Hi All From Lincolnshire!

[Reborn 400]

Hello everyone, my name's Johny from North Lincs. I joined the forum a few weeks back, apologies for taking so long to introduce myself.
I've been spending some time browsing the topics and brushing up on my knowledge a bit. Some very interesting posts here.
I've recently purchased a 50 year old 400/4 in reasonable condition, only 2 previous owners and 16000 miles and am currently busy with a gentle refurbishment/recommissioning. The bike has been stored and not run for about 8 years, so has a few issues.
 I owned one of these back in 1977 for 4 years, loved it to bits!
Don't ride very often nowadays and most definitely a fair weather only rider now.
I also own a 2014 CBR600F and a 2016 CBR1000RR SP, both of which I've had for a good few years.
You all seem a very friendly group and hope to interact with you soon.
Kind Regards,
Johny

[Athame57]

Welcome here Johny 
You're in good company. 

[Nurse Julie]

Welcome to the forum Johny. We're also in Lincs, just outside Horncastle.
Enjoy your new purchase.

[taysidedragon]

Welcome to the 400Four forum! 😉

[neat street]

Welcome and enjoy the ride. Many 400 owners on here with lots of help given when needed :-)

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Welcome to the sohc community Johny.

[Reborn 400]

Thank you all for the very warm welcome 

Such a friendly bunch!

I've just messaged you Nurse Julie, on ebay, regarding an oil pump seal kit.

With the bike being 50 years old this year, she's a bit leaky, I've got most of the parts already to fit. (oil path seal front, next to oil filter housing and gearchange shaft oil seal)

Sump has to come off next, stripped sump plug bolt thread. I knew something was wrong when I drained the old oil, which stank of fuel. As I loosened the sump plug, it starting galling and sure enough, most of the thread came out attached to the bolt. Now it won't re-tighten much. I've got it snug enough to almost seal, with a slight drip, using ptfe tape on the bolt thread, enough to run the engine for testing etc., but won't risk riding it like that.

[florence]

Welcome and good luck with getting your machine back to health.

I rode a CB400 four once in the 1980s after I had rebuilt the engine for a friend.  It was painted in red oxide primer and the frame geometry was all wrong as a result of a previous accident is all I can guess.  Frankly, the handling was dangerous and my short road test was all I wanted to do.

That is the sum total of my knowledge of that particular model.

[Reborn 400]

Thank you, Florence.

I imagine that ride was a bit scary with a bent up frame and bad suspension!

Still a way to go with mine, I'm in no hurry, piece by piece, but I'm making steady progress.

The bike is generally in very good condition, having been well maintained and cared for. Nice project for me over the winter to keep me busy!

Johny

[Laverda Dave]

Welcome along Johny to what some may refer to as the 400/4 forum 🙂.
Congratulations on being a reborn 400/4 rider. Was your original bike a yellow one and what colour is the current bike? Post some photos when you can (you need five posts before you can post photos).
Nurse Julie has a lot of parts for the 400/4 and Ken (Oddjob) also has some 400 specific parts (I don't know if he still has any of his HD cam chains left. He also makes the carb felts.
The best upgrade you can make is to buy some Parakeet Yellow paint and repaint the bike if it's not already a yellow one, apparently Parakeet Yellow is alleged to add another 10-15mph to the top speed of the bike but I can't possibly comment 🙂.
As for the stripped sump plug, yes, been there! I had an engineering shop put a timessert in mine (it's a big thread in a thin casting so very easy to mess up doing it yourself) with thread lock applied to the outside.
Happy spannering.

[taysidedragon]

Red is best! 🏍😎

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Like Dave's, my sump plug was leaking, mine had already been re-threaded once.
I managed to find a good used sump easily enough.

[Oddjob]

I still have a few heavy duty camchains left. Still have some felt washers as well. I also have quite a few shell bearings for the crank lying around.

I'm not doing or selling a lot these days, my illness last year has left me very very weak so I have to limit my activities until such time as I regain some of my stamina. I'm getting there, I can walk almost normally these days, just not very far. Upper body strength though is severely compromised.

If you need anything though let me know and I'll advise on whether I can help or not.

[Reborn 400]

I still have a few heavy duty camchains left. Still have some felt washers as well. I also have quite a few shell bearings for the crank lying around.

I'm not doing or selling a lot these days, my illness last year has left me very very weak so I have to limit my activities until such time as I regain some of my stamina. I'm getting there, I can walk almost normally these days, just not very far. Upper body strength though is severely compromised.

If you need anything though let me know and I'll advise on whether I can help or not.

Thank you Oddjob, really sorry to hear you've not been well, hang in there and all Best Wishes for a continued recovery.

I'll get in touch if I'm struggling to find anything.

What are these felt washers you talk about?

Johny

[Reborn 400]

Red is best! 🏍😎

Agreed!