400/4 clutch

[Spenny62]

Just some general advice needed.  My 1977 400/4 becomes difficult to select 1st gear and find neutral when it's warm.  It's ok for the first half hour (ish) of riding but becomes increasingly more difficult until it's nearly impossible.  The bike has less than 19,000 miles on the clock and has been consistently on the road over recent years but has covered very little mileage in that time.

Any suggestions as to the cause or a cure?

[Nurse Julie]

Just some general advice needed.  My 1977 400/4 becomes difficult to select 1st gear and find neutral when it's warm.  It's ok for the first half hour (ish) of riding but becomes increasingly more difficult until it's nearly impossible.  The bike has less than 19,000 miles on the clock and has been consistently on the road over recent years but has covered very little mileage in that time.

Any suggestions as to the cause or a cure?

I don't think it's uncommon for this to happen. My CB400/4 does the same and i know the clutch and gearbox on mine are in tip top condition. I put it down to everything metal expanding a bit with the heat of riding. As long as it's OK when the engine cools down a bit, i wouldn't worry too much.....i don't 

[Bryanj]

Always select neutral before you stop, a lot of the old Hondas had that complaint when hot

[Athame57]

I had exactly the same problem with my CB400F2 from the moment I acquired her. First gear selected ok until the engine warmed up after a few minutes then nearly impossible. All other gears were unaffected. I imagined I had a crank splitting job ahead of me. Then I discovered that simply by adjusting the gear shift lever a little had the problem solved!

[TrickyMicky]

Have to agree with all of the above answers, have always ridden Hondas since 1968, twins and fours, and all have had this annoying characteristic. One of the reasons given many years ago was the fact that the transmission uses the engine oil, which once it is warm, is not so thick and gloopy as the old gear oils. A couple of my mates used to own early Minis and suffered similarly. Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of taking the slack out of the clutch cable when hot thinking that this might ease the problem, otherwise next time you start out with a cold engine the clutch will slip like buggery! Stay upright, Michael.

[Spenny62]

Thanks guys.  I'll stop worrying then.  I've found that going down the gears one at a time and releasing the clutch each change, instead of block changing helps, although finding neutral isn't always easy. I may just try the gear linkage, it needs tidying up anyway as one of the gaiters is split. 

[Spenny62]

I'm struggling to source the two ball joints for the gear change linkage.  David Silver have the gaiters but not the ball joints.  Any suggestions?  Perhaps another marque has the same type?