Author Topic: 1975 400/4 project  (Read 11401 times)

Offline Sprocket

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 140
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #45 on: January 11, 2019, 08:19:14 AM »
Lots of stuff screwed on to the bike over the last few days. Clocks, headlight bracket, coils, shiny shiny mudguard (Bertram's, from ebay if you're interested). Starting to look like a real bike now!

The tank it came with is currently at the blasters. I gave them the instruction "take the paint off gently". I think what will happen is they'll sweep it back into a bag for me to come and collect at some point.

Feel like the engine is looming!

Offline Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2531
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #46 on: January 11, 2019, 11:17:54 AM »
Looking good. Not far to go now👍
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline Sprocket

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 140
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #47 on: January 18, 2019, 11:28:19 AM »
Some progress - I couldn't resist putting the tank in place and lightly treating it to a bit of Tcut! Then I stopped gushing and fitted the rear mudguard, grab handle and indicators.

What. A. Palaver.

Mudguard was a repro, chrome in the threads meant I couldn't screw anything in. Tried to tap the thread out using guff tools made of Chinesium. Fail. Temper tantrum. Next day, with a proper set bought locally it was a doddle and I was much happier. Because I got the handle from DS, it's predictably not a proper fit (for a 750 iirc?) but looking at it, if it met the frame rather than the indicator bracket it would be flush. If I removed some rubber from under the mount it might actually look a little nicer. Project for a summer evening I think.

Made a loom for the rear lights from the old main loom, I had exactly the right amount of cable left in the correct colours, which is a coincidence that makes me think I should buy a lottery ticket at the weekend!

Just the rear light to fit now and I can fully test all the electrics and finally get busy on the noisy bits. ;D

Offline Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2531
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #48 on: January 18, 2019, 11:50:33 AM »
It's getting there.
I use auto glym vinyl and rubber trim restorer on black plastic parts like mudguards and tool trays\lids. I leave it on for a few days to let it soak in before wiping it off. Everything comes up like new and the finish lasts despite washing.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline Nurse Julie

  • 1977 CB550/4 Mongrel Brat. 1974 UK 500/4 K1. Honda CD250u.
  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 8206
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #49 on: January 18, 2019, 12:21:18 PM »
Yours looks the same as mine  :-\
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Sprocket

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 140
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #50 on: January 22, 2019, 09:01:27 AM »
Julie your indicator stalks are different to mine, they're chrome and look like they'll wobble about a lot less!

Offline SteveD CB500K0

  • Administrator
  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 4442
  • Ride on the Steel Breeze...
    • View Profile
    • Steve's Blog
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #51 on: January 22, 2019, 09:07:49 AM »
Those black brackets look like they're from a 500.
2022 Tiger Sport 660
1971 CB500K0

Offline Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2531
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #52 on: January 22, 2019, 09:26:16 AM »
Julie, my brackets are the same as those on Sprockets bike. These are the brackets that were impossible to obtain new or s/h. I searched everywhere for a couple eventually getting a couple from ebay that need repair to the earth tangs. DS is (was?) making reproduction brackets when I last looked.
Sprocket, my rear handle looks the same as yours on both my original 400/4 and the one I restored a couple of years ago with a pattern handle.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline Nurse Julie

  • 1977 CB550/4 Mongrel Brat. 1974 UK 500/4 K1. Honda CD250u.
  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 8206
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #53 on: January 22, 2019, 09:50:29 AM »
My indicator stalks are chrome aftermarket ones.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Sprocket

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 140
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #54 on: January 22, 2019, 10:05:25 AM »
Julie, my brackets are the same as those on Sprockets bike. These are the brackets that were impossible to obtain new or s/h. I searched everywhere for a couple eventually getting a couple from ebay that need repair to the earth tangs. DS is (was?) making reproduction brackets when I last looked.
Sprocket, my rear handle looks the same as yours on both my original 400/4 and the one I restored a couple of years ago with a pattern handle.
Yeah I looked at the DS pattern stalks and the price made me purchase a tin of P38 and Hammerite! All the books pointed to them being OEM too, although as it happens my bike was a bit of a bitsa and I don't really trust anything!

And the handle. It's ok, but as previously highlighted, the 400 and 750 handles are the same length but the 400 should have a slight twist in it, to make it sit parallel to the frame. I suspect the 750 one mounts directly to the frame, where the 400 uses the indicator stalk hole.

I must admit, becoming nerdy about these things is actually fun.  :D

Offline Athame57

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1124
    • View Profile
    • SeaWitch Artist
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #55 on: February 04, 2019, 06:01:47 PM »
Is the mudflap on the front fender something that is supposed to be there and can I get one if it is?
I brake for animals!
1978 CB400F2

Offline Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2531
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #56 on: February 04, 2019, 06:29:13 PM »
They we not fitted as standard although a few people had aftermarket ones fitted usually with 'HONDA' logo's in white. I had one fitted on my first 400/4 in 1979 that I bought from Speedway of Acton (long since gone🙁). My mates called me an old man so I removed it after a while along with the huge barn door fairing, white fibreglass panniers and matching top  box.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline Athame57

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1124
    • View Profile
    • SeaWitch Artist
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #57 on: February 04, 2019, 06:41:58 PM »
......then I shall not seek one!  8)
I brake for animals!
1978 CB400F2

Offline Sprocket

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 140
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #58 on: February 08, 2019, 04:22:35 PM »
I might restore the flap and fit it, it's got that 'rally' look to it, and I do love me a bit of group B...

Offline Sprocket

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 140
    • View Profile
Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #59 on: February 11, 2019, 01:31:24 PM »
So I've popped the engine apart! I've discovered the head gasket was installed upside down, a whole load of gunge in one of the oil restrictors and two of the pistons' rings have broken. But, I consider this a bit of a 'win' as there doesn't appear to be any damage to the pistons, bores, valves etc.

I'm going to take the bits into a local motor engineering company, I called them up today and they said they'd give me some advice if I needed it, but bring the bits in to look at and stroke beards by.

All the pistons have 'Honda written on them, so I would guess they're original and thus I'd be getting the standard sized stuff from DS to replace the rings. Sound logic?

The bores are completely smooth, as you might expect in a 60k mile engine! Am I to expect the engineers to recommend a hone and just replace the broken piston rings, or does anyone think I'm being far too naive?

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal