Honda-SOHC
General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: ComfySofa on April 25, 2022, 07:41:21 PM
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As above....A good few years back i became the owner of my late fathers 400/4. It was, in good condition. I stored it in a shipping container and the damp has literally eaten it alive (recoved it a couple of years back) and started to strip down for a full restoration and some upgrades....(digital ignition, new wiring and other stuff). The work has stalled for the last 14 months as ive had a garden renovation to tend to which im now almost through so im back on the bike....a bit of history...
A lot of work has already been done...its a rolling chassis now after a powder coate of the frame...the forks rechromed, wheels rebuilt with alloy rims and stainless spokes. The sticking point is the motor....to try to keep costs down ive stripped the motor to the crankcases and had all the exterior parts bead blasted....ive gave the engine to a local bikeshop which is where its stayed, in pieces (the last 14 months) until last week. I think it was too much for him (i think he was a bit too proud to admit it, so i went and got it all)
So, ive got 4 boxes of bits albeit very clean and now have to find someone in the UK that can build it. I did contact one builder up north but he literally wanted thousands to rebuild it (i worked it out at close to 3k). I dont mind paying if i have to but, pardon the pun - dont want to get taken for a ride...i watched my ducati engine (hypermotard) get rebuilt in close to 2 working days and the 400/4 i would say is a simpler engine??
If anyone has got any advice im all ears....Glad to be here...ill be posting regularly as ive still got a lot of work to do..!
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A location would help.
Scratch that I can see the title now. Maybe Bryan is the best bet.
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Err - Bristol!
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Contact BryanJ, he's near Gloucester. Very experienced.
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Ken beat me to writing, im about 2 miles off junct 12 M5 and yes i will do it butcant give you a time scale as it has to fit between rbl shows, wifes trips and work! Shouldnt be a long time though.
Parts will be the main cost and you will need:-
Gasket set
Oil seal kit
Primary chain and dampers
Cam chain, maybe tensioner blade and horseshoe
Probably adjuster bolt mod kit.
If you havent kept the shells in correct positions thats £20 each HALF SHELL maybe more its a long time since i bought any.
Ring me after 8pm Tues, Wed, Thurs on 07795162623 and we can chat.
One thing i WILL NOT take responsibility for is any future failures caused by media from the blasting!
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Hi - thats brilliant - ive got the gasket kit and the carb rebuild kit....are the other parts obtainable by you? (dont want to be lazy) if you expect it to turn up with everything ready thats fine - ill source it all for you..!
regards to the media blasting...the carbs are gummed up with the media...(they might be a lost cause) so you may have to check them first..! as far as i know theyre all clean - but i suppose i could find somewhere locally to wash them all first??
I do have the aftermarket alloy cam chain tensioner but thats it...
With regards to time....hey its been in pieces for almost 2 years now so i dont mind how long it takes as long as i know its with someone that can reassemble it...!
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Welcome to the forum. Enjoy your project 😁😁😁
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Thanks very much.! My own bikes are a Hypermotard 1100 evo SP, an old pre aprc RSV4 and a z1000 (2014). I rode my dads bike (this one) once about 7 years ago to MOT (as when my dad passed away) my 2 brothers wanted to sell it but i bought them out. Cant put my finger on it but, riding it to the MOT - was one of the most pleasurable experiences (biking) of my life....glad i kept it and i want that experience again....but with it in pristine nick!
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I can source all the bits needed but on a you pay for it as i order it basis only, you pay labour at the end, we can discuss on phone no prob.
The original horseshoe may be salvegable if you still have it, cant quote bores and pistons till i see them.
Bryan
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Welcome to the forum - loads of great, expert and friendly folk on here to help you with your project.
Enjoy the forum
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Welcome to the forum buddy, I'm in bristol too so if you need any help etc give us a shout. I've an ultrasonic and happy to help if required. Just finished a 400 so have various bits knocking about too if thats a goer .
kettles always on in the shed ;)
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Hi there - i might very well take you up on that....i was thinking last night where i could get the parts washed....is yours big enough to take crankcases?
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I can source all the bits needed but on a you pay for it as i order it basis only, you pay labour at the end, we can discuss on phone no prob.
The original horseshoe may be salvegable if you still have it, cant quote bores and pistons till i see them.
Bryan
No problem - no issues with that....i did pack everything up in boxes (as pre joining this forum) i was thinking i would be sending it somewhere.....have to unpack it all now and get it all washed...
What are the "horseshoes"?
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Horseshoe is the camchain tensioner part that runs under and around the crankshaft.
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Welcome looks like you have an interesting build ahead of you - lot's of good advice on here plus some money saving tips as well.
If you are thinking of fitting taper roller headstock bearings kits that fit are definitely available again in good brand name for the 400/4.
If you PM Smoothoperator (Steve) he will advise you its a kit by Pyramid Bearings I think - straight forward replacement.
Just to give you an indication the engine only parts cost (2020/21) for my 400 that included quite a few bearings, all the crank shells, primary drive chain & bearings,rebore by Trigger, gaskets, etc etc came to about £1200.
