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Messages - Drew400
481
« on: February 05, 2014, 09:08:10 PM »
Thank you again all. I wish I could provide advice in response to others' requests! Maybe when I've completed this job I will be able to...
482
« on: February 02, 2014, 07:48:40 PM »
Thanks Bitsa, I wonder how the handling will improve when I get around to replacing this leg (and the other, and the shocks, and the...?), not that I'm a British Superbikes rider, you understand! Cheers, D.
483
« on: February 02, 2014, 03:57:25 PM »
Hello again, fellow money pit fans. My next in a long line of eager learnings with your help involves front forks.
I have no doubt that in some time past, this old girl had a front end wallop, as a previous (newbie) photo has attested. One of the fork legs is in fairly poor condition and so I have started stripping it down to learn more, before attacking the better (salvageable?) one. In so doing, I have been following my Haynes manual and so removed the hexagon screw, etc. before removing the top nut. OK so far, me thinks, until it says, 'remove the spring clip or circlip and prize out the oil seal' from the top of the fork lower leg. The circlip came out easily, but the oil seal seems to have been glued in and is solid. Also, removing part of the seal, revealed an oval spring. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Hopefully (if I've inserted my image correctly) you can see what I'm on about.
Also, it says in my manual that there is an additional spring on 400s (not on 550s) at the top of the stanchion inside the lower leg. No spring popped out with mine, but there is in the bottom of the stanchion, a collar that doesn't want to come out and isn't in the exploded view drawing in Haynes. This image gives a tiny peep: [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [attac [ Guests cannot view attachments ] himg=2]
All of this diatribe, leads me to suspect that my forks have been replaced with non-standard ones of the correct size.
Any better or at least better-informed ideas anyone? I haven't yet started on the other leg to see if they're the same and will do so next weekend (for another thrilling instalment, etc.)
Thank you and remember, February's a short month so it's nearly spring!
Drew.
484
« on: February 02, 2014, 03:34:47 PM »
Thank you all again, especially Simon... parts manual picture, hmmm, very impressive! I now need to clean off all the crap to see if I can find '370' somewhere.
I'm now moving on to my next query which I'm guessing web chat protocol requires me to start anew. So, I think it's time to close off this particular query.
Cheers, Drew
485
« on: January 29, 2014, 06:16:32 PM »
Thank you all. I'll stop worrying about its originality and start worrying instead about the cost of fettling! Cheers, Drew.
486
« on: January 28, 2014, 03:45:56 PM »
My 400 has a front mudguard with only one pair of support struts behind the fork leg. All the pictures I've seen of 400/4s have two pairs of struts supporting the mudguard, i.e. one pair in front of the fork leg too. I'm guessing that mine is an after-market part, especially as there is no evidence of tampering or that more supports we're ever present. Expert advice much appreciated, thank you. Drew.
487
« on: January 19, 2014, 07:43:52 PM »
Fellow newbie sends greetings. Antrim's a bit of a schlep from Somerset, but it's great to see and hear of all these old 400/4s coming back to life and a caring old age! Good luck, Drew.
488
« on: January 06, 2014, 09:00:02 AM »
Hi again and thank you to a few more readers/contributors.
Money pit, hmmm... the jaws of that particular monster have started to open as I create a shopping basket on David Silver's parts site. Not hit the 'order' button yet but will soon be doing so. I have built a spreadsheet to keep a track of all this stuff so hopefully that will create some financial control... yeah right!
Frame's being repaired as we 'speak' and all my reusable parts are cleaned and ready for painting. Seems I'm committed (or should be).
Cheers, D.
489
« on: January 03, 2014, 11:08:28 PM »
Bearing looks perfectly circular. I'm taking it to a chap tomorrow who does this sort of thing so will have a professional opinion to express soon afterwards! Cheers, D.
490
« on: January 03, 2014, 08:49:08 PM »
Thank you all (some again) for the warm welcome. Already, my load feels shared... if you get my drift!
If I get this right, you're about to see some piccies of a tank, a partially naked 400 (avert your eyes if you're sensitive to such things) and the underside of a headstock. Seems to me that it's bent (where the steering butts up to stop it doing the 'owl' or 'BMX-bike-spin-right-round' thing). Hopefully this is a simple 'heat and beat' back straight job, but if you know better that this is a symptom of something much worse, please let me know.
Cheers all,
D.
491
« on: January 03, 2014, 08:40:37 PM »
Hi Kenny, I too am new to this forum malarkey, but already got some friendly replies from people who don't sound bonkers... at least less bonkers than me for starting out on this CB400 restoration lark! Good luck and enjoy.
492
« on: January 03, 2014, 12:33:13 PM »
Thanks Mick, Trigger & Tom.
It's a 1975 model in burgundy with c.55,000 on the clock. I'm guessing that some of it is not original (surprised?!) but plenty of it might be. Evidence #1 - the front mudguard has only one stay (is that the correct phrase?) at the rear. All the pictures I have seen appear to have two (i.e one at the front too). The seat is definately a replacement but looks pretty accurate. Perhaps inevitably, the stalks for the front indicators have been snapped at some point and they're now attached to the headlamp nascelle where the reflectors used to reside... I'll hopefully correct that in the re-build phase.
Will add some photos soon.
Whilst we're at it: my old bike history (in order) - Puch Maxi moped (gave me such style), Honda CD175, Suzuki T500, Honda CX500*, Yamaha XS1100, Suzuki GT750, Kawasaki GTR1000* and now the little 400/4. I'm not what you might call contemporary on the bike front!
(* = bought new)
Cheers, D.
493
« on: January 03, 2014, 09:22:56 AM »
Hello all.
Yes indeed, I've joined the throng of CB400/4 restorers and, like many others before me, this is my first attempt at a 'proper' restoration. I bought the bike a couple of years ago: runner, leaker, restricted to 33bhp, fun ride (although not really for 2-up) and now the oil leaks and general tattiness are pleading me to strip her down and give her a damned good clean.
So far everything is off the frame awaiting cleaning, painting, re-gasketing, etc. I'll occasionally add updates and photos (although I've not so far been much of a blogger type) and probably more frequently seek help from this expert and friendly group.
Cheers all!
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