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What a Shame..!!

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z1100r:
Hello chaps,

  I was here alot a couple of years ago when I corrected a terrible dis-service I'd bestowed my poor old 500-4. I recorded its resoration on here.
I have however become one of those thats just looks in from time to time.

Well to get to the point my Mother-in-laws gardner collared me the other day and asked if would be interested in getting his old bike going - he fancies a tootle round on it again.

"Hey that 500 looks great, would you mind having a look at a bike I've got..?"
"Yeah sure.. what is it..?"
"A 400-four"
"oh right, I used to like the Yellow ones"
"It is Yellow".
"Whats up with it.??"
"Nothing its just not been run since 1981".
"Yeah Ok I'll have a look at it".

Well bugger me....it  must of been a mint bike that had only done 1,700 miles when it was parked in a shed. Its been relatively well stored, but not been turned over or even uncovered since 1981.

The good bits:-
Paint work is Excellent,
Chrome is really good,
All brackets, nuts and bolts etc still have their original plating and look new.
Master cylinder and caliper/disc look new, as does all rear brake gubbins.
Engine exterior, Dusty and grimey, but looks perfect underneath.

The bad bits:-
The brake fluid has solidified,
Clutch cable has seized solid....I mean solid, and throttle cables are stiff.
The baffle components of the immaculate original chrome silence poured out onto floor as a pile of orange powder.The bits that are left just rattle around.
Carbs slides are seized and inside the float bowls is an horible mess.

THE WORSE THING OF ALL though is that he has tried to kick it over. The inlet valves are seized/very stiff in the guides (too stiff for springs to return them), it must of started to whizz over then went clonk and locked solid.
2 bent inlet valves and 2 broken inlet valve guides, exhaust valves are fine, cylinder bores are perfect. When I eventually got the head off the inlet valves were all jammed down in the open postion.


Bottom line though is that with not too much effort this thing will look incredible for an original untouched 1979 bike. I mean fix these valves and strip the front brake stuff, buy a new clutch cable and free off the original throttle cables ( at least they move) and give ity him back to clean....wahhay. So I rang DS to enquire about parts and was surprised to find NO INLET VALVES (been on order for a year), have to order pattern Valve guides, clutch cable £25.
Hmm, need a secondhand head or just a couple of guides and valves. I used to have tons of this stuff cos i raced a Yoshi 460 but I only have 500/550 parts now - typical.

Will post some pics shortly when its been degreased and dusted off. I cant wait to have a go on it..!!

PatM:
Wow- Sounds like you know your stuff- What a find! Id go for an ebay head, as its just a few bits you want or someone on here might oblige. My new pipes (pattern of originals from DS) have arrived today- not bad considering I only ordered them Sunday- so I will be out dicking around doing that later on today..Have fun!- sorry, Ive got no engine bits to assist.

hairygit:
CMSL in Holland has genuine inlet valves in stock, 18 euros each!

z1100r:
I've been Saved...haha...A friend of mine just texted me from the IOM. He can sort me out a spare head as long as i fix the immobiliser/alarm on his Pan Euro as a swap. Excellent. trouble is he's not back until Saturday. I have no patience..!!! Doh. Still it gives me time to sort out the incredibly bad carbs. Petrol left in since 1981 has done them no favours. Inside of tank is probably not great either ..not looked yet.

Funny but I last rode a 400 four in the IOM. A mate lent me his customised black 1976 400four to go on in 1984. 2-4 seat, piper exhaust, fancy black paint job, I had a great time on it. I did a minimum of 2 laps a day rain or shine for a fortnight trying to learn the place. Blimey that was a long time ago.   

CMSL list the valves but dont currently have any either apparently...and they only have pattern guides. Silvers told me that in a round about way. I'd rather tap some guides out of this spare head and pick the best 2 original valves from it i think. Knowing my mate this head of his will have stripped threads and be from a right old knacker. hehe. I'll salvage something I hope and retain the bikes original head.

Getting those circlips out the master cylinder is a bitch aint it...!!! haha. had to grind down my favourite long nose pliers to do it last night. Sulk.

tom400f:

--- Quote from: z1100r on June 05, 2013, 11:41:02 AM ---Getting those circlips out the master cylinder is a bitch aint it...!!! haha. had to grind down my favourite long nose pliers to do it last night. Sulk.

--- End quote ---

See http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php?topic=4812.msg22294#msg22294
 :)

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