Author Topic: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build  (Read 21229 times)

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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #50 on: April 24, 2013, 09:41:40 pm »
Looking good, not a fan of footpegs on the swingarm though.... ;D
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Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #51 on: April 24, 2013, 09:45:43 pm »
Those are the passenger pegs and will be removed when I do the swing arm brace later this week. I will have frame mounted rear sets that put my feet dang near where the passenger pegs are now. I don't ride passengers on my bikes so there is no need for passenger pegs. My seats rarely have room for a small woman passenger.

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #52 on: April 24, 2013, 11:49:50 pm »
I was picturing a passenger being ejected after hitting a bump and the arm coming up and bottoming out the suspension, who ever put the pegs there needs shooting.. ;D
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline knowsnothing

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #53 on: April 25, 2013, 07:26:23 am »
I was picturing a passenger being ejected after hitting a bump and the arm coming up and bottoming out the suspension, who ever put the pegs there needs shooting.. ;D

Hey Retro, I think thats how they come from the factory.  I know the 350f has its passenger pegs on the frame, but that is the second 400f that I have seen with them on the swing arm.....it seems just crazy to me too.  :o

Powderman, nice work so far, I can't wait to see it finished.
1978 CB750k Green - 811 engine
1978 CB750k Blue - for sale
1974 CB375F Faded Black - had to have that 6th gear
1976 CB400F Red - in many pieces
1973 CB350F TBD - in many pieces

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #54 on: April 25, 2013, 07:53:37 am »
All the 75-77 CB400f passenger pegs were on the swing arm.

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #55 on: April 25, 2013, 04:06:48 pm »
All the 75-77 CB400f passenger pegs were on the swing arm.

Never had a 400, you learn something new every day... ;D
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #56 on: April 25, 2013, 04:18:51 pm »
Trying to figure out where to end the seat. The 3 pics show it full forward, 2" back, and 4" back.












Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #57 on: April 25, 2013, 04:21:41 pm »
To be honest i think its more important to sit on the bike and put it where its most suited, the 400 is quite a small bike so placement will be critical to a semi comfortable ride... ;)  Mock up where your rearsets are going and sit on it and see...
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #58 on: April 25, 2013, 04:24:09 pm »
Do I want it where my butt is always against the back of the seat, or do I want some wiggle room there?

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #59 on: April 25, 2013, 04:39:57 pm »
Do I want it where my butt is always against the back of the seat, or do I want some wiggle room there?

Remember you should have a little bit of padding on that vertical part if your butt is up against it all the time , that will also dictate where it goes.  The pad will give you your "wriggle room"   ;D
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #60 on: April 25, 2013, 05:03:15 pm »
I think 2-3" from full forward should be fine. Any more and it makes the bike look too long.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #61 on: April 25, 2013, 05:05:46 pm »
I am going to use a large section of chain in the gas tank to knock all the rust loose. What fluid should I use with it?

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #62 on: April 25, 2013, 05:28:49 pm »
Thats up to you mate, i have used gasoline, acetone, prep wash and kerosene to help clean tanks, never used chain before, i've used clean gravel and a hand full of steel nuts, i found the nuts to worked best for me.... Lots of things you can use, i've read on this site that nails and screws work well too..
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #63 on: April 25, 2013, 05:37:51 pm »
Thats up to you mate, i have used gasoline, acetone, prep wash and kerosene to help clean tanks, never used chain before, i've used clean gravel and a hand full of steel nuts, i found the nuts to worked best for me.... Lots of things you can use, i've read on this site that nails and screws work well too..
Chain is the easiest to retrieve when your done than trying to shake out the 100 nuts and bolts over the gas cap fill neck. I use the chain with the sharp edges to them.

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #64 on: April 25, 2013, 05:45:47 pm »
Thats why i said "its up to you"   ;)  Never had probs getting the nuts out though, and in my mysterious mind i thought i would get into more spots with the gravel or nuts, i have a tendency to over think things... ;D :o Suppose its better than making mistakes... 8)
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #65 on: April 25, 2013, 08:57:04 pm »
Couple hand fulls of chain like this should do the trick. I think the links can get into tighter areas than nuts and bolts can. Grab any link when you're done and it empties in 2 seconds:

« Last Edit: April 25, 2013, 08:59:02 pm by Powderman »

