Honda CB400NA Superdream - new money puddle.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Today I have removed the seat & tank ready for fixing the top cover gasket.
One of the top securing deep shouldered bolts was rounded it needs replacing.

I can see why folk have trouble replacing the gasket as when the top bolts are removed you have to fight against the throttle & choke cables to remove the cover that has to clear the internals.

On face value it has the wrong battery fitted - it had a novelty fitting between the live terminal and the solenoid.
Clearly a PO did not have a soldering iron so attached the main positive lead to a new terminal connector using a pipe clip.


The pair of frame reflectors that clamp on the fork tube used a cable tie instead of a nut & bolt.
Looking at various things I don't think the frame has ever been fully dismantled with lots of makeshift wiring connections.
The battery is the wrong one it's around 14 mm too long so does not sit in the battery tray. The tray is a tad bent  to try to make it fit, so I'll need to straightening. I suspect thats how the solenoid lead was snapped.

.novel battery connector by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

close fitting cover by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I've removed the coil & CDI unit to make more room, top engine mount triangle next plus choke cable disconnected to follow.

I might have to disconnect the throttle cables - that will be fun as I managed to cut the ball of my thumb yesterday on a clip. If you don't get a war wound it's too easy.

[Johnny4428]

I've removed the coil & CDI unit to make more room, top engine mount triangle next plus choke cable disconnected to follow.

I might have to disconnect the throttle cables - that will be fun as I managed to cut the ball of my thumb yesterday on a clip. If you don't get a war wound it's too easy.

Ouch! 😳  Ted don’t be cutting off anything more!🤣 That bolt looks worthy of replacing.(

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I've removed the coil & CDI unit to make more room, top engine mount triangle next plus choke cable disconnected to follow.

I might have to disconnect the throttle cables - that will be fun as I managed to cut the ball of my thumb yesterday on a clip. If you don't get a war wound it's too easy.

Ouch! 😳  Ted don’t be cutting off anything more!🤣 That bolt looks worthy of replacing.(

That's the good one Johnny!

[Johnny4428]

I've removed the coil & CDI unit to make more room, top engine mount triangle next plus choke cable disconnected to follow.

I might have to disconnect the throttle cables - that will be fun as I managed to cut the ball of my thumb yesterday on a clip. If you don't get a war wound it's too easy.

Ouch! 😳  Ted don’t be cutting off anything more!🤣 That bolt looks worthy of replacing.(

That's the good one Johnny!

😳😳😂 hope that’s not a theme throughout the bike Ted!

[AshimotoK0]

Out of interest Ted was there  a massive price difference between your project and what Charlie at Oxford Classics was asking?
Admittedly even his had a pattern front mudguard fitted. I guess the original chrome guard must be a bit of a hens teeth item then?

He did not give me a firm price, he indicated something in the £3250 3450 area iirc  Mine cost me £1300.
As you know I was really looking for a sensible project, this should keep me busy for at least 18 months.
Aside from some daft bodgery it's pretty complete in most areas, I'm not a purist so it looks like I have a good starting base to keep me busy. I'm enjoying the fact that its quite different to my 4 cylinder bikes.

I am surprised Charlie was asking that much Ted ... so I see your logic. Maybe it bodes well for you project ... maybe CB400N's are bucking the trend and holding prices. Perhaps  your Fast Ford man of the early 80's would choose the 400N as the bike of his youth ...or would that be an Austin Maestro driver?

I base this on the first link below on Charlies asking price on this CB250K4

https://oxfordclassicmotorcycles.co.uk/bikedetail.aspx?bike=5519

On another level this CB500F2 looked a beauty.

https://oxfordclassicmotorcycles.co.uk/bikedetail.aspx?bike=5526

[Rozabikes Tim]

Out of interest Ted was there  a massive price difference between your project and what Charlie at Oxford Classics was asking?
Admittedly even his had a pattern front mudguard fitted. I guess the original chrome guard must be a bit of a hens teeth item then?

He did not give me a firm price, he indicated something in the £3250 3450 area iirc  Mine cost me £1300.
As you know I was really looking for a sensible project, this should keep me busy for at least 18 months.
Aside from some daft bodgery it's pretty complete in most areas, I'm not a purist so it looks like I have a good starting base to keep me busy. I'm enjoying the fact that its quite different to my 4 cylinder bikes.

... maybe CB400N's are bucking the trend and holding prices. Perhaps  your Fast Ford man of the early 80's would choose the 400N as the bike of his youth ...or would that be an Austin Maestro driver?

Maestro driver? That could cause alot if offence to us historic 400N owners.😱😱😱

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Oddly enough a bloke I worked with bought a new MG Maestro it would have been in 1984/5 it was actually from a passenger point of view a really nice car. It had some sort of early voice command on it as well as mpg display computer. Only fault he had was it always smelt of petrol after switching off the engine. It had twin carbs iirc, it was a flooding issue linked to the early model not having a heated inlet manifold. He got nowhere in trying to get it fixed under warranty.

[Spitfire]

Nice one Ted, that should keep you off the streets, the bike reminds me of my favourite 750K1, I was respraying it and had just put on a white undercoat and thought that it looked really nice so I finished it off white.
This is the bike the day I traded it in for my 750F1 in 1976.



Cheers

Dennis

[Johnny4428]

Looks great in white. My 550k3 was white for about 30yrs. That’s a nice f2 Ash not bad price either. Probably not one tearing to pieces though! Where’s the fun in that!😳🤭

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Looks good in white Dennis - It was only a chance remark about the colour of the 400 Superdream that the last owner who only had it for a month or so offered it to me via a PM. (Serendipity strikes again)

I've been very carefull unplugging & removing the CDI unit this morning - happy no connectors were damaged. Part of the outer casing had a fair layer of surface rust on it. Currently cleaning it ready for some zinc primer then a coat of black to make it look better. In my box of spares is a CDI unit with missing connector but it might be okay. At some point I will consider  fitting some new connector blocks from Kojaycat.
The coil looks very new - probably aftermarket but fitting is in the original mount spacings.

Having a new project has perked me up no end, it will help me with my winter blues (mild SAD).

I'm not certain but I think the headlamp is a standard 7" unit - the rim needs replacing it's no better than the rusty one in the box of spares.

[Johnny4428]

It’s great being on that voyage of discovery with a new project like that Ted. I went through an entire winter (and they are long) with a tidy w/shop and nothing happening and vowed I wouldn’t be doing that again. Happy days!😁

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I can visualise the Orkney equivalent of Tumble Weed blowing around outside in the winter - snow perchance - you Islanders do make the place sound great - a cross/half-way house  between me living in a Derby Suberb & being a Hermit.

[Johnny4428]

We don’t get a lot of snow, it doesn’t get a chance to land the wind blows it all out to see,🤭 The wind is our nemesis. Still wouldn’t really want to live anywhere else. If you ever get the chance to see the film “The Outrun” it is a very powerful film about a struggling alcoholic which is a true story. It is based in Orkney with flashbacks to a former life in London.