Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => Project Board => Topic started by: dieffe on January 01, 2016, 10:25:09 PM
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Hi all, it's been a while. Now that the K1 is done I am having a go at a 400 four although it's not mine.
I have tidied the engine up a bit, it is a good runner (or so I am assured) so it just needed cleaning.
The rolling bit is in good nick but the fella wants it café racering (if that's the phrase), which is a shome as it would make a bloody good resto.
Still, it's his bike.
Here are some pics, not good ones of the bike, sorry.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/400%20Four%20engine2%20small_zpsytrnhujp.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/400%20Four%20engine3%20small_zpsnevsj6dg.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/400%20Four%20engine1small_zpsfvu76kc7.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/400%20Four%20engine%20small_zpsknxxshij.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/400%20Four1%20small_zpsf0vjgd4l.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/400%20Four%20small_zpsbv2mouft.jpg)
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This is what we want.... Someone getting their teeth into a restoration project and keeping us informed and entertained as it progresses. I wish you well with it.
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The rolling bit is in good nick but the fella wants it café racering (if that's the phrase), which is a shome as it would make a bloody good resto.
Kinda interesting trend that those who have a nearly intact bike, requiring only minor efforts to achieve full restoration, insist on café-ing it, whilst others struggle getting beaten up, neglected rigs back to OEM condition...
Nice shiny engine already! Was it parted for painting or kept assembled?
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I certainly agree with ST on that one, a real shame to alter what is heading towards a great bike.
Is it possible to persuade the owner to let you finish it and then sell it for strong money to finance a cafe job built from cheap non standard stuff? He could end up with exactly what he wants for less overall outlay and someone else gets a nice useable classic.
Plenty of frames with V5 out there and enough bits around to satisfy his needs, I would have thought.
Ian
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It was his late dad's bike who always wanted to café it. He says he will never sell it and wants to keep it.
I would do what Ian said and buy another one to café. It's not as if his dad is going to find out is it. ;)
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A rock and a hard place then,
I realise his Dad will not know, but I think I would respect his wishes and not sell, but if he is insistent on that particular bike being cafe'd, then implore him not to sell the standard bits he removes and not chop lumps out of anything. These bikes in that condition are on the up as everyone on this forum knows and parts are getting more difficult but if those apparently unwanted bits are moved on (even if we would love to buy them!) they will be difficult to come by if a change of plan emerges. I'm not claiming the moral high ground here, we all did this in the 60's with now priceless Brit stuff.
Ian
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Does he want to café it or does he want to just because his Dad did?
By all means keep the bike but if the current owner would prefer it in standard form then keep it that way - he will still have his Dad's bike.
I have sort of had this dilemma myself. I inherited my late father's 1956 BMW R50 which he had owned since about 1976.
I had every intention of keeping it but realised it really wasn't my type of bike, so sold it and bought the 400/4 that I had always wanted.
No regrets, but I thought about it a lot before doing the deed.
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What I am going to do is keep everything that is not needed and make everything I do reversible just in case.
It would be sacrilege to wreck such a good bike and I am hoping to convince him to have his café racer for a while until he gets fed up with it and then restore it back to original.
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Hopefully, everyone's a winner that way,
Ian
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Progress is slow but steady. I am zinc plating all the bolts that I can to save having to replace them but it is quite time consuming. (fun though)
The pics are crap again, sorry.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/Engine%20in%203_zpsc79i1re6.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/Engine%20in%202_zpscukavn1b.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/Engine%20in_zpsxululf62.jpg)
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Hi Oddjob,
The engine has been painted with Holts silver engine enamel, I hope it does last.
I shall remember to tighten the locknut up, cheers.
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I am zinc plating all the bolts that I can to save having to replace them but it is quite time consuming.
Nice work so far!
What procedure are you using for plating the engine bolts?
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The zinc plating is done using one of those home plating kits, works well.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zinc-Electroplating-Plating-Kit-for-Car-and-Bike-restoration-FREE-multimeter-/262180517329?hash=item3d0b2d35d1:g:5jYAAOxy1VlREOYU
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The zinc plating is done using one of those home plating kits, works well.
Durable? Or should one also peek at nickel plating? (more "bling" though, but maybe better corrosion protect...)
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The zinc is ok if you passivate them with clear, blue or yellow. The nickel is better but more tricky to do.
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I have no idea, the engine was out when I collected the bike so it is a learning curve for me. There is a clip on top of the crankcases which the points wire was clipped to so I will have to check it out.
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The points cable follows the edge of the clutch cover then comes up to where the btake switch goes into the main loom. I'll do you a photo if you're still scratching your head.
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Finished at last. The bloke showed me a picture and wanted the bike to look like it so I had to try and replicate it. It did mean scratch building a seat unit from metal and fiberglass but it came out ok for homemade.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/896bf53b-847c-46bc-8157-0dfadb8df01b_zpsjfxueqpq.jpg)
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Looks great well done
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Tasteful. Credit to you. What silencer have you used? Looks dunstallish, sound good?
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Tasteful. Credit to you. What silencer have you used? Looks dunstallish, sound good?
Thank you, the pipe is one of a pair of megas I found on eBay, Didn't fit of course but a bit of chopping and welding soon sorted that out.
Oh, and yes, it sounds brilliant.
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Looks great well done
yes,agreed ,it does look good
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Yes, looks neat. The side panels are the only bit that doesn't do it for me but that's a matter of personal preference.
I assume that's his dad's name written on the tank below the Honda text - nice touch.
As your plan was to make the changes reversible how many of the original bike parts did you keep untouched?
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Yes, looks neat. The side panels are the only bit that doesn't do it for me but that's a matter of personal preference.
I assume that's his dad's name written on the tank below the Honda text - nice touch.
As your plan was to make the changes reversible how many of the original bike parts did you keep untouched?
Thank you for that.
It was his dad's bike, hence the name. As for reversible, it wouldn't take much though the rear footrest hangers and the rear of the frame suffered a bit more than I planned. I also had to rob and extend the front mudguard bracket to mount the modified RS250 mudguard. The headers aren't standard anyway so the slight chopping and welding is ok(ish). Oh, and the front headlight/indicator bracket suffered too.
Best laid plans.....
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Here is a front(ish) picture of the 400.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Front%20pic_zpsfrug9mwx.jpg)
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I have to say that is stunning. I love the tank. Any chance for a closeup on it?
Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk
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I have to say that is stunning. I love the tank. Any chance for a closeup on it?
Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk
That's very kind of you.
Here are a couple of tank pictures, not brilliant pictures though.
The colour is Honda copper sunset pearl, a 2016 car colour.
I have also put a picture of it with no clothes on. ::)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/Tank%20close2_zpske7ksmmt.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/Tank%20close1_zpsa7tbapto.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/Tank%20close3_zpsp9pkhahs.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/dieffe123/Bikes/IMG_2446_zpszx3bcugv.jpg)
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I like what you've done with it, good job.
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There's a hint of CR750 in that colour scheme, looks great, nice job!
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Fantastic looking machine. Agree it's a bit of a shame to have chopped such a complete bike, but it does look great and I (obviously) understand the connection to finishing his Dad's intentions. Love it.
Great looking work. It's given me seat envy for my own project. :D
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Here's a quick video.
https://youtu.be/H2tbvaaAx7M