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #66 on: April 25, 2013, 10:47:45 pm »
Looks good... ;)
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #67 on: May 14, 2013, 10:50:01 pm »
Just secured the deal on the front forks and axle. The seller wanted $99.99 for the forks and both trees. That's the best deal I have seen for awhile (I've been checking everyday) It's the next step in tying up the CBR conversion so I bit the bullet. I talked him into throwing in the axle, spacers and speedo drive that he wanted $34.99 for and got it all for $100 shipped. I now need the calipers up to the master cylinder. The place I got the front end from gave me a reasonable deal on the forks and axle but want $60 each for calipers which is extremely high because I am looking at a couple of deals where I can get both calipers, lines and master cylinder for less than one of his calipers. He tried to sell me his salvage business in Perris ,Ca.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-HONDA-CBR600F-CBR600-CBR-600-F-HURRICANE-FRONT-FORKS-TRIPLE-CLAMPS-CORE-/390538249470?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=HnYoUUOeCepLB9XrQn8yW3onLRU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-HONDA-CBR600-CBR-600-F-HURRICANE-FRONT-AXLE-SPEEDOMETER-DRIVE-GEAR-/280918961077?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4168132bb5
« Last Edit: May 14, 2013, 10:53:05 pm by Powderman »

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #68 on: May 17, 2013, 09:40:06 pm »
Gotta wait till next week on all the parts I ordered so I went ahead and powder coated my wheels and rotors. The wheels are Pearlescent White with a clear top coat and the rotors are Sparkle Silver base with a Candy Teal top coat.
I got the braced swing arm tacked up and then made sure there were no clearance issues and dropped it off for finish welding when I picked up the rear wheel spacers I had made. I'll pick it up Monday. I have bronze bushings coming this weekend So by end of next week I should have all the front and rear suspension swap tied up.

« Last Edit: May 17, 2013, 09:43:27 pm by Powderman »

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #69 on: May 18, 2013, 05:56:57 pm »
Very nice... ;)
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #70 on: May 18, 2013, 06:41:08 pm »
Got the cush drive done and the sprocket masked off. I ran out of Teal so I will shoot the sprocket with the Silver Sparkle base coat tonight and follow with the Teal on Tues.


Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #71 on: May 23, 2013, 03:19:12 pm »
So I got a little done on the build today. Got the BT45 120/80-17 mounted up and balanced with Dynabeads. Received the remaining bolts for the rear caliper (waiting on the fitting to blow the piston out with grease). All new AllBalls bearings and seals in the wheels. Everything in the back has been clearanced except a slight dimple I will have to put in the chain guard and to lengthen the rear chain guard mounting strap. My first swing arm brace was a total FAIL as I made sure I had all the clearance issues with the frame and tire sorted out. Only I forgot to mock it up with the chain and now I need to start over making it wider at the front and lower at the back. Looks like the center stand will have to be sold off if I intend (I do) to keep the swing arm brace.




Then the CBR600f1 front end came in yesterday and after mounting and balancing the front tire got it all mounted up. The calipers, lines and clip-ons should be here by this weekend. I will need to weld some more material onto the ends of the fork stop tabs on the lower tree to keep the forks from hitting the tank. The clip-ons should be interesting to mount. I may have to mount them on the fork section above the top tree. AllBalls steering stem conversion kit will be here tomorrow also. This pretty much ties up the CBR600 conversion of brakes and suspension. Now I can concentrate on getting the motor sorted when the carbs come back rebuilt.  I agree that getting it running well first is the correct route but on this build to flip it didn't matter to me as it would be a ground up build and it was all going to done regardless of order. I'm right at $1200 into this build as of now. If I can out for less than 2
$2K I will have hit my target.



« Last Edit: May 23, 2013, 03:22:16 pm by Powderman »

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #72 on: May 24, 2013, 12:07:07 am »
Bikes looking good,  ;)  if you want some interesting info about the beads let me know and i'll PM you, Dyna beads usually start a pretty colorful discussion around here so i'll leave it out of your thread...... ;) ;D :o
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #73 on: May 31, 2013, 10:27:26 pm »
While waiting on the fork seal kit and deciding what to do with the lower legs I went ahead and coated the brakes and trees. Work will slow up on this bike as I am suppose to have the motor back for my XR1327 next week and will dive heavily back into that project until it is done.


Offline Powderman

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Re: 1977 Cb400f Cafe Build
« Reply #74 on: June 08, 2013, 09:54:06 pm »
Got all the front end parts mocked up. The fork legs need to come back down for a second coat to darken them to match the calipers. The clip-ons clear everything no matter where I adjust them. I'm really liking this CBR600 swap, Honda should have done this instead of discontinuing the CB400f.