Keiths 400/4

[Coppertop1234]

Found the set up manual and diagrams thank you Dave

Helpful document cheers Ash.

Cables now routed as should be and all ok.

Horn located correctly and working fine

on to next job carbs clean and refurb

(well my son will do it really beyond my eyesight these days)

[Bryanj]

Nurse Julie for O ring kits and clean all the original internals, ultrasonic more or less esential

[Coppertop1234]

Ultra sonic and cleaning agent ordered

carbs off ready to strip Pic 1

Most of black engine paint removed. (why would you paint it black)

Spare carbs from a recently acquired donor bike. Pic 2

So we presently have 3 rebuilds on the go

Mine  and my sons other 2

[Coppertop1234]

Carbs stripped and rebuilt by my son Keith Jnr.

(I do the pointing, He does the seeing and skinning knuckles. Glad he also likes motorbikes)

First time he has done carbs though -  Utrasonic leaned and new jets etc

Well pleased with results -back on bike all working fine

Also fitted new electronic ignition from DS straight enough replacement for points
Working on wheels \now new rim ,spokes and bearings just need new retainers and removal tools for retainers

front retainer has been chaveld so got it out with a bit of old school hammer and chisel
New bearings fitted once i have retainer i can start to relace rim.

Bike is coming together bit at a time

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I had a set of Keyster repair kits as per your photo, they came with my bike, they were purchased some 10-15 years ago by the PO.

The bike runs great on them despite many reporting  that the original brass wear is better cleaned & kept.

[Coppertop1234]

Wheel rebuilt with new rim spokes and bearings sent to local shop for trueing, tube and tyre.

After about 14 incorrect attempts to get lacing pattern right ,on 15th attempt it all just fell into place. I Hope!!

Thought of trueing it myself, but to be honest eye sights not best so let shop do it .

Front Mudguard sent for rechroming ,so only front brake to fit and front end is finally sorted.

Not doing brake till last off as i don't want it to start to seize just for the sake of fitting it to early.

Next job 

New indicators to fit a bit of bling as old ones are original but very pitted.
Then onto back wheel to do same refurb again.

loving messing about again nothing too drastic just tinkering and sorting out whats not right.

Cant wait for better weather to start on paintwork and make it look like a 400 should.

[Coppertop1234]

Finally removed last of black paint from engine block.

Repainted with heat resistant paint to tidy up and look more like it should.

Just got to remove studs and clean paint off them- one at a time

little bit of polishing to alloy covers to make them stand out a bit.

Fitted rear indicators, just got to tidy wires a bit and replace old cable clip

sorry for messy workspace spaners and crap all over at moment ,think i need to tidy up.

[Laverda Dave]

Well done Keith, its getting there.
When is the maiden voyge planned?

[Coppertop1234]

Hoping to do the Distinguish Gentleman's Ride in May with both my sons.

But may get on road end of April 

Yes I think its getting there and starting to look like it should.

its such fun only a biker could understand (and a considerate wife of course )

[Coppertop1234]

Rear Hub stripped and bearings out ready for wheel re build.

waiting for front to return this week trued with new tyre and tube fitted.

Son popped over today to balance carbs. it was a pain No 3 just wouldn't move.

checked valves all ok, had carbs off bench set them, checked all intake rubbers, rebuilt

last thing checked vacuum pipes and yes you guessed it blockage on No 3.

well could have been worse and passed the morning on nice.

Engine sound nice with the ds replica exhaust, and ticks over with no fluctuation, bit of echoing from garage, but don't think i will have any issues with the previous owners rebuild.

Son took spare engine to his to make a start on refit into his bike. it was rebuilt i n 2019 and never fitted so first thing is it free or siezed as it was dry stored. Plenty of penetrating into bores before we try to turn it over i think.

[Coppertop1234]

Just found some decals i had one is for exhaust muffler

Where was this placed on the bike? Swinging Arm?

Advice appreciated

ta

Keith

[Bryanj]

Swing arm by sjlencer and readable

[Coppertop1234]

Cheers thought it would melt on muffler

still waiting for wheels to return hopefully this week

Paint and tank decals on order.

Bike No 2 now up and running also

We spent the weekend on it got engine in wired up and all fired up ok so we may have 2 more 400s back on the road soon.

[Coppertop1234]

Tank and panels sprayed and decals fitted ready to laquer  after we put  preserve nature sticker on

[Coppertop1234]

Tank before