Honda-SOHC

No it can't be a Virago as its not a V Twin this must have been a different holiday methinks with hindsight.

Yeah I had ankle socks on - its a Brit thing or at least it was 33 years ago or thereabouts .

Not even sure it was a Virago now unless it was a Greek Version or should I say Geek Version.

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

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.

Carburetors back on waiting for fuel pipe to arrive before I progress much.
Having trouble uploading my pictures despite reducing them in size?Plug leads in place with new coils r by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

Okay so here is my Honda CB400F2 purchased via e-bay from a local seller who unfortunately knew they fetch fair money so it was no bargain at £2000 as a thrown together to sell bike- looked good in the sale pictures. It came with a box of new parts with invoices spanning just over 10 years of accumulation. The box of new parts had a retail list price of just over £300 with some new or good used parts already fitted. As it was quite local I did go and look at it before I ended up buying it as it was the only one I had found that wasn't at the other end of the UK or out of my price range (Optimistically set at £1000-1500).

The seller declared that he bought it from a relative some 12 years ago with a rattling cam chain - he lost interest when he bought a Harley so by the time he got round to fixing the Honda ill health had prevented him from biking again so he decided to sell the unloved Honda.

It does crank over on the kickstart with reasonable compressions - certainly enough to get it running before the full rebuild ahead.

I can see lots of rebuild post here is it worth me doing one for my CB400F rebuild as I progress or is it all old hat here?
At present I'm just going to get the engine running first before I do the full strip down afterwards.

Thanks for the comments everyone some great pics too - I too like the look & sound of a nice exhaust I put Goldstar silencers on my Triumph 21 back in the 60's! A distant friend of mine worked as a fabricator welder at Motad the Industrial Unit was in the Ilkeston/Ripley/Heanor area I think one of a couple of manufacturing units they had - he was made redundant just before they shut.

My favourite exhaust look was that on my Ariel Leader when you opened up the throttle and two swirls of smoke came out of the rear silencers.

Al I like the look of the Dekelvic system - the springs are an interesting way to hold the pipes in.