Honda-SOHC

Athame57 - do you have a good copy of the wiring diagram?  Here's a link to a PDF version I made of the UK diagram, it occasionally makes an appearance here and I haven't heard about any errors yet...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bjm0hcigcjzsfku/1977%20CB400F%20UK%20Master%20Diagram.pdf?dl=0

It's a strange thing but as I am approaching fitting the tank and getting close to an attempted start up I feel myself slowing down fearing unforeseen issues. I ought instead to be estatic at the prospect - is this normal !!

Oh boy, do I understand that feeling!

Don't upset the Apple Carp!

You're gonna be just fine...

Get the bike running and enjoy it.

Agreed. Everything you planned to do will be waiting when you get back to it.

Sorry to hear about your kidney issues.  Doctors are smart these days, though, and one kidney is all you really need - I know of a few very selfless donors who can vouch for that!  My ticker wandered off into the weeds on me a few weeks ago - one surprise pacemaker installation later and I'm about back on my feet again - here's hoping for the same type of result for you!!!

Thanks guys!

I took it for a spin around the block, and gradually expanded my range to about a 20 mile ride the other day.  Since using the manual adjusting rig, the cam chain noise didn't get any worse in those 20 miles.  I briefly touched 8K rpms during the ride, no drama.  It does make a public statement spinning up there, though, doesn't it?

It runs pretty well; it doesn't like to start moving in 1st gear with anything less than about 3000 rpm, but maybe that's normal for these small, high-revving engines?  I'm used to my newer daily rider which has plenty of low-end torque.  Plus, while the clutch pull has improved a lot in those 20 miles (getting the plates well-oiled after years?), it's still not what I would call an easy pull, so maybe I'm not able to finesse it the way I should be able to.  But once under way, the throttle seems well adjusted throughout the rpm range.  The throttle grip is also more difficult to turn, and to hold, than I'm used to, but I think that's down to the spring action of four older carbs vs two newer ones.

The brake lever action feels very good.  It just doesn't slow the bike all that well, which I've been told to expect - all four fingers on the lever and a good kick at the rear pedal does a pretty good imitation of a quick stop, but cruising along with two fingers covering the front lever doesn't quite cut it!

I finally got the new shocks sorted, so I hope to get a longer ride in today if the weather holds (looking very cloudy at the moment).  I'll keep an eye out for smoke from the exhaust, of which I saw a little bit at idle during one of my stationary test starts.

You may recall my run of very low - but uniform and consistent - compression tests... the conclusion was that it could be all four chambers were badly compromised - or that my testing tool/method was inaccurate.  I never got any result above 100psi.  If the bike is running reasonably well, does it seem likely that the compression isn't as bad as my test indicated?  What symptoms should I be keeping an eye out for?

I was able to cobble together some washers and bushings (which just fit over the mounting spindle) to tighten things up against the rubber bushes, but not clamp down hard on the shock mount itself...