75 CB400 "Dad's old bike" project

[Pops400]

Well spotted, Chris. Yes, it was the original intention to have a dual seat, I think I can still manage it if I have a completely flat / brat style seat. I want a hump, though, so at the moment I'm toying with the idea of having 2 seats, interchangeable.

Hadn't considered the rear pegs, to be honest, but that's a fair point. Once I get it stripped back and the frame mocked up, I will look at that and see what solutions I can come up with. I'm immediately thinking something quickly removable, though. I think this bike has to have two guises. 

[Greebo]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] Hi Pop

Heres the helmet & the jackets ...the visor on the helmet is retractable, so  when not needed you can push it up into the helmet .

for some unknowqn reason you cant put images on personal posts

[Pops400]

Cheers Graham. 👍 Sent you a PM back. Thanks again for the mirrors, good to meet you.

Stunning bike, too.  Given me some great food for thought.

[Pops400]

Back on it today after yet more frustrations. Struggled to get the motivation to get started after a wasted trip to Machine Mart for tools, but really glad I did. Had a great day with the girl and made some major progress for a couple of amateurs. 

Todays plan was stop  ing about tickling it and get the motor out.

I knew I couldn't lift it out with me and the girl, so went with gravity to help me. Laid some boxes down to protect the beautiful casing, finally got out the sump plug that Coco the Clown put in, let it down gently and set to work.

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Jess got put on camera duty, so I knew she was well clear!

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And she's down!

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Ready to pull the motor.

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[Pops400]

SERIOUS ENGINEERS AVERT YOUR EYES NOW!!! You won't be able to unsee this... 

The vision in my head at this point was that I would just pull the rear retaining bolt, lift the frame back up and voila!

Oh, no... Don't let anyone kid you that this method is that easy...

A lot of wrestling and had to pull the side casing to clear the frame later...

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That gave me a bit more wriggle room, so then it was a matter of PULL...

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PUSH...!!!

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And it's finally out! YEEHAAAW! Cowboy school of engineering!!! 
Apologies to the purists, but sometimes you just have to work with what you've got. 

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My little helper was as proud as punch. Proper kill for a change. Progress!

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[Pops400]

So then my little helper got quite a nice little shot of me wheeling the remainder away. (I wasn't going "Vroom vroom", I swear!!!  ), so then I parked it long enough to go and take a snap of the absolutely shocking shower of  that is the engine. I have no idea how I'm going to make it presentable. Anyway, by the time I turned round, she was up on the frame and she WAS giving it "Vroom vroom". 

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Caught in the act.

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[Pops400]

In a fit of perfect timing, my wife arrived with coffee and sausage rolls. So we called a planning meeting. 

I know this is probably all inane drivel and childs play stuff to you lot, but I keep writing it up because it gives me a rolling diary of good times with the Girl, blundering about without a clue, thinking about this bike when I was a kid and my Dad had it.  Hopefully it will give you all a laugh at our ineptitude and it will give Jess something to look back on when it's her's in years to come.

Anyway, a couple of snaps my wife took of the planning meeting. We actually got through quite a good agenda and came up with some good new ideas. 

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[Johnwebley]

don't worry,

   this is a very enjoyable rebuild,keep up the good work .it is really good when the whole family gels together and takes time to
contribute ,

 either as assistant,photographer,coffee and food supplier ,

 each very important and very nessasary   !!!

[Pops400]

Thanks John. It's a right good laugh at times, and sometimes not. Sometimes I think it can't ever possibly be saved and then days like today I think it can. Glad you are enjoying the tomfoolery. It's a bit Heath Robinson, but still. I might rename the thread Cowboy Garage! 

After that, I set about wrestling with getting the rest of it separated and gave Jess her own job, putting the casing, sump and filter back on.

Fair play to the Girl, made me proud, got stuck in after I showed her what to do. Wouldn't accept any help after that. Good girl, she's a grafter. She even had to get on the deck to get to some of the bolts, no bother.

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Love this shot that my wife took before she went home. 

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And Jess took this one, she wanted to show the engine through the frame. I've got a budding David Bailey on my hands!

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[Pops400]

Anyway, got most of everything else off, but the lack of a 30mm spanner or socket stopped me getting the front end off, so we called it a day, after Jess played bikes with handlebars round the unit. 

I thought she deserved a reward today for working so hard, so I gave her an old cantilever toolbox and a handful of tools and bits and pieces of her own. She promptly labelled it as hers and requested a photograph to commemorate her getting her own spanners. 

And that was it for today. I feel like the whole thing has taken a huge leap forward, so feeling a bit more motivated now. It will roll again, this old anchor. 

It has to, we gave it a name today, so it is officially family. 

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[mike the bike]

The easiest way to get engines in and out is to make a little table from MDF the same height as the frame tubes.
To remove the engine...
Make sure the sump and oil filter housing are removed.
Place the table on the right, as close to the frame as possible
Jack up the engine and place two 2 foot lengths of hardwood, about 20mm thick, under the engine.  This allows the engine to clear the lower engine mounts.
Slide the engine out onto the table.
Dead easy, piece of piis.

Nice size workshop you've got there, I'm well jealous.

[Pops400]

That's info I could have used 24 hours ago, Mike. 

I'd love to say the workshop is all mine, but I only rent the bit my car is shoved in, I just sneaked the bike out into the open whilst some folk had their stuff out of the way. It's very, very dusty and very cold, so I'm on the lookout for somewhere else, but it's been a Godsend today to be able to walk round freely.

[mike the bike]

When the time comes put the engine back in, you know how it's done.  Just don't mix up the lower engine bolts.

[royhall]

I am enjoying watching this build, keep up the good work and the pictures coming. If you think the 400 is a heavy engine, wait till you get to lift a 750 out. 

[K2-K6]

Brilliant account of how you're getting on and something to look back at when you get to ride it.

Just a bit to add to the ad-hoc approach,  a friend of mine always uses a slab of that rigid building insulation instead of cardboard as if you drop something like the engine it won't snap any delicate bits like fins off it.

Also if you need to support the engine at any angle for storing or dismantling then an old car tire let's it sit securely at any angle you need without toppling over.

I've two  kids and don't think you can beat doing anything together really, I remember alot of stuff the same with my father and the fond memories it brings.
You're doing a fine job,  it'll just take time to work through it but well worth it in the end.