nurse Julie]

🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾
Yeeeeeeehaaaaaa......Hetties up and running.

Well, in the end it all happened so fast I didn't have time to video it.

Trig kicked her over lots of times to get the oil pressure light to go out but, it wouldn't. He pushed the electric start button, engine turning over, oil light went out and then as the fuel got into the carbs she fired up. I took the front two end tappet caps off and oil was spitting out of both sides.....success.

She was idling a bit fast at 1800 rpm and a bit jittery when increasing the revs on the throttle but was running on all 4 cylinders. Smoke from the exhaust was absolutely minimal, not anywhere as much as I was expecting and that was it, I jumped on it and rode 8 miles. Stopped off at home to check the oil level, it just needed a small top up and then went off and did another 22 miles and the engine feels fantastic.

I have what sounds like a small air leak from the top of one of the downpipes which I will investigate. I now have her idling at 1200 rpm and she is hesitant at low revs when I pull away but fine at higher revs. All these things will be attended to as part of the fine tuning once I have done some more miles .I have no oil leaks and the carbs have no leaks either. 

The front forks feel great, I'm pleased I refurbed them and the front brake isn't squeaking so hopefully the disc skim has sorted that problem out.

And that's it really. I plan to get some more miles on her over the coming days and then will attend to the little issues and check everything over.

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[andut]

Well done on the rebuild Julie, and a great reference thread created in the process !

[paul G]

Great news Julie and well done great job.

[Trigger]

Great news Julie and well done great job.

Thank you Paul 

[Nurse Julie]

Great news Julie and well done great job.

Thank you Paul 

Haha. Paul, did you see Trig working on my bike yesterday....nope. I will not let him get away with the credit on this