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Author Topic: CB400f, Winter project restoration!  (Read 2006 times)

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Offline JGDune

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CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« on: February 26, 2013, 10:04:53 PM »
Well, typically I'm not a person to post my projects but this one has been quite a headache and this site has so much information for these older bikes that I decided to share. I bought this bike from a guy who found it from some lady and it had belonged to her husband who had died years back, the guy bought it and got it running again but couldnt get the cam chain adjusted so he was selling it, bike shows 7500 miles on it and im pretty confident that is correct. The condition of the bike is pretty decent but it has some problems.

Anyway take a look, ill post more later
--Jake

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2013, 10:26:06 PM »
Looks like it was taken care of and at least kept out of the elements.
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Offline Mugen_Stumpo

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2013, 03:44:19 AM »
very nice base to start with...

another 400f build, yeah 8)
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Offline iron_worker

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2013, 09:19:23 AM »
Just like my uncle's 400F... a beautiful little machine.

IW
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Offline JGDune

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CB400f, late winter project!
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2013, 04:06:23 PM »
A bit about myself and some update, I live in Mobile, Alabama, Im 25 and I work full time as an autobody repair tech. I work on a lot of stuff on the side and the CB400f makes my 3rd owned motorcycle and first full rebuild on a motorcycle, so technically you can say Im a rookie!! Anyway on to the show..

I agree totally, Mugen, the bike already looks great, the paint is in great shape, the seat, wheels and spokes all look very good for a 38 year old bike and a lot of the parts will only be removed and cleaned then polished or coated.

But, the downside, starting with the reason for tear down in the first place, the frame has some rust, but nothing bad just on a few welds and only surface rust. The frame also has a huge gaping hole from where the kickstand has been obviously ripped off in maybe an accident and it must be repaired


Infact it would be awesome if anyone with a CB400 would take some pics of their kickstand from a couple angles, I would like to start fabricating a new mount so i can weld it in!

Next on the list is the cam chain tensioner which as everyone who owns a CB400f knows, not the best design from honda...
Anyway the person i bought the bike from tried atleast to fix it because the top bolt was taken out and in the bucket of extra stuff he gave me, the lock bolt was broken off in the engine case, he tried to grind a slot in it to use a screw driver ,which failed, and then tried to drill it...





After much deliberation and no progress on getting the mangled remnants of a lock bolt out i decided that drill it out all the way up to the tensioner shaft was the only choice left so i drill it big enough to tap the hole for a 8mm bolt as a plug and to use the rod hole as the tension hole with a 8mm bolt ground down on the end to push directly on the rod for tension, not exactly as honda designed but ive read many people have more success with this method than using the original lock bolt hole tapped for a larger locking bolt. Ive yet to make the new top lock bolt but i was able to move the rod and momentarily tension the chain by pushing on the rod.
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Offline MoMo

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2013, 07:27:09 PM »
That sidestand problem is  very common to the 400F.  I believe it was a drainage issue, water built up in the area, weakened the metal and eventually corroded through.  I had a bike fall over in front of me when the sidestand gave out ???.  Do you have the stand?  Welcome...Larry
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Offline JGDune

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2013, 09:23:41 PM »
Thanks!

No, I dont have the side stand, found several used ones but nothing state side save a few junk from ebay.  Ive only had the bike for about 2 weeks now but the week after i got it home i got sick and then got a scrape on my cornea while mowing the lawn ...  so in a week ive torn it down except the swing arm and forks, fixed the tensioner, cleaned the sprocket cover, and tonight cleaning the oil pan.



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Offline Free Booter

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2013, 10:35:20 PM »
Check this place out http://www.ttr400.com/. I think they've got stuff you might want/need... ;D
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Offline MoMo

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2013, 11:33:27 PM »
I may have the frame tube and bracket that had been cut out of a spare frame.   I also have a spare frame. I have had three in the past with that problem-one was able to be reinforced while the other two had a replacement part welded on...Larry
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Offline JGDune

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2013, 06:41:30 PM »
Yea, I've had a look at TTR400's site, and he does have some very nice machined parts but I'm curious on the pricing.

Larry, if you do have the section of frame with the kickstand mount I would love to buy it from you ;D even if its rusted up bad I would like to have an actual section for measurements to fabricate a new one!!

In update for today, everything is off the frame and ive been contemplating if i should powdercoat it or paint it. If i paint it i can do it myself at work in one of our paintbooths, but powdercoat is so much more durable for frames. I requested a quote from a local powdercoat shop to have the frame bead blasted and coated, should know tomorrow. What would you guys consider a reasonable price?
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Offline Vinhead1957

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2013, 07:56:32 PM »
I got mine done for $125, I did all the prep

Seems the lower end of quotes  really like the job!
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Offline MoMo

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2013, 03:38:55 AM »
I will check on the frame part later today.  If for some reason it slips my mind(that never happens ::) ::) ::))  pm me a remimder...Larry
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Offline JGDune

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Re: CB400f, Winter project restoration!
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2013, 07:03:13 PM »
Got a reply from the powdercoater today, he says for arround 200 they will bead blast and powdercoat the frame 75 for the bead blast and 125 for the powdercoat. I think that seems pretty reasonable but I've also been looking at the hardnose paints from POR-15.com and they are a moisture cured high resin paint that can be sprayed. But i have yet to find anyone who has tried their products for a legit review.

Finished baking my airbox/battery box last night, baked for 2 hours at 175, its just a gloss black enamel over self etching primer. It came out pretty nice even with a bit of rust pitting (it was probably the worst part on the bike overall).



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