Old story, new storyteller

[Drew400]

Hello all.

Yes indeed, I've joined the throng of CB400/4 restorers and, like many others before me, this is my first attempt at a 'proper' restoration. I bought the bike a couple of years ago: runner, leaker, restricted to 33bhp, fun ride (although not really for 2-up) and now the oil leaks and general tattiness are pleading me to strip her down and give her a damned good clean.

So far everything is off the frame awaiting cleaning, painting, re-gasketing, etc. I'll occasionally add updates  and photos (although I've not so far been much of a blogger type) and probably more frequently seek help from this expert and friendly group.

Cheers all!

[tom400f]

Hi Drew

Welcome to the forum. Always nice to hear from another 400/4 owner 

Age/Model/Colour/Milage? I like details. Look forward to seeing how it progresses.

Cheers
Tom

[Trigger]

Welcome Drew, There's a ton of advice to be had. Enjoy and don't be shy. 400/4, still loads of good parts about.

[mick]

Hello Drew and welcome post plenty of photos of before and after  cheers Mick.

[Drew400]

Thanks Mick, Trigger & Tom.

It's a 1975 model in burgundy with c.55,000 on the clock. I'm guessing that some of it is not original (surprised?!) but plenty of it might be. Evidence #1 - the front mudguard has only one stay (is that the correct phrase?) at the rear. All the pictures I have seen appear to have two (i.e one at the front too). The seat is definately a replacement but looks pretty accurate. Perhaps inevitably, the stalks for the front indicators have been snapped at some point and they're now attached to the headlamp nascelle where the reflectors used to reside... I'll hopefully correct that in the re-build phase.

Will add some photos soon.

Whilst we're at it: my old bike history (in order) - Puch Maxi moped (gave me such style), Honda CD175, Suzuki T500, Honda CX500*, Yamaha XS1100, Suzuki GT750, Kawasaki GTR1000* and now the little 400/4. I'm not what you might call contemporary on the bike front!
(* = bought new)

Cheers, D.

[mick]

Do you still have any of your old bikes ?, we had a little Puch v50 ? (the yellow and chrome ones) and a Raleigh Wisp to knock about the fields on when we were Kids  cheers Mick.

[mickwinf]

welcome to the forum, my first moped was a Puch also, never had a 400/4 though!

[UK Pete]

Hi and welcome aboard, as you probably know by now Dave Silvers is the place to go for spares for your bike , as the others say lets see some pictures when your ready
pete

[Drew400]

Thank you all (some again) for the warm welcome. Already, my load feels shared... if you get my drift!

If I get this right, you're about to see some piccies of a tank, a partially naked 400 (avert your eyes if you're sensitive to such things) and the underside of a headstock. Seems to me that it's bent (where the steering butts up to stop it doing the 'owl' or 'BMX-bike-spin-right-round' thing). Hopefully this is a simple 'heat and beat' back straight job, but if you know better that this is a symptom of something much worse, please let me know.

Cheers all,

D.

[Trigger]

Hi Drew, the headstock is a little out of shape. What did the bearing cup look like?. Your a brave man if you think a little heat and a whack will sort that out. Post a picture once it has cooled down. Good luck. 

[Drew400]

Bearing looks perfectly circular. I'm taking it to a chap tomorrow who does this sort of thing so will have a professional opinion to express soon afterwards! Cheers, D.

[Trigger]

Drew, was the bottom yoke OK? Hope it all comes out on the end of a hammer.

[kenny1059]

Hi Drew,
Welcome,from another newbie. I think we will using this forum  a fair bit in the future.

cheers, Kenny.

[ka-ja]

Hi,
    Welcome to the group and another 400/4--Ken

[Drew400]

Hi again and thank you to a few more readers/contributors.

Money pit, hmmm... the jaws of that particular monster have started to open as I create a shopping basket on David Silver's parts site. Not hit the 'order' button yet but will soon be doing so. I have built a spreadsheet to keep a track of all this stuff so hopefully that will create some financial control... yeah right!

Frame's being repaired as we 'speak' and all my reusable parts are cleaned and ready for painting. Seems I'm committed (or should be).

Cheers, D.