Author Topic: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.  (Read 45045 times)

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6123
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #465 on: May 04, 2022, 10:23:42 PM »
Thanks for the feedback - it's not unlike the days when you first  wall papered your lounge. Visitors told you how great it all looked but I could not see beyond all the bad joints even when they were hidden behind the curtains. lol
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2531
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #466 on: May 04, 2022, 10:58:05 PM »
Well done Ted, it was all worth the hard work in the end, great looking bike. What's the next one on the bench now you've caught the resto bug?
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 McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6123
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #467 on: May 05, 2022, 08:35:29 AM »
For now I have a set of 400 carbs that need cleaning with the steel bits needing some re-plating. That and fishing should keep me quiet for a bit plus a petrol tank that needs stripping & the dents taking out prior to painting. Tbh I keep on looking at other 400s for sale but they seem overpriced.

I need to get some miles on the bike to run it in & gain confidence on its reliability - also could do with green P plates on the back to refresh my riding ability as at present my adrenaline level are too high in anticipation of a ride yet alone actually doing it.

There are so many things on my existing bike that I wish I had done better - such as having the block & head sand blasted for a better paint finish surface. (I did have quite a few things going on healthwise during 2020 not to mention Covid situation) 
I did not bake the painting on the main engine casings or head as I was fearful of heat distortion.

I'm still thinking of buying a Gateros Plating kit - there seem to be a lot of options on their website plus I might need to install a cooker hood extractor for safety. There is probably a post somewhere on here about setting it all up etc. It might not be cost effective but must be a great feeling doing it yourself if it goes right.





« Last Edit: May 05, 2022, 09:11:58 AM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline K2-K6

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 5234
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #468 on: May 05, 2022, 09:17:00 AM »
The bike looks fabulous Ted, great credit to all your time attention and hard work in completing.

Normally I favour black frames (unless it's Italian) but that deep blue coupled with the gold rims looks particularly good now photographed assembled and in daylight, and nicely different.

At least we've all kept you out of trouble for a while  ;D it'll be good to see you both out and about at Crich. Looks like some nice conditions to get out and try bike and new riding gear too.

Nigel.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6123
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #469 on: December 12, 2023, 03:33:59 PM »
Just a brief update on my original Project thread - firstly I have realised that what I thought was a bit of a thrown together bike was actually pretty much complete & in good condition for one that has had so many previous owners (10 iirc).

When my 500 is completed sometime around May/June  2024 my plan is to re-visit a few areas on the 400 that I either did not touch or that I will change provided the 500 runs okay.

The front forks were fitted with new seals by the PO at an unknown date.   I will drain the oil to see what state it is in as I suspect it was done a while back.  I intend to fit a different front headlamp - most probably the 500 unit that has a standard size lamp unit.

I was planning to sell the 400 when the 500 was finished to fund the next build - time will tell if I have the energy for that. More importantly I want next year to be a warm dry summer so I can have some trips down memory lane on two wheels.



Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Oddjob

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 4296
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #470 on: December 12, 2023, 05:24:27 PM »
You may find Ted that the 500 headlight won't fit on the 400 due to it's shape, you may need a 550 bowl instead and even that may not fit. The 500 bowl won't fit on the 550 for example due to the position of the ignition switch.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6123
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #471 on: December 12, 2023, 06:22:40 PM »
You may find Ted that the 500 headlight won't fit on the 400 due to it's shape, you may need a 550 bowl instead and even that may not fit. The 500 bowl won't fit on the 550 for example due to the position of the ignition switch.

I'm sure you are correct Ken a 500 bowl will not fit in a standard 400 headlamp bracket mine is a bit of a mongrel arrangement as the original headlamp unit was scrap - badly damaged rim, rotted reflector & split bowl.

I retained the old 400 headlamp bracket to act as a brace for my current headlamp mounting arrangement. Presently it  is mounted on a pair of fork alloy  brackets that pushes the new mounting point forward quite a bit & lower by around 3/4" so plenty of room. I have checked it against my original black 500 bowl. All I will need to do is alter the spacers I fitted on the side mounting bolts. Undecided if I will use a chromed plastic headlamp bowl or the black one I have.
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6123
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #472 on: December 21, 2023, 10:28:47 AM »
With the mild weather as I'm stuck on the 500 until the wheels come back from CWS I've now replaced the fork oil & changed the headlamp bowl to the 500 type as it takes a standard 7" headlamp unit so lots of options for a decent lamp unit - for now it's a Land Rover Defender type.

Fork fluid changed will not know until I ride it in the spring if there is any difference but it should be a tad firmer as the right fork tube had very little oil in it.

I willl bob a photo of the new headlamp look on here later today or tomorrow.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2023, 04:36:22 PM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Johnwebley

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 3204
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #473 on: December 21, 2023, 11:02:09 AM »
Are you going for the H4 60/55 ?




Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk

lifelong motorcycle rider,and fan

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6123
    • View Profile
Re: OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« Reply #474 on: December 21, 2023, 11:39:09 AM »
Are you going for the H4 60/55 ?




Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk

For now it's the full LED unit with Halo front sidelamp (5W) as a DTRL not a higher powered version unit that are available as an option mine is 60W/90W output 2400/3000 LM.

Yes the sink was put in about 10 years after all the mains sockets so the one above the sink is a risk but the garage has a consumer unit with RCB's etc.

400 lamp change 2 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

.400 lamp change by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr
« Last Edit: December 21, 2023, 03:14:22 PM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal