Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => Project Board => Topic started by: Wiinberg on September 01, 2017, 11:56:36 PM
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Hi all, thought i'd start a thread with my new winter project. Bought this 400F a couple of weeks ago for 1200 pounds (that's about the cheapest possible for 400F in Denmark). It has 26.000 miles on it and in need of a lot of TLC. Also gonna be opening it up, as the cam chain rattles like a hunting party of rattle snakes. Who knows how long it has been doing that.
This is my second 400F, and this one feels a bit under powered. So yet another reason to have a look on the engine. Going to check the compression before disassembly.
Not sure what the path is with this one. I am strongly considering a 466 kit, and also toying with the idea of dual disc up front. I'll see what the future brings. And to the most important part, some pictures.
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A couple more.
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Hi and welcome to the madhouse. That looks rather like a Mocheck Harrier, which was a conversion a British company did to 400/4's back in the 70's. Be interesting to know if it was one or just similar looking. Anyway, good luck with the work on it.
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hi and welcome
lots and lots of 400 owners here,as well as lots of help and advice
enjoy the madhouse
lots of fun
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Twin discs is the hardest part as there are no mountings on the other slider meaning totally different fork assemblies
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Years ago people used 400 Superdream forks, wheels and calipers, but they are not easy to find these days, and comstars are not so popular on older classics.
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Welcome to the forum Wiinberg,
Looks like there's enough work to keep you busy over the winter. I did the Superdream front end conversion back in the 80s. It stopped OK but didn't look pretty. Back in the 80s it wasn't a classic then, just another ornery bike.
When I went to the Police compound full of stolen bikes, two years after it went missing, I recognised it straightaway by the odd wheels.
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Welcome
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Welcome from me also. Looks like a great project. But I pity your poor back as you don't seem to have a single working surface!
Peter
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Hi and welcome to the madhouse. That looks rather like a Mocheck Harrier, which was a conversion a British company did to 400/4's back in the 70's. Be interesting to know if it was one or just similar looking. Anyway, good luck with the work on it.
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Thank you. That sounds interesting, do you now of any way to identify it, what i should look for? I don't have any history on it sadly.
Welcome from me also. Looks like a great project. But I pity your poor back as you don't seem to have a single working surface!
Peter
I'm on the lookout for a small hydraulic stand, to get it off the ground in an acceptable height. That would be much appreciated i think.
With regards to the dual disc, i'm not sure what route i'll take. Maybe 550 front end or welding brackets to the right 400 leg if i can find someone to do a nice clean job.
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Welcome to the forum Wiinberg,
Looks like there's enough work to keep you busy over the winter. I did the Superdream front end conversion back in the 80s. It stopped OK but didn't look pretty. Back in the 80s it wasn't a classic then, just another ornery bike.
When I went to the Police compound full of stolen bikes, two years after it went missing, I recognised it straightaway by the odd wheels.
Thanks! Yes, and bit more work than i first thought, but that's the way it is with these bikes. Took the tank and rear fender off today, noticed a couple of red wires that shouldn't be there. Traced them to under the tank where i found a big birdsnest of wires coupled with two relays and then on to the head light bucket. Have no idea what they are for. I hate electrics. My last 400 i replaced the whole harness, already thinking about doing it on this one too ???
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Also noted a couple of differences from my old one, this one has the passenger pegs mounted on the swingarm. And the steering lock built in the ignition vs. on the steering stem on my old one. That's pretty cool.
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The steering lock in the ignition lock usually means it was a U.S. model, but you can be sure by checking the frame/vin plate. The relays to the headlight were probably to allow the use of a higher wattage headlight bulb without putting excessive load on the existing wiring and switches.
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The swingarm - mounted footrests means it's an F1; the earlier model, which means it's (usually) red or blue.
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The swingarm - mounted footrests means it's an F1; the earlier model, which means it's (usually) red or blue.
Or a U.S. model, for some reason they didn't get frame mounted pillion footrests even on the F2
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I don't think it's a yankee one because of the back lights and indicators.
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The steering lock in the ignition lock usually means it was a U.S. model, but you can be sure by checking the frame/vin plate. The relays to the headlight were probably to allow the use of a higher wattage headlight bulb without putting excessive load on the existing wiring and switches.
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I've never understood the system with the frame numbers. My frame number indicates that it would be General Export, Australian, German, French, and so on.. 1051697.
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A little bit of progress.. Just pulled the engine out today. Need to decide what i wanna do first, the engine or the frame. Might end up disassemble the engine to find out what parts i need, and then move on to the frame while i search for parts. Saw that cruzinimage doesn't have any 466 kits for the 400f at the moment, heard a lot of good things about those.
So disassembly, cleaning, measuring, order parts. And then clean the frame up, blast it and paint. Fix the wheels and front end so i'll have a rolling chassis to set aside. Going to get a new wiring loom and consoles from DSS. Was quite happy with the quality on my last bike.
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My 88 Hurricane in the background. Great machine.
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Welcome to the forum Wiinberg.
There's nothing like a motorcycle project to keep you busy over the winter :D.
Good idea to get into the engine first to see what needs replacing. If the engine is in reasonable condition and can be repaired the second thing I would do is to drop the chrome and zinc plating off for refinishing. Chrome plating in the UK can take an age to get done. Take lots of photos of what you are sending away though, make a list of everything, photocopy it and give one copy to the plater and keep a copy for yourself. Make sure you clean the bolts and file the burrs off.
Good luck and keep the photos coming.
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Thank you! And thanks for the tip about photos and a list, that's a great idea. Just had an hour to spare this evening, so started to take the engine apart. Oh boy. Bought it because of the low mileage, but this engine sure has seen it's better days. 4 different types of bolts keeping the rocker cover on, threads coming out of the bolt holes, couple of helicoils here and there.. And the cam chain has eaten a good part of the cases. Not what i wanted to see. Really hoping that i don't have to change more engine parts other than the cam chain system and new bolts. As a student theres not much to spare in the budget. How do you guys get the head off? Just a couple of punches with a rubber mallet?
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That thing looks broken. Wonder where the other half is..
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I have seen a lot worse over the past couple of days. Nice clean oil ;)
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You would definitely want to change the primary chain whilst you're in there.
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Its a shame some butcher has been in there before you, stripping threads and whatever else.... hope you can sort it out. How cheap / easy are spare motors to get hold of? Might be worth investigating before spending loads on that one..... Good luck mate !
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Its a shame some butcher has been in there before you, stripping threads and whatever else.... hope you can sort it out. How cheap / easy are spare motors to get hold of? Might be worth investigating before spending loads on that one..... Good luck mate !
Not that easy around here. And i sleep better at night knowing what parts are in my engine :) But could see if i can find a new head in good shape. As of now, i've noticed at least 5 bolt holes with questionable threads.. Too many for my liking.
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Thats going to need the camchain horseshoe and other associated bits but the rest looks reasonable, look up timeserts and/or keenserts which are great as long as you have the metal around the hole to take them
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Thats going to need the camchain horseshoe and other associated bits but the rest looks reasonable, look up timeserts and/or keenserts which are great as long as you have the metal around the hole to take them
Our old 'buddy' bikepusher has an original 'horseshoe' . Pretty rare part to find in original design and decent nick.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB400F-400-Four-400-4-camchain-tensioner-horseshoe-/263182944690?hash=item3d46ed09b2:g:KAsAAOSw6NhZrcTW
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Thats going to need the camchain horseshoe and other associated bits but the rest looks reasonable, look up timeserts and/or keenserts which are great as long as you have the metal around the hole to take them
Our old 'buddy' bikepusher has an original 'horseshoe' . Pretty rare part to find in original design and decent nick.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB400F-400-Four-400-4-camchain-tensioner-horseshoe-/263182944690?hash=item3d46ed09b2:g:KAsAAOSw6NhZrcTW
And this guy has it:
http://www.ttr400.com/images/rsc-09.jpg
http://www.ttr400.com/
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Bikepusher trying it on again, how can he call it new-other when its a used part?
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Bikepusher trying it on again, how can he call it new-other when its a used part?
He gets away with it because eBay allow him to. Have just tried to report the listing to eBay and no pull down menu is available to describe this violation nor any way to write my own. Therefore eBay must agree with this sort of practice. Nice one eBay!!
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To be fair he probably just copied another listing ( I have done it myself) . In his defence he starts things off pretty low ball and as much as I hate breaking up good bikes I am guilty of buying parts that I know have come from bikes that should never have been broken up. He does have some nice parts and for the main pretty honestly described. Never bought from him personally except that I did bid once on some nice 400/4 bars he had listed but got outbid at silly money. Also he did make some good contributions on here (amongst the ranting and upsetting Bitsa (RIP)) ...such as describing the markings on 400/4 silencers and 400/4 seats on the last available Honda stock vs original bike fitment. He came over as a bit of a' know-it-all' ..but people on here have accused me of the same on here. In a kinda perverse way, I miss him on here like I miss his nemesis Bitsa.
BTW he describes this listing as having 'one of those horrible' filler caps ... like the one I sold to a Japanese guy for 100 quid!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB400F-400-Four-400-4-fuel-tank-solid-original-small-dent-/263182928166?hash=item3d46ecc926:g:KUoAAOSwM6NZqtHF
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An "almost fair" review Ash.
I kicked him out because he refused to change his behaviour and stated that he didn't need a "low traffic site like this" :(
Low traffic maybe, but what the marketing world would call "a goldmine of interested parties" :)
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An "almost fair" review Ash.
I kicked him out because he refused to change his behaviour and stated that he didn't need a "low traffic site like this" :(
Low traffic maybe, but what the marketing world would call "a goldmine of interested parties" :)
Didn't know you'd kicked him out Steve, thought he'd left in a strop after good old Bitsa gave him both barrels!
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Wouldn't surprise me if he's still on here lurking under a different name.
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He can only do that with a different email and IP address.
This forum is publicly readable though, you don't need to register to read the posts...
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Got the engine cracked open. Primary chain is past replacing too. One of the cylinder studs snapped despite soaking it for 24 hours. Well that's just perfect. What's the story on replacing one of the casings, that is a no go right? This is the first time i'm working on an engine, other than mopeds. How do you guys measure crankshaft shells? They look fine, but have 42.000 km behind them.
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Crankcases are matched pairs, if shells look good 99% of the time the are good BUT MAKE SURE THEY STAY IN SAME PLACE.
Where did stud shear? careful drill out or spark erosion for removal
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Thanks Bryan. The stud snapped at the base of the casing. I'm taking the parts to work for cleaning in our parts washer, maybe i'll try an see if i can drill it out.
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Start small and work up to size preferably with a pillar drill