Topic: Honda CB400 four: Ver. 8.0 for Cancer Awareness ON EBAY NOW

[70CB750]

Congratulations!

[MoMo]

Had an entire response deleted by a windows update that possessed my computer while I was typing and wiped it out .   Anyhow, thanks guys.  When the bike started I had quite a bit of trouble getting it to run without full choke.  Thought I'd have to pull the carbs(as many times as I've pulled carbs on a 400 four it is one chore I never look forward to) due to blocked pilot jets but after checking out several other options I found that some idiot never tightened the clamps on the intake boots.  Cinched them down and magically the bike sat there and idled,  as David said fine tuning still necessary.

Also, the front fender is missing.  Realized I took it back to the painter the last time I worked on the bike(at least a year ago ) because I had dropped it.  He hasn't repaired it so I am going to pick it up and use it as is.  Damage wasn't that bad but it need to be on before I can test ride due to the proximity of the cables to front tire(tyre if you're not American )) ,  guess I could cable tie the cables to the fork tubes but I'd rather not ride that way.
 


All for now, hopefully out to retrieve the fender...Larry

[MoMo]

Got the fender(it had fallen  at my shop and got dinged, painter was supposed to repair but never did in the year he had it ) but couldn't find the braces, after a long search I found them but realized they needed to be painted, accomplished that and then found the petcock and installed it. Still need to find someone to fabricate  speedo and exhaust mounts.  Set timing, synced carbs then drove around the hood a couple times. Brakes need to be rebuilt after sitting for over a year without use, may drill the disc while at it.  Plan to fix the brakes tomorrow, then I'll post more photos....Larry

[RAFster122s]

That's pretty crappie about the paint guy but,  I think that is common behavior for many of them.
The projects that are dropped off for them to get to when they have time seem never to be a priority unless you are hounding them at least a little. Same thing happens with cars.
My 66 Volvo 122S was at the guy's shop for over a year. I would assist and do as much of the work as I could with limited skills.  He was cool with it and allowed me to learn a lot that way.
He let me flop in a spare bedroom and I would drive there on a Friday and come back either late Saturday or  Sunday.  Often I would attend church with them. We didn't work on the car on Sunday.
Became good friends with them.

Best luck sorting out the brakes, should go well.
A drilled rotor might make the bike draw a bit more at auction. You are still doing a raffle on the bike for breast cancer, right?

House project s calmed down a bit? I like the color scheme you chose.

David

[MoMo]

Thanks David.  Plan is still an auction but for cancer not breast as my wife died from lung cancer.  Haven't gone out to the shop yet today but I am fairly certain the front brake problem is too long of a hose(there is a bend the rises uphill, so I think I may need to have a shorter stainless line made).  I drilled out a rotor on one of the previous 400 versions, just time consuming and very messy what with all the fluid one has to use to keep the bit cool.

Been neglecting some of the house repair, still need to repair front porch, paint the barn, finish the upstairs bathroom and remodel two bedrooms.  I bought a nice, regulation slate pool table for 45 at an auction last week,  got it in the parlor with help of 6 people but need to get the furniture out so the table can me utilized...Larry

[MoMo]

Never noticed this monstrous run until the other night


Anyhow, went out to finalize the front brake, problem was not too long of a line  but crud from sitting in the shed for almost two years.


Sooooo, while the caliper was apart I decided to drill the front rotor. Bought this 12" drill press at an auction  for $5



I use honing oil and ATF to cool the cobalt bit and Moosehead to cool myself , it was hot in the shop today.

 About an hour or so later I had this.




On the bike and waiting  for the caliper to dry



Oh yeah, is this sacrilegious or what?  Opening a Moosehead with an old Esslinger church  key?

[Stev-o]

Hey Larry...Does Moosehead keep the drill press operator from overheating when drilling the rotor?

The Moose is loose!

[MoMo]

Hey Larry...Does Moosehead keep the drill press operator from overheating when drilling the rotor?

The Moose is loose!

That is why it is there!!  Best reasonably priced beer ever made   It has come down in price around these parts,$20 per case-makes me    It was one of the few flavors my wife enjoyed, she also liked St. Pauli Girl...Larry

[Stev-o]

I like St Pauli Girl!!

[MoMo]

I like St Pauli Girl!!

How could one not like that?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nice $5 drill!!  You can give El Cheapo some competition!

[RAFster122s]

That's no run, it is a freaking wave! Your painter must have had too many of those liquid refreshments on a hot day. He didn't charge you for that paint work did he?
Hopefully, it was cheap if you did pay.

It is a nice looking bike if you change that white seat for any other traditional color.

Congrats on the success.  That was some ugly moisture and dust corrosion going on for the brakes.

Glad you got it sorted out.
Relax and enjoy the AC in the house this evening.
This heat is no fun, more like July weather in early September.  But, I should not complain as cooler weather is coming and with that comes the pain.

David

[MoMo]

Nice $5 drill!!  You can give El Cheapo some competition!

Takes less than an hour to do.  I downloaded the pattern from this site and modified it to my liking-there originally were two more holes per swirl, which looked too busy for my liking. 


After disassembling the caliper and reinstalling the brakes were still squishy so I removed the MC and found this;




both the MC and caliper had been completely redone a year or two ago-the MC with new internals and the caliper with a new phenolic piston from forum member   kevin.




David,  he charged me 200, originally it was supposed to be gratis but he decided to bill me1.   I kind of agree on the seat but I am not throwing $150 out the window(that was another doing of the painter)...Larry

[RAFster122s]

Man, that MC sure sucked up the water in the time it has sat. Bore is corroding due to the water the fluid absorbed.
Yuck!
Can you get away with just cleaning it up and reassembly?  Hopefully that is the case.
David

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's shocking how quickly to brake fluid went south.

[MoMo]

Man, that MC sure sucked up the water in the time it has sat. Bore is corroding due to the water the fluid absorbed.
Yuck!
Can you get away with just cleaning it up and reassembly?  Hopefully that is the case.
David

I happened to have a spare MC laying around and put that on, test ride tomorrow to make sure all is well with that MC, then move on to finding someone to make a speedo bracket.  Think I have a friend who will weld an exhaust mount tab onto the frame.

[MoMo]

This thought came to me in the middle of the night: Why did you take a very early serial number 400 four (1001002) and "cafe" it? Wouldn't it have been better to make it stock and do the tribute with another bike?   ...Larry

[RAFster122s]

Well, do you have another bike to install the painted parts upon?  Then, you can keep this one and return it to stock with the proper pieces. Everything is bolt on you modified,  right?
Just have the rest of the month to do another bike if it is going to be ready by 10/1.
You can do it!
David

[MoMo]

Well, do you have another bike to install the painted parts upon?  Then, you can keep this one and return it to stock with the proper pieces. Everything is bolt on you modified,  right?
Just have the rest of the month to do another bike if it is going to be ready by 10/1.
You can do it!
David

No title for the other bike, plus the exhaust bracket on this was cut off by the PO as well as the footpeg brackets removed from the swing arm...Larry

[RAFster122s]

Vermont title?

[MoMo]

Vermont title?

Possibility but after this bike is gone I think I'll sell all the 400 four bits and pieces laying around.  After all "Eight Is Enough", right?

[MoMo]

Unable to get into my shop yesterday due to power failure-only entrance and egress are the two electric overhead doors.  Power came back right when I had to leave for work at noon.

[MoMo]

This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of everything that stands, the end

[RAFster122s]

Uh, you dumping the bike?
It's a plain blank canvas for the masterful strokes to be applied...

D

[scottly]

Aw crap, did it fall off the lift?!!