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Topics - McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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511
CB350/400 / DS replacement petrol tanks question.
« on: August 30, 2020, 07:36:49 PM »
I'm hoping my petrol tank will clean up okay - "hoping for the best but planning for the worst". That got me looking at the DS replacement option a hefty £282 in primer.

I seem to think I have read somewhere on this site someone having issues with the quality of the fit to the original mountings is this the case or was it a one off ?


512
Humour / This is me in Crete I think it was - had to hire a bike Honda Virago !
« on: August 30, 2020, 02:04:04 PM »
Came across this of me trying to look cool on a hired bike!

Crete by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

513
Project Board / OAP Ted's CB400F2 rebuild - engine not run for about 12 years.
« on: August 29, 2020, 05:32:01 PM »
Okay so here is my Honda CB400F2 purchased via e-bay from a local seller who unfortunately knew they fetch fair money so it was no bargain at £2000 as a thrown together to sell bike- looked good in the sale pictures. It came with a box of new parts with invoices spanning just over 10 years of accumulation. The box of new parts had a retail list price of just over £300 with some new or good used parts already fitted. As it was quite local I did go and look at it before I ended up buying it as it was the only one I had found that wasn't at the other end of the UK or out of my price range (Optimistically set at £1000-1500).

The seller declared that he bought it from a relative some 12 years ago with a rattling cam chain - he lost interest when he bought a Harley so by the time he got round to fixing the Honda ill health had prevented him from biking again so he decided to sell the unloved Honda.

It does crank over on the kickstart with reasonable compressions - certainly enough to get it running before the full rebuild ahead.

514
CB350/400 / Is it worthwhile ??
« on: August 29, 2020, 10:13:21 AM »
I can see lots of rebuild post here is it worth me doing one for my CB400F rebuild as I progress or is it all old hat here?
At present I'm just going to get the engine running first before I do the full strip down afterwards.

515
CB350/400 / The Motad Exhaust that is fitted on my project CB400F2
« on: August 28, 2020, 09:26:48 PM »
When I bought my Honda the original 4 into 1 front pipe & collector box came loose with it but no silencer - chrome work is not bad but there is a bit of a scuff/dent on one of the original looking pipes.

The bike was fitted with what looks like a complete Motad (RIP) system that is almost as new.
There is only one exhaust clamp fitted with very little in the way of space to fit a normal clamp on the remaining pipes. Not sure how Motad intended them to seal - some sort of super cement ??

I guess the purists would cringe at the arrangement but it will have to do methinks. Whilst waiting for the fuel pipe I ordered today I will do a bit more cleaning of the fuel tank. Picture shows the bendy route that the front pipes take.

516
Anorak's Corner / Early Honda Centrifugal Oil Filter systems ?
« on: August 28, 2020, 10:28:09 AM »
I have it firmly fixed in my mind that my first Honda a  2 year old 1963 Honda 250 Dream square headlight model (I bought the 180 deg cranked SS later) had a chain driven centrifugal oil filter.

Is my memory right and has this technology been dumped by Honda or did they continue to use it for some years. After my two Hondas I bought British for about a decade before I went back to Japanese products .

517
CB350/400 / What size is the fuel line on CB400F2 / top engine breather pipe termination ?
« on: August 28, 2020, 10:13:21 AM »
After fitting the air box after a fashion I realise I should have connected the fuel pipe!
Old pipe is so deteriorated I can't get a decent diameter measurement.

What is the correct size/diameter I should fit please ?

The breather pipe from the top of the engine cam cover seems to just end under the seat should it be connected anywhere ?

518
CB350/400 / Air box between inlet manifold & air filter housing not fitting correctly ?
« on: August 27, 2020, 05:24:30 PM »
What's the best way to fit the air box as it's clearly a tight squeeze & difficult to engage all four inlets.
I have a small cycle inner tube to fit inside to help keep the box from collapsing but it turning into a bit of a nightmare job.
I've already removed the battery & rear mudguard to get the battery frame & air cleaner  to improve finger access !

Update I've fitted the box but the middle two rubbers are only a third of the way on whilst cylinder 1 & 4 are fully fitted - this will have to do for now so I can get her running. I guess the air box has just deformed with age so might need replacement when I do the full rebuild.

