Honda CB400NA Superdream - new money puddle.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I've managed to do some dismantling on the Superdream, next week it will be engine out if all goes to plan.


.PXL_20241102_181907542 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Johnny4428]

Great progress, your getting down to the nitty gritty Ted.

[Bryanj]

Carefull Ted that lump is deceptively heavy mate

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Carefull Ted that lump is deceptively heavy mate

I'm planning on having my much younger brother help me when it's set to come out, plan is to have a thick block of wood on my scissor jack arrangement to take the weight once all the bolts are out at the front & rear. Bike is on the center stand with wheels in place. Just hope it lowers enough to clear the frame, then move it sideways.

[Bryanj]

Its a long time but i think you have to drop the back end and rotate lump slightly, i had a 250 in the shop out and upside down in 17 mins

[Johnny4428]

Was it getting near stopping time Bryan? 😜

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

The Haynes Manual mentions having the left side cover removed in the engine out instructions?

I was hoping I could leave the oil in.

[K2-K6]

My recall similar to Bryan, head rotated backwards into the space where carbs are usually,  to then come out more or less vertically through frame aperture.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

So would it help to remove the back wheel from the frame so the frame can be jacked up from the rear swing arm?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

At first I thought this Bilt-Hambler degreasing fluid was pretty average, however it appears to work better diluited than neat so I've now updated my opion on the stuff.

I still like Petrol though, posted this picture of my brake pedal that I thought was black from new. A PO painted the outside part but 40 years of grime revealed it was chromed. I've not started  cleaning it with Kens's (Oddjob Ken) buffing wheels yet but it looks like it will clean up OK, there is always the Chrome Paint alternative recently posted here.

Nice touch - the braked pivot has a removable insert so that is currently having the Evaporust treatment.

.before by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

.after by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Johnny4428]

It’s a messy job but somebody has to do it!🤭 I’ve not tried the Bilt-Hambler stuff yet Ted, mine is about 2 parts diesel and one part petrol ish. It’s sort of satisfying but quite tedious, and messy!😜

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I've spent more time removing some of the thick grease / grime on the chain side of the frame.  It was so thick I could not see the rear engine mount bolt heads.

I've now undone all the engine mounting nuts on the frame, four at the front & two at the rear., top triangle removed previously.  Side stand now off.  I'm spending more time cleaning up mess than actual work on the frame.

I've spent about 3 hours in the garage so that's me done in for today. Once I have worked out the engine lifting arrangement to take the weight off the engine mounting bolts I'll be ringing my brother for the final phase - engine out, turn the bike round on the ramp in readiness for front wheel & fork removal.

[Johnny4428]

Nice work! If it’s any consolation I’ve been hacking down bushes the day. It’s not much fun either.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Machete in hand, secateurs at the ready & lopping  bushes - hard graft indeed Johnny - definetely harder work than what I've been doing today.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

My brother came today to help me get the engine out for the last haul. My it's an unweildy lump, I took off the left side cover on advice from Superdream site. We tipped the head towards the rear wheel for the last part of the process, the rear frame was quite tight on the engine, suddenly the frame let go then it was out without mishap. Walked the engine sidways onto the waiting dolly platform with some wooden offcuts as support to stop it tipping over.

Made me wonder what the steel plate  with three bolts is for on the engine above the cylinder head area?

I'm thinking come assemble time to put the engine on the ramp then just lower the frame onto the engine, bolt in place then  fit the rear wheel, jack up the rear swing arm,   final stage  fit the front forks etc.




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.PXL_20241109_153855245 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

.PXL_20241109_153906250 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr