Topic: CB400F Crankcases Finish

[Lynx]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum and new to bike restoration. I've hit the midlife crisis and bought a 400 to restore, to take me back to my youth  .

I have a couple of questions to start with:-
What should the finish be on the crankcases? I've seen bare aluminium, painted silver and painter black.
Also I'm thinking of getting the wheel spokes chromed for that extra show stopping touch. Is this a good idea or not?

Cheers
Lynx

[Frostyboy]

Hiya Lynx & welcome to the forum.
Here's a pic of a very tidy 400F at a bike show I went to recently. It looked sweet to me.





He told me he had painted the cases with Duplicolor Aluminium Engine Enamel. It's available here in Aus, but no doubt there's something similar where you are?
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Engine-Enamel-Aluminium-340g-Dupli-Color.aspx?pid=324065#Description

[MoMo]

first off, welcome.   Buying stainless steel spokes would be better in the long run as chroming could rust.  I believe Buchanans sells stainless spokes, maybe David Silver Spares does.  To the best of my knowledge cases had a clear coating over the aluminum to prevent oxidation.  Enjoy the bike...Larry

[toytuff]

There has been a thread on ceramic coating. Might look into that.

tt

[Robbnc]

+1  on staiinless steel over chrome

[Tim2005]

Only of interest if you're doing a really back-to-original restoration, but as standard just the top crankcase was painted silver while the bottom case was left unpainted. Might be worth a point or 2 at the judging...

[ataylor136]

Found some stainless spokes on Ebay from Z1, they were affordable and look great.
Welcome to the forum, I have received alot of valuable advice here!

[kyre]

I just had my 400f cases glass bead blasted and am not painting or clear coating them.. More of a dirt magnet if left raw but I'm gonna chance it. If you clear coat, it may yellow which is pretty ugly.

[jonboycox]

I painted my covers with Duplicolor aluminum and then a clearcoat over top. After a seasons riding the clutch cover and stator cover have some signifigant scratches and the valve cover turned a brownish yellow. Initially the color was a great match though. I don't mind a little patina as it fits my 400, but the brown/yellow is ugly.

[oldbob]

My 400's PO painted the clutch cover, cases, cylinders, head, and head cover with a flat silver that is neither heat-resistant nor oil-resistant. So far, I have chemically stripped the paint off of the clutch cover, head and head cover. The bare, non-bead-blasted aluminum looks kind of cool, the way I remember the British bikes of my youth.

That might be the look that I try to achieve as this restoration/correction progresses. Obviously, the gigantic turn signals will go on the shelf.

Bob

[Lynx]

Great advice all. Thanks. I think I'll try the silver engine enamel on the crankcases but polish the side casings, head etc. Very good tip on stainless spokes. I didn't think of that, even though I have them on my bicycle!

Thanks for the nice welcome too.

[malcolmgb]

http://www.central-wheel.co.uk/ just down the road from you, plated or stainless spokes, chrome, stainless and aluminium wheels.

[HonderCB]

someone started a thread here recently looking for tips on what color/s to paint his engine, might be worth looking up for ideas.

edit: i found it http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=110854.0