Honda-SOHC

Hi folks - long time but I need help again!

I noticed that pulling in the brake lever there was initial resistance then normal firm action, as if there was a rough spot or an unlubed bit. This is noticeable if I pump the lever at standstill, but less so if I apply the brake very smoothly or if I brake hard then release then brake again. It is almost as if there is a little bubble or something but I have bled the system a million times now. It feels like there is a bit of resistance somewhere in the system.

 I'm reasonably sure it developed during my last journey, but the last thing before that was whipping part of the front end off to repair the indicator stalk/headlight holder.

I have so far changed the master cylinder assembly for a new one from another working bike, removed and cleaned the piston, cleaned and lubed the pivot, changed the pads but no joy. Anyone had this issue and fixed it? Any clues?

thanks all!

Hi all - I'm having a horrible morning - opened garage to find petrol smell and fuel dripping from the bike. I have the tank off and it looks like a badky placed wiring loom cable tie has worn a groove in the under side, and it is seeping from there.

Any ideas on repair? I finding a replacement tank is likely going to be impossible.

Hi folks,

Great to see a UK SOHC4 forum. I've used this and the US one to get me out of so many tight spots along the way of maintaining these great machines that I felt I ought to stop lurking and join in.

Bit of history - After I had passed my CBT I was looking at various bikes as you do, and my other half suggested I check out some older ones since I liked 'retro stuff'. She probably didn't realise the impact of that throwaway statement.

I bought a knackered CB125J from ebay as spares or repairs, intending to do up my first bike on a budget. Nothing worked. The forks were pitted, the clutch seized, the front brake seized, the exhaust rotten, the spark plug seized in the engine, the piston had rusted solid in the barrel, the carbs gummed up, the electrics were shot. The only plus point was that my mate and I managed to get it into his Volvo estate to drive it back from Luton. 

Fast forward, that project taught me a lot about patience and what not to do. Eventually I got it working for a short period, but it didn't last long and the piston seized again, and broke the con rod sending it punching through the front of the crank case. That was a difficult push home. I got rid of it and passed my test.

My first proper bike was a CB400-four which I loved. The design was great and there just isn't anything modern which has such great looks, holds its value and is so mechanically tangible in the way that all the features operate.

I had to get rid of it to put a deposit down on a house, but since then I've owned various machines. I had an imported Cb550K US spec for a while which wasn't quite my bag. I had a few modern bikes in between before settling on the current set up:

CB550F which I have just finished making oil tight. Top end is rebuilt (with new later rocker cover to fix the noise from worn shafts) and I'm about to embark on a rear shock adventure trying to cure the excessively harsh ride from the replicas. 

I have also just picked up a CB750F1 which is the only affordable way to see what the fuss is about in terms of the original engine. I quite like it, it sounds, goes and feels like a one ton bag of bees. Pics of this one to follow. The CB550F1 and I got lucky with the light last year. So I've attached a pic (I hope).

If I can't provide technical tips being only a hapless amateur on here, I hope to at least provide moral support.