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The only problem I have with the Pyramid kits is that they say they are Japanese bearings but don't tell you what make they are when buying the kit. So you have to hope they've chosen a decent make of bearings. I prefer to find my own and then I can select the manufacturer I prefer.
Same applies to bearings inside the engine, often cheaper to source your own than buy Honda ones, same manufacturer in most cases.
Primary chain, buy the Kawasaki 92057-1011 chain, same chain, half the price.
May not need crankshaft and rod shells, if your really lucky. That's only IF you labelled them as you removed them, if you just threw them in a bag your kinda knackered unless they were all the same colour, very rare for that to happen. Some colour shells are now quite rare, lets hope you don't need any of those.
If possible use Genuine Honda gasket kits.
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Thanks very much for the info....as the motor has only done 6k is a full bearing replacement necessary?
Headstock bearings: i bought oem honda bearings for the headstock (Wheels are back on and its rolling around the garage!)
Pyramid bearings!? (what are they)?
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Horseshoe is the camchain tensioner part that runs under and around the crankshaft.
Ah - i think thats the part i bought....(bought an aftermarket alloy one)? some lad in SA makes them from billet...
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The only problem I have with the Pyramid kits is that they say they are Japanese bearings but don't tell you what make they are when buying the kit. So you have to hope they've chosen a decent make of bearings. I prefer to find my own and then I can select the manufacturer I prefer.
Same applies to bearings inside the engine, often cheaper to source your own than buy Honda ones, same manufacturer in most cases.
Primary chain, buy the Kawasaki 92057-1011 chain, same chain, half the price.
May not need crankshaft and rod shells, if your really lucky. That's only IF you labelled them as you removed them, if you just threw them in a bag your kinda knackered unless they were all the same colour, very rare for that to happen. Some colour shells are now quite rare, lets hope you don't need any of those.
Shells: kind of when the engine came apart half the shells fell out the other half i numbered up....
If possible use Genuine Honda gasket kits.
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Just to add to all of this ill throw up some pics and create a thread in the build area....you can see what im up against then!! (might be a better place to continue conversations) but happy to on here as well!
Oh - and id just like to say, many thanks...its not a bike that i ever expected to own...least of all my dad's! but its been a very warm welcome...cheers.
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Thanks very much for the info....as the motor has only done 6k is a full bearing replacement necessary?
Headstock bearings: i bought oem honda bearings for the headstock (Wheels are back on and its rolling around the garage!)
Pyramid bearings!? (what are they)?
Pyramid, name of company.
Don't forget that the bike is coming up to 50 years old, although the parts may not have done much mileage, bad storage etc can cause them to rust and deteriorate quite a lot. Plus some people think they may as well whilst it's apart, most bearings are only a few quid so it's not a huge outlay, trouble is it all starts to add up quickly.
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Welcome to the 400 four forum! Lots of help and advice available on here.
I know it's a bit late now, but if the engine has only done 6k miles, why did you you strip it right down?
They're normally good for 30k plus as long as regular oil and filter changes are done.
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Purely because while it was stored in the shipping container the whole motor had tarnished beyond belief - the only way to get it back to a nice finish was to strip it to the cases....
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The only problem I have with the Pyramid kits is that they say they are Japanese bearings but don't tell you what make they are when buying the kit. So you have to hope they've chosen a decent make of bearings. I prefer to find my own and then I can select the manufacturer I prefer.
My Pyramid kit BR29 I think contained Japan NTN bearings plus what looks like a better seal arrangement than original ball bearings.
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Well, its back together now....tbh honest once its done itll get used a couple of times per year....maybe a bit more....thats a job i can tackle after its all back together...
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I can source all the bits needed but on a you pay for it as i order it basis only, you pay labour at the end, we can discuss on phone no prob.
The original horseshoe may be salvegable if you still have it, cant quote bores and pistons till i see them.
Bryan
Thats absolutely fine....ive got no budget as such so ordering parts in bits and pieces is great.....as i say and stress i dont really care how long it takes....that'll give me more time to get cash together.....thanks again so much for the offer and the help.
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Hi there - i might very well take you up on that....i was thinking last night where i could get the parts washed....is yours big enough to take crankcases?
Sadly not but great for carbs and the like have alook at the 550mstarted thread of mine, they came up a bloody treat. I use a chap called Nathan at Chameleon Vapour blastingin Yeovil for big bits, he has a huge parts washer and heated bath/dip thing. Im going down possibly thursday to grab some bits hes doing for me and drop some more off, If you can gather yours together, Id be happy to take your gubbins as well.
Im in compton Martin
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Is that this Thursday coming....just to clarify all my stuff has been bead blasted...its really a case of getting rid of the left over media...
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Setting off in 10mins ;D
I'm going back in a few weeks to collect so no dramas if you need stuff doing, I use him for cerecote and other finishes, hes only a young bloke but bloody good.
Drop me a pm of what you actually need doing and I'll do my best to help.
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Ceracote the ceramic one Roo.
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Yes and he does the high temperature stuff too that go on engines and pipes etc. He did the 400 pipes for me and they came out ace from what they were. he blasts, braises any holes up and flats em down, the lot, prior to getting the colour on. He treats everything as his own so its perfect when you get it.