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Messages - Yetanotherbike

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31
Project Board / CB400F Project (rebooted)
« on: March 22, 2022, 07:19:45 PM »
As mentioned in my introduction to the forum, my CB400F has been gathering dust for far too many years.
I had the frame, swing arms, hubs and bits and bobs powder coated many years ago. A mate got me some parts galvanised. At the time I didn't really care about originality too much, in fact there was a plan to fit twin discs and use fork legs off a larger model. These days however, I would like it to look as standard as possible. I suppose if I were to do it properly I would strip the powder coating off and have it sprayed etc. But I'm not, so there. My big mistake was having the hubs powder coated in silver. Yes they look nice, but they look nothing like standard and this is something I will have to address. I did ask the question on the other SOHC forum as regards how do I replicate the original finish. I also asked the same question about the fork legs. There seems to be differing opinions on how to achieve the 'right' look.
As the original engine was all but seized, I picked up a spare engine many years ago. So I will probably use a combination of the two engines and new parts. I asked the same question as regards getting the crankcases painted, luckily having looked at  Nurse Julie's excellent rebuild article, I'm now sure which way to go with that one.
To sort of kick start the project again (pun intended) I bought a few bits from David Silver so I can see a bit of progress. I won't be spending every spare minute on this, as besides running other classic bikes, I also dabble with Classic cars, as well as doing DIY projects :( .
So my first picture I'll call Abandoned engineering, except it wasn't abandoned, it was just over looked for a while. A long while. The second picture is the box of goodies that arrived this morning.  :) My joy was slightly muted when I realised there weren't any screws in the boxes that clamp the two halves of switch gear together. Ho hum, I'll tack those onto my next order to David Silver who clearly should be offering a large discount to members of this forum.... ;)


 

32
CB350/400 / Leaking float bowls (CB400F)
« on: March 22, 2022, 08:03:43 AM »
I'm sure that some people on here may have encountered this before, but thought i would share it.
On my recent purchase, one of my tasks was to sort the leaking float bowls. Having done this loads of times, I was filled with confidence,(stoopidly). Cleaned the float needles and seat, checked the floats were actually floating, set the float height and they all overflowed. >:(
Replaced the float needles and seats, checked the float height again and to my annoyance they all overflowed  >:( >:(
I was starting to get desperate now as it meant that I would have to now engage my brain. I decided to lower the float height as an experiment and it achieved the same result. I made an adaptor to attached a tube to the float bowl so I could observe the actual fluid level. To my surprise, it was well below the top of the overflow. On a whim, I removed the bowl and filled it with petrol and it leaked through the overflow! This was a surprise to say the least. I checked the other three bowls and they all did the same. I checked the brass tubes with a magnifying glass and realised that they all had hair line cracks in them.
So my question is, how did it happen? I wondered if it was my ultrasonic cleaner, resonance from the engine or water in the fuel that had frozen at some point. I was thinking over drilling it out and soldering in some 3mm brass tube or just soldering the crack with solder and drilling it out again. Any thoughts good people.

33
New Member Introductions / Re: Greetings from North Wales
« on: March 22, 2022, 07:36:03 AM »
Thank you good people for the warm welcome. I'm looking forward to be able to contribute on here as well as ask questions. I've already gleaned some very useful information. I concur with 'smoothoperator', my bike will be parakeet yellow, as we all know these were more powerful and were at least 5mph faster, so I'm reliably informed. You see, I said I'd already found some useful information.  ;) Many thanks Rob

34
New Member Introductions / Greetings from North Wales
« on: March 21, 2022, 05:57:50 AM »
Hi, my name is Rob, I just wanted to introduce myself to this forum. I am a long time biker (46 years), I still ride almost everyday to work and for pleasure. I have several other classic bikes and cars of interest.
Back in my youth, the CB400F became the second motorcycle I owned and I fell in love with it straight away. I had several of these bikes including a single seat racer which I put on the road, which had a full 460cc Yoshimura race engine.
Over the years my bikes got bigger, but I still had a soft spot for the CB400F. Many years ago, a college friend, (on his wedding evening) mentioned that he had one that I could buy off him that was a 'rat bike', for the princely sum of £90! I bought it off him, ran it for a couple of years whilst slowly taking the layers of black paint off everything and then it seized. :-[ .
I started to restore it years ago and had the frame and various parts powder coated, but after two house moves and several relationships and many other classic bikes and classic cars, the CB400F project stalled. My friend had two children, divorced and the bike is no closer to completion!
A couple of months ago, almost on a whim, I bought another CB400F on eBay which needed a little bit of work. I didn't want to play with it, I just wanted to ride it, but the urge to tinker with it and make it better was overwhelming and I started to sort it out bit by bit.
I had almost forgotten how much I loved these bikes. One evening I had something of an epiphany moment and realised I simply 'had' to restore my old project and not waste any more time on other bikes, because at almost 61 I have more years behind me than in front.
So, today, I sold my latest Honda to another enthusiast and my focus has now turned onto my project Honda.
I have owned a blue, a red, a maroon, a black and one with a 5 gallon alloy tank, but I have never owned a parakeet yellow one, so I think I know what colour this will be.
After owning several of these bikes I know how to fix and maintain them, but one area where I am reaching out for guidance is about restoring them so they look original and ‘correct’. No doubt I will ask the questions on another part of the forum.
So that’s me, looking forward to gaining and even sharing knowledge with other Honda Enthusiasts. Thank you to Nurse Julie for pointing me in this direction from SOHC.net
Pleased to meet you all.




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