Honda-SOHC
General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: David01 on May 02, 2020, 04:15:48 PM
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Hi there,
new to the forum!
Honda 400/4's are rare in Australia so I'm reaching out to you guys in the UK for advice and encouragement. I just got my 400 back on the road after it sat in the shed for nearly 20 years. Iqbal (my wife) bought me this bike soon after we migrated to Australia from the UK. I will never sell this one (picture attached [attach=1]).
However, getting the bike back to being road worthy inspired me to attempt another bike. I was lucky and found two 400s for sale and the seller was located close to Adelaide (home town). Bought online from picture only and I probably paid over the odds but I scored two bikes with clear titles.
When they turned up one has 350/4 engine and the other appears to have CB250N front end. The good point, both have original headers that looking in go shape. I have enough out of the two to restore one to original stock specifications, while the one with the CB250N front will be made into a cafe racer.
The goal a full restoration of both - hopefully, I won't need to do too much with the engines and the plan is to rebuild over winter (your summer).
I will keep you posted.
Cheers David
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You can download the Honda manual from Alladins cave on here.
Welcome to the site and have fun
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Welcome to the Forum. We have quite a few members on here from Australia with 400/4's.
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Hi BryanJ,
thank you. I will download the manuals. The plan is to read and read some more before going beyond the basics clean up for the new projects.
David
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Welcome to the 400four forum Dave, good of you to post a picture for us.
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Thank you all for the kind welcome!
The weekend has been a busy one - cleaned and started to dismantling the first of two project bikes.
You can see that the bike is in a rough shape. Given the bike has been modified already, I'm inclined to make this into a cafe racer style.
The great unwashed:
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
Impact of a good wash and the start of dismantling:
[attach=3]
I'm pretty sure that the Comstars's are from a CB250N; happy to be corrected. Also the handle bar and clocks are not original and at present I cannot determine their origin.
The engine appears to have good compression. This is based on turning the motor over using the kick start. However, given some of the more obvious additions and omissions I'm inclined to rebuild the motor.
I will post progress and when I get stuck - ask questions on how to proceed.
The trick for me to complete these projects is less haste more speed! A quote from Walter Tivey - my father. It is a pity he isn't around to help, he was a master locksmith, tool makers and blacksmith (old school trained). He would have enjoyed getting his hand dirty on this bike!
Speak soon
David
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Show us the clock faces we will probably id them
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Apologizes BryanJ
here are the clock picture - thank you in advance.
David
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Speedo 500, tacho 350 twin
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Thank you.
As I said earlier, a previous owner did a mix’n’match job.
David
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I've restored worse.
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Hi there,
I'm trying to identify the origin of the Comstar wheel that came attached to my next project.[attach=1][attach=1]
From my research, I believe the wheel is from a Superdream CB250N. Before I commit to reusing this wheel, I want to be certain of its origin and compatibility with my CB400f.
Concerns are:
1. will the rear suspension need to be changed to longer shocks?
2. by eye the tyre appears to be off centre by 1cm
3. also the drive and rear sprockets don't appear to be inline - again by eye.
The question to the forum is - has anyone fitted this type rear wheel to a cb400f and if so - what adjustments had to be made?
David
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I have never done it but have seen pictures back in the 70's/80's I think you had to make special spacers for the rear. Most important to get wheels in line first(check if frame or forks are bent 1st) then space sprocket(s) to line up
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Thank you Bryan,I thought that I may need to make spacer to align the sprockets. Also before investing in the refurbishment of the frame I will get it checked for alignment. David
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I did all this in the eighty's, front fork staunchions with wheel slide straight in the 400/4 yokes, but the nineteen inch front wheel needs the forks to 1/2 inch above the top yoke, you then need to make new spacers for the rear wheel to line up the chain run to the front spocket which lines up the rear wheel.
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Hi Ken, thank you for your advice.
Question. Why do the front forks need to be raised by 1/2 inch above the yoke?
David
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Because the wheel is 19 inch not 18 inch
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+1 with Bryanj, it effects the steering geometry, I still have mine but have since gone to 18in front wheel.
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Thanks guys. The adjustment will be made at rebuild. David