Honda-SOHC

General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: Oggie400F on October 16, 2018, 08:19:42 PM

Title: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Oggie400F on October 16, 2018, 08:19:42 PM
Hi
I have been riding motorcycles for nearly 40 years, currently riding a 1999 VFR800 fix I've had from new, but have just purchased the bike that I fell in love with in my childhood which is a 1976 Honda CB400F.  :D

The bike is in fair condition but I am looking to fully restore to original, as far as I am able, but am a restoration virgin so will need loads of help and advice.  ::)

I'm looking forward to trawling through past posts that may answer some of my many questions but also looking forward to starting new threads, if I can't find anything, and hoping that the forum members vast knowledge and experience will be on hand to help me out when I inevitably get stuck!!

Thanks to all in advance.  :)
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Rob62 on October 16, 2018, 08:22:18 PM
Welcome in Oggie... good luck with the restoration, plenty of knowledge and advice on here.
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: jon stead on October 16, 2018, 08:32:33 PM
Welcome Oggie, plenty of friendly advice on here
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: philward on October 16, 2018, 08:38:43 PM
Welcome Oggie - enjoy the knowledge and banter. Loads of 400 experts to help (some on here think its a 400Four forum!}
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Nurse Julie on October 16, 2018, 08:41:39 PM
Welcome. Enjoy your restoration. And Phil, it is the premier CB400/4 forum in the UK 😀😀😀
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: AshimotoK0 on October 16, 2018, 08:58:19 PM
Welcome from another 'ull lad ...I am in Willerby where are you?

Bit of bedtime reading in these links frommy 'Dropbox on here'

CB400F PARTS

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u51uf0p1dv6m29q/Honda%20CB400%20F%20Parts%20Manual.pdf?dl=0

CB400F PARTS USA Searchable

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j0hysqub5jsfg46/400-4%20Part%20List%201975%20searcheable.pdf?dl=0


CB350/400F SHOP MANUALWORKSHOP

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1n3w5433jkph228/350F%20400F%20_4%20Shop%20Manual.pdf?dl=0

CB350F Part Manual

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7pieydvznvy7nhp/CB350_F_F1%20Full.pdf?dl=0

CB400F DEALER SETUP INSTRUCTIONS .. RARE !!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ewl1d9td0nhxeya/CB400_set-up_man.pdf?dl=0

Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Orcade-Ian on October 16, 2018, 09:16:09 PM
Welcome to the wonderful world of SOHC stuff from another ‘ullite, now living in Orkney.
As the others say, plenty of genuine help and advice on here.  If you are contemplating pulling the engine apart, you must have a read of Nurse Julie’s excellent step by step guide with plenty of great pics.

Ian
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Allington (Steve) on October 16, 2018, 09:28:40 PM
Welcome Oggie
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: petermigreen on October 16, 2018, 09:58:26 PM
Hello and welcome.
I started with a 400, then before I knew it they just kept multiplying.
Peter
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on October 16, 2018, 10:13:23 PM
I had a VFR800 Fi-1 ( more or less the same) and have had a series of modern bikes since then. The one constant in my garage though is a Honda 4


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Moorey on October 17, 2018, 09:31:04 AM
Welcome to the forum and have fun. Someone on her will have the answer to any question you have. :)
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Skunky on October 17, 2018, 10:24:50 PM
Hi, I have started a 400 restoration too. Mine is in poor shape but has great potential. Look forward yo following your build.
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Oggie400F on October 18, 2018, 07:36:03 PM
Hi All
Thanks for the friendly Welcome.

Hi AshimotoKO
I live on Haworth Park so not too far from Willerby

Thanks for the 'dropbox' info. Already read through, great info!

I have started the strip down and have one question straight away!
I want to strip, and restore all of the 'Black' bits but the bike seams to have a mishmash of gloss and satin finishes, some poorly hand painted. Yuck!!

What should the correct finish be?  Gloss or Satin Black?
If you could point me in the right direction as to where I can find this out it would be much appreciated. :-)
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Nurse Julie on October 18, 2018, 07:47:48 PM
It's a 1970's gloss......which is more satin than gloss. Different powder coaters use different types of powder, what one calls a satin finish another will call a gloss and vice versa. Too gloss looks awful, to satin looks awful, needs to be in the middle.
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Oggie400F on October 19, 2018, 08:39:33 AM
Thanks Nurse Julie

Is the 1970's gloss possible to do yourself with 'rattle can' paint on the small parts?
If so what do you recommend?

I have read on a 400/4 restorers blog that he uses Hamnerite Satin, on the pics shown it looked semi gloss but this could have been from the camera flash.

By the way, I'm not looking for a 'best in show' finished bike but do want it to look right.
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Nurse Julie on October 19, 2018, 08:51:40 AM
I'm sure a good finish can be replicated by rattle can, we only ever powder coat so couldn't advise on what to use but maybe someone that has gone that route could advise.
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Orcade-Ian on October 19, 2018, 06:56:06 PM
Hi Oggie,
I’ve used rattle cans on many projects, Hammerite Silver Smoothrite on engine parts and MIPA 2k cans for the shiny black bits. That is available from APS in Courtney Street in Hull and they can even moderate the shine by adding matting agent.  The satin black is available from Hy Cote but you might have to search a bit for that.
I’ve recently tidied up the 400/4 and although the tank and one side panel were NOS I’d had for years, the one in the pic is done with a rattle can using a Yamaha colour.

It’s here on my site:

http://www.stallard-engineering.co.uk/stories/Bikes/Japanese/400%20four%20pt5.htm

Ian
Title: Re: Newbie from Hull in East Yorkshire
Post by: Oggie400F on October 19, 2018, 09:16:09 PM
Hi Orcadian Ian

Thanks for the specific info and one of the black paints is available in Hull too.  Bonus.

Thanks for the link to your pages. Again great info.

I'm overwhelmed by the amount of help and information available and willingness to share with likeminded folk.  Simply excellent.  :)
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