SOHC.co.uk Forums > Project Board
New (to me!) '77 CB400F - US model
Nurse Julie:
--- Quote from: mattsz on November 08, 2018, 01:44:07 PM ---
--- Quote from: Nurse Julie on November 08, 2018, 01:41:24 PM ---
--- Quote from: SteveD CB500K0 on November 08, 2018, 01:18:38 PM ---Rich (RGB750) made a batch of these.
He may have some left...
--- End quote ---
Different type to what Rich made on the CB400/4's Steve.....but, if he has made some for the 400, I need one.
--- End quote ---
Julie - are you running without one? Have you "shimmed" the filter tight, or come up with some other method of sealing it?
--- End quote ---
Well Matt, its a bit of a mystery, I did have one but when I was looking in there the other day, its not there now. I can only think I didn't replace it when I put the bike back together, it must be here somewhere. Anyway, a clothes peg wedged down each side, at the back, will do the job just as well I'm sure.
billywingnut:
Hi Mattzs,
I bought a '75 UK model 2 years ago the tax disk on the bike was for dec 1998. I decided to restore it to ride and not to concourse. I knew it was going to be costly and take time to go thro' it.
Expect to spend £2k. It had to be reliable and safe.
Here's what i did. The carbs, fit new kits and cleaned them, the air box is a pig to get back on. Overhauled the front brake with master cylinder, lines and pads, the disk was ok put on new rear brake shoes.
New wheel bearings back and front, new spokes front and rear, front wheel rim, tyres and inner tubes. Changed the Headstock bearings and fork seals. At this point I decided to strip down the bike completely. It had 34k on the clock. I did a compression test and found no. 2 very low so stripped the engine down and fitted new rings, The cylinder head was a pig to get off as two nuts are open to the elements these were rusted solid. I replaced the cam chain and cam chain tensioners.
The primary drive chain, chain and sprokets, lapped the valves etc. all the bearings appeared to be in good order but you have to replace all the oil seals, The is an excellent you video on stripping down the engine. The tank was the wrong colour ( yellow) but in
good condition so I lined the tank and resprayed it using 2part rattle cans and it sets hard and looks the part, yours being the US model has the strange filler cap I replaced the petrol filter and fuel lines. The exhaust is the original and like all bright work in serviceable condition. I finally got it on the road in May this year and for safety I took it and had it MOD't which it passed . It's a pleasure to ride, not the fastest bike on the block and you have to rev them.
I removed the cover from the wiring loom and removed bodges and wiring that didn't belong and checked every connector, you can buy jap connectors so I replaced the lot.
Being a 'mature' rider at 71 I had the time and patience to sort it. I could easily have spent another £1000 on the engine on a rebore
and replacement head as there is some burnt sections, you have to make a judgment as to how far to go with your restoration. I used only basic tools. Good luck with your 400f 4
mattsz:
Hi billywingnut -
Wow, thanks for the detailed list! Compression test, I knew I forgot something! Oh well, it can wait a few more months. Still not sure how I'm going to proceed with this - I can't see doing a concours restore, as I don't have the tools, the skills, the time, or the money - hmm, did I miss anything? The PO says the bike is in good shape, but I'm finding more and more little things that make me wonder why he thinks so.
Another thing I just discovered - the rear fender is badly cracked where one of the upper bolts holds the monstrous tail light. Wondering about whether to just try to structurally repair these items - seems silly to spend money to renew only a select few bits.
Glad the price was right (free!). More to think about...
Laverda Dave:
Matt, do yourself a big favour and buy yourself a 3ltr ultrasonic cleaner. In the UK they cost about £75. Considering it costs £25 per carb for commercial ultrasonic cleaning and there are four of them on a 400/4 buying your own cleaner will pay for itself the first time you use it! You will need to buy a special carb cleaner to add to the water and this costs about £13/litre, you dilute this 1 part to 10 parts water. The added advantage of doing it yourself is you can take the carbs apart in the morning and have them back together in the evening (assuming you have the carb rebuild kits handy). Sending them away to be cleaned just adds time and money when you could be doing something else.
mattsz:
Thanks for the advice, Laverda120 - I'll look into that. I don't have a lot of space, but it looks like a 3-liter unit isn't very big - smaller than 1 cubic foot? I know a few people who may have such a thing and would be willing to help out, perhaps for free or for the cost of the cleaning fluid, worth asking around...
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