519
CB350/400 / Carburetor Choke butterfly question ?
« on: August 27, 2020, 01:02:43 PM »
Just finished assembling the carburetors now that I have the new "O" rings via NJ.
I've done the initial set up with the throttle valve positions on my bench - the final balancing will I guess need to be done when the engine is running.

Just wondered with the choke adjustments what's best - all the butterflies horizontal when the choke is OFF or all the butterflies fully closed when the choke is fully ON. Seems I can't do both is this normal ?

Photo shows my situation.

520
Humour / American religious theme
« on: August 26, 2020, 10:08:08 AM »
This one made me chuckle more than it should have done......

521
Anorak's Corner / DoT 5.1 Brake fluid what specification do you use ?
« on: August 25, 2020, 01:01:58 PM »
Although I'm unlikely to be building back the brakes this year I've been pondering in bed during the wee hours about what grade of brake fluid to put in my Honda CB400F2 - as a recent Insomniac (last 3 years or so) I try to utilise "trying to get to sleep time" to full advantage.

I use DoT 5.1 in all three of our four wheeled vehicles as I believe its the best option at a reasonable price.
I'm interested to hear views departing from OEM spec.

522
CB350/400 / Honda CB400F2 setting the float levels.
« on: August 22, 2020, 12:07:19 AM »
Okay so even though I have new float seats & valves plus the new floats, I guess I need to check the actual float levels.

Is there a basic measurement that I can take to set them all the same presumably without the bowl fitted?

If this information is already on the site can someone point me to the right post please?

Likewise what's the best way to set the main slides are all the same is it as I have seen on U Tube to use a 1/8 drill shank?

Thanks

523
CB350/400 / CB400F2 Carburetor question.
« on: August 21, 2020, 01:01:52 PM »
I'm just starting to rebuild my first carburetor I have hit a couple of problems already. My bike came with repair 4 kits plus I have purchased new floats from DS.

1. The slow running jet binds against the metal part of the float. If I try to insert the jet first the shaft for the floats do not line up with the holes in the carb body. If I fit the float first then the jet not only does it bind on the float but the thread is not properly aligned.

2. have only finger tightened the jet onto the carb body but it does not tighten so I guess the thread is worn/oxidised/ how do I fix this?

Advice please .
PS I have tried the old float/shaft and jet but it still binds ??

524
Misc / Open / No work on bike today due to Garage Door issues
« on: August 13, 2020, 09:29:37 PM »
Our Henderson Double Canopy Garage Door is just over 30 years old - the door has a steel galvanized frame with an alluminium skin.
The door was electrified by me some 28 years ago - I purchased a Chamberlain Electric Door Kit out of the Sunday Times for about £150.
For some strange reason the door has started hitting the concrete base with the mechanism groaning and juddering  when its opening fully - I can't see any obvious reason for the fault developing aside from wear in the central curved convertor arm rollers.

Two firms have said I need a complete new door but I'm not convinced that it can't be fixed as my door is in great condition. When I dismantled the central door arm I found that two of the four nylon rollers were worn like a threepenny bit.

Today I fitted a later door arm - an obsolete new stock later item by Chamberlain designed for older doors. The door mechanism works really smoothly now with all the judder gone. I've adjusted the closed door position to prevent it striking the floor.

Plan A is now to see if the local "no fix no fee" door repairer can sort out the drop - its only a few mm so I hope he can adjust the spring loaded mechanism and thus sort it or some other magic.

Plan B is to get the Disc Cutter out to cut a pair of grooves in the concrete base then power chisel out the concrete in the gap.

Anyone here had similar door drop problems ?

525
CB350/400 / Wiring Loom routing on CB400F2 & best replacement source.
« on: August 11, 2020, 12:35:17 AM »
I intend to fit a new wiring loom as & when I have done a total strip down for powder coating the frame.

Does anyone have a set of photos that show the original routing of the wiring loom around the various parts of the frame?
I have photographed the existing wiring location but am pretty sure it's not as it left the factory in 1978 as there are extra wires all over the place not to mention great loops of connectors with rotten cover shrouds.

I see DSS list a new loom is it a good fit?
I have found alternatives such as this link whilst researching them.
 https://www.electrexworld.co.uk/acatalog/WH-377.html

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