SOHC.co.uk Forums > Project Board
OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
SteveD CB500K0:
My dad had an HA Viva (White).
Oh shit. Thread hijack already
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bryanj:
Just add i had a HA Van
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
When I sold my Austin 1100 in fetching dark green circa 1965/6 I took a Red hand painted HA Van with a single mattress in the back as part exchange!
I tried sleeping in the van when I went camping but it was too darn cold - in my defence I was single at the time.
heli_madken:
My mate Dave had a HA van, I remember his immortal words after trying to race a Triumph Stag, this van is 'deceptively slow' Christ we laughed and I still chuckle every time I think about it ;D
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
The HA Van & Vivas were very quick 0-15 mph then it was game over - no stopwatch needed for 0-60 times more like a calendar.
Back to the build my first hurdle when looking to start the engine was that the throttle was solid it would not open the main throttle as all the slider things were seized solid. The seller assured me he had cleaned out all the carburetors but that must have been a decade earlier.
When I stripped down the carburetors all four of the main throttle valves were stuck solid in the closed position. Not wanting to damage anything I released the first one using the wife's nail varnish remover - this worked quite easily but the other three did not respond to the same solvent.
To release the remaining three I fully immersed them in fresh petrol in a Tupperware container fitting the lid and soaking for 48 hours. This worked fine on two but for the last one I replaced the fuel again leaving to soak fully submerged for another couple of days. After a bit of heat from an old Hair Dryer when the fuel had evaporated the last one came free. All rebuilt last week after a slow start when I tried to fit a jet into the place where the float valve clamp screw fits.lol The parts were all cleaned in my Brother-in-Laws Ultrasonic Bath - its done a fair job I have to say though he did say that there were other ways costing more money to return them to almost as factory new. At present I have not explored this route as I am not looking for show standard just a good working bike. I fear this might change if I see too many mint 40 year old bikes.
I pushed the boat out and bought a Dynatek Electronic Ignition Set with Coils etc - I have fitted this just need to set the static timing when I am nearer trying to start her up. Coils were an easy fit using the old coil mounts with a bit of modification with a junior hack saw & drill driven cutting wheel. - they clear the fuel tank so so far so good.
Carbs now re-fitted at present using the existing throttle cables for the initial start up phase. I'm waiting for some fuel hose - I will use this time to clean the petrol tank a bit more. My heart sank when I first looked inside the tank but after putting in some Turps substitute (rather than water) and some 2-3 mm grade silver plant gravel its cleaned up enormously after some shaking sessions.
What colour by Macabe Thiele, on FlickrRusty tank as usual by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version