Topic: Parts from a CM400T work on a CB550 (Updated 5-5-2010)

[Anarchy78]

Well I did a little research into the bike and come to find out its a 79 CB400, I am now curious if the parts will be more interchangeable with my 78 CB550.

Looks something like this, just not as good shape

http://www.bikez.com/pictures/honda/1979/17274_0_1_4_cb%20400%20a_Image%20credits%20-%20Phil%20Young.jpg

My mom has a CM400T I believe laying around, I was wondering if the Forks, Cables, and Headlight housing, will work on my CB550?

http://media.photobucket.com/image/CM400T%201978/trekboy8000/MVC-006S.jpg

[Anarchy78]

They are both 1978 model year.

[Alan F.]

Anything can be made to work......but....

I think the CM400T forks are 33mm, the 550's forks are 35mm.  The swap may be successful both bikes being about the same weight and all, but it wouldn't be much of an upgrade. The cables may or may not work correctly, different bikes often used different cable lengths and aren't often compatible with other bikes.
The headlight housing shouldn't be hard to use providing that it has enough room for all of the electrical connections inside.

CM400's seem to be having a bit of popularity lately, maybe you could trade those parts for useful parts for your 550?
-Alan

[Anarchy78]

Anything can be made to work......but....

I think the CM400T forks are 33mm, the 550's forks are 35mm.  The swap may be successful both bikes being about the same weight and all, but it wouldn't be much of an upgrade. The cables may or may not work correctly, different bikes often used different cable lengths and aren't often compatible with other bikes.
The headlight housing shouldn't be hard to use providing that it has enough room for all of the electrical connections inside.

CM400's seem to be having a bit of popularity lately, maybe you could trade those parts for useful parts for your 550?
-Alan

Thanks for the quick response. The reason I want to switch the forks out are because when I bought my bike it did not have the original, so a move to something a little shorter then what it came with is wanted. I am going to par the thing out next weekend, it has been parked for a few years outside, and I am going to grab what i can off it.

Here is a picture of the forks it has currently

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=307891&l=9b96d0576e&id=100000076089998

[cameron]

sorry to threadjack... but this 400 looks hella clean.
Why part it out?
Is it rotten inside?

Sell it whole and you can buy an entire 550 parts bike, and have money to spare!

am I the crazy one?

[Anarchy78]

sorry to threadjack... but this 400 looks hella clean.
Why part it out?
Is it rotten inside?

Sell it whole and you can buy an entire 550 parts bike, and have money to spare!

am I the crazy one?

LoL, no thats not an exact picture, I just put a example of what one looked like ha ha.

[Alan F.]

those forks do look a little long, someone's idea of a mild custom years back no doubt...

Anyway if those forks seem in decent shape apart from being too long, you could always call around to a few local machine shops and check what it'd cost to have them shortened to stock length.  It's not unheard of to chuck a fork tube in a large enough lathe, cut it to the correct length and then rethread the tops for the caps.

Another option would be what you've already thought of, bolt on forks from another bike.
Free is nice, but you want your brakes and wheel to bolt on too.

CB500/550 forks will do the trick, CB750 forks are similar enough...but still too long.
As I understand it, the forks from a CB450 (twin) will u the trick.
My Buddy Jason has a CB450 front end on his 500, have a look: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=58847.0

And good luck, if you were closer I'd be interested in a few CM400 parts.
-Alan

[Anarchy78]

those forks do look a little long, someone's idea of a mild custom years back no doubt...

Anyway if those forks seem in decent shape apart from being too long, you could always call around to a few local machine shops and check what it'd cost to have them shortened to stock length.  It's not unheard of to chuck a fork tube in a large enough lathe, cut it to the correct length and then rethread the tops for the caps.

Another option would be what you've already thought of, bolt on forks from another bike.
Free is nice, but you want your brakes and wheel to bolt on too.

CB500/550 forks will do the trick, CB750 forks are similar enough...but still too long.
As I understand it, the forks from a CB450 (twin) will u the trick.
My Buddy Jason has a CB450 front end on his 500, have a look: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=58847.0

And good luck, if you were closer I'd be interested in a few CM400 parts.
-Alan

Thank you for the advice, I will look into all avenues mentioned.

Yeah, I am going to try and part out that bike to fund/fit my current bike with parts. I may try to get rid of it on Craigslist if someone feels like restoring it... I am just glad to have options now

[Alan F.]

If the bike has papers (title) I would recommend trying to sell it on CL, if all you get are lowball offers maybe parting it out is the way to go with it. 

[Anarchy78]

Well I did a little research into the bike and come to find out its a 79 CB400, I am now curious if the parts will be more interchangeable with my 78 CB550.

Looks something like this, just not as good shape

http://www.bikez.com/pictures/honda/1979/17274_0_1_4_cb%20400%20a_Image%20credits%20-%20Phil%20Young.jpg