Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => Project Board => Topic started by: blackeagles on January 28, 2019, 05:23:07 PM

Title: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on January 28, 2019, 05:23:07 PM
i cannot say this is a real project, not when i have seen some of the work many of you folks have been taking on, but for what it work this is mine.

this bike was (i believe) restored/part restored sometime in the early 2010's and since 2012 to when i got it it had been arround on the road and covered some 2200 miles in 6 years so not exactly a total rust bucket.

anyway, it had some bits from other bikes, loose sprockets, broken panels, various odd sized screws  and the like so i have been putting 'good' second hand parts on it where possible (i'm not into concourse or even repro if i can help it) and have just finished the carbs, fitted them, twisted the grip a bit and was rewarded with the cable snapping!!

as far as i'm concerned the 'rolling chassis' is all but finished and hopefully the engine will be ok!! since its been ridden until recently - some hope i suspect.

Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Johnwebley on January 28, 2019, 05:28:37 PM
Hey.it's a project. It requires rebuilding. Thought and application.
It's looking good so.enjoy.
When you get it running. The feeling is wonderful

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Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Nurse Julie on January 28, 2019, 06:11:12 PM
Great work. As long as it is ridden, it really doesn't matter which bits are correct and which bits aren't. Nothing really matters as long as it goes well.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Sprocket on January 29, 2019, 10:33:41 AM
Nice to see another one being made to work again!
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: paul G on January 29, 2019, 12:23:14 PM
Welcome to another 400/4 :D

What was the result of that pole recently !
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Athame57 on February 04, 2019, 05:52:41 PM
I'll be watching progress with interest!  ;)
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on February 06, 2019, 04:22:51 PM
well, finally got the carbs back on and only pipes 1 and 2 getting hot - 3 and 4 stone cold - so carbs back off and appart again!!

back on and still cold so back off but i still could not find anything wrong so back on and blow me it started and ran with all pipes getting hot!!  it does not like choke at all and will start with it fully off but it starts ;D.  clearly its too rich (settings on basic i.e 2 turns out of the pilot screw) so will have to adjust - (which way to weaken, in or out)

can the primary chain be adjusted or is it set and the engine has to be taken appart?

progress, slow but its there  :-[
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Rozabikes Tim on February 06, 2019, 04:41:50 PM
Primary chain not adjustable but sort and balance the carbs before worrying. That can transform things.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: mike the bike on February 06, 2019, 07:15:44 PM
Best to synchronise carbs.  Unsynchronised carbs will make the engine sound rather rattly, whi h leads people to think the primary chain and cam chain are worn.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on February 06, 2019, 07:29:57 PM
ok, do you guys have your own gauge sets or just find a friendly bike shop?

most of the 'kits' i see advertised seem to use m5 for the bit that screws into the carb but i'm pretty sure the gauge hole on mine is smaller.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: robvangulik on February 07, 2019, 01:08:37 AM
M5 is correct for the 400 too :D
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Athame57 on February 07, 2019, 02:11:18 AM
Talk about carbs...is there an EASY way of getting them back into the Airbox inlets? I've bought new ones but the job is still awkward enough to make me scream!
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: robvangulik on February 07, 2019, 10:05:44 AM
I always put the airbox on the carbs when they are off the bike, and then slide the assembly in the frame from the right side. In my eyes the only way to make sure the air inlet is as smooth as possible on all four carbs.

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,16999.msg145183.html#msg145183
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Bryanj on February 07, 2019, 10:14:00 AM
The absolute easiest way to get them in is before bolting the engine up so you can tilt it forward------but that only works on a full strip/ restore.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on February 08, 2019, 11:50:29 AM
there is not a lot of room but i found putting the carbs on first then the overflow pipes in place then a light oil of the air manifold rubbers and it goes on - all from the right.

if the air manifold box is a bit distorted (i.e pushed away from the arbs) then its ever harder but taking the air filter and tunnel out and pushing a small piece of wood throu. the hole into the manifold to push the rubber onto the carb works.

Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on February 08, 2019, 11:51:06 AM
m5, thanks i will look out for a set of guages
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on February 08, 2019, 11:52:57 AM
hmmm can't adjust the primary - then, as has been said, a real need to adjust/sync the carbs and this seems to be the noise i can hear rather then the cam chain
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on February 08, 2019, 12:04:49 PM
forgot to mention, i have run it with the air pilot at 2 turns out as a rough setup before i think about the sync and it seems to run best (without sync) at 2 3/4 turns out - which i think is a bit too far out (even with spring loading they could undo) - so may have to try 2 1/2 out and stick with it for the time being.

it ticks over at 1400 ish (at 1200 the primary rattle/lash is just too much for me to endure) but the rev counter clearly shows a very small bit of movement up and down and the bike has an annoying habbit of settling down at a lower rev level after a few moments - hopefully the sync will stop these little niggles
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on March 02, 2019, 11:10:12 AM
at last carbs seem to be 'ok' so primary and cam chains make less noise than they used to, cleaned most of the elec. terminals, new cables and i'm almost there.

still need to change the cut down front mudguard and front brake line but they can wait.  i will put a couple of pics up in the near future.  bring on the sun!
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on March 03, 2019, 02:11:31 PM
pics make it look a bit better than it is - you cannot see the staining on the chrome - but i'm not into making a bike look like its just off the production line just an honest 40 year old reasonably looked after.

Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Nurse Julie on March 03, 2019, 02:16:20 PM
Looks good
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Johnwebley on March 03, 2019, 03:16:18 PM
Looks good
Agrees

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Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Green1 on March 03, 2019, 04:56:49 PM
The chrome looks much better then whats with my pile of bits.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Moorey on March 03, 2019, 05:29:28 PM
Looks better than my chrome, but they are what they are, old bikes. As long as it puts a smile on your face that's all that matters. Looking forward to getting my V5 sometime.  :D
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on March 05, 2019, 11:57:06 AM
now its (almost) just a matter of getting it insured and trying it out - hopefully the riding position won't give me cramp (i'm more used to cruisers)

on insurance, i have found a reasonable one for £85 (fully comp, limited miles, 10years ncb, low excess) via gocompare but people like say swinton don't insure over 30years old and p james want about £140 - my existing insurance (bennetts) have some stupid requirement that says if you are within 500yards of your home and say bike is garaged (like most are) but wheel it out onto the drive so get your gear on/clean it then it is only partially insured and you have to pay part of the cost if it is nicked!

any suggested companies with a good price??
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: Nurse Julie on March 05, 2019, 12:29:49 PM
I use Swinton for my CB400/4 and some other 40+ year old bikes on individual, not a multi policy, but you need to phone them as it says on the compare sites, they dont insure over 30 years old but they do.
I pay £63, fully comp and that policy also covers me 3rd party, to ride any unlimited cc bike as long as its not owned be me and insured. I know by discussions on here before, i have the cheapest premium in the UK by the sounds of it. It's due to where i live, being a retired Nurse, single, getting old, 40 years full bike license etc etc. Worth giving them a call though.
Edit...I lied, It's £60.37 Carol Nash are also the same price.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on March 05, 2019, 03:55:34 PM
hi, thanks.

i tried ringing swinton but it seems that for whatever reason no quotes were available.  anyway bikesure came throu at £68.95 with a few requirements - like not insured as soon as you take it out of the garage  >:( - until you are going for a ride but at least its insured.

 
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: trek97 on March 25, 2019, 10:46:21 AM
You're machine looks really sharp.
Mine was originally yellow.  Sprayed black at some point in its life by a PO.
May go back to yellow in due time.
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on April 02, 2019, 11:16:16 AM
the story so far.

as i said earlier the insurance is done and, notwithstanding whatever has been said about dvla, the road tax was ready on the 1st and free so must have also been recorded as historic, so i took it out for a 'shakedown'.

a bit of fiddling with the carbs and it seems to run ok engine wise (brakes are now't to write home about but may need bedding in) but the gear selection is not good - clutch drag.

taking the plate off i find the actuation lever 'hole' that bolts to the shaft is somethat oval so the bit where the cable nipple fits into is touching the inside top of the case - had to send to the usa for a used replacement which hopefully will fit, and..

whoever owned this bike before also had the wrong clutch cable adjuster - its seems to be m10 x 44 but this is m8 so they just added a couple of nuts to stop it going into the case,

anyone know where i can find the correct adjuster and nut - m10 x 44,  22818-354-000 and 94001-10000-os 10mm hex??? or just continue with the nuts for the time being?
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: oapcb400 on April 02, 2019, 05:45:38 PM
being of a certain age+, i can't give you a direct link. I.T.wise b t of a dinosaur.  if you go to Ebay and type  in "Honda cb400  four stainless steel" and scroll down  you will find the clutch cable adjuster you're looking for.  £19 from mybikebits.  hope this helps
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: oapcb400 on April 02, 2019, 06:09:32 PM
re above, better results with "honda cb400 f stainless steel", dropping the 'our' out of four seems to give a better option!
Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on April 02, 2019, 07:49:24 PM
re above, better results with "honda cb400 f stainless steel", dropping the 'our' out of four seems to give a better option!

You are clearly not an IT dinosaur as you seem to have mastered the art of eBay SEO (search engine optimisation)

Steve


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Title: Re: 1978 400f - part project
Post by: blackeagles on April 03, 2019, 09:58:32 AM
being of a certain age+, i can't give you a direct link. I.T.wise b t of a dinosaur.  if you go to Ebay and type  in "Honda cb400  four stainless steel" and scroll down  you will find the clutch cable adjuster you're looking for.  £19 from mybikebits.  hope this helps

thanks, i noticed that but ti seems a bit pricey compared with others
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