Topic: refreshing a 400 4 - Now Refreshed - tuned + GoPro'ed

[thirsty 1]

So I've been plugin' away at the old girl. Some of the smallest things can be such a pain in the asss. Like a head light bracket for example. My old one was off of something else and the beam couldn't be aimed down? Sooo I bought one off of ebay and it came in the mail bent. Lame-O'! So I found my propane torch and straightened it out. Took it to work, bead blasted it and painted it. Now then, I go to install it on the bike and come to find out that its' also squished from top to bottom -RRrrrrrrr. So bend it back with the torch and repainted it. This is when I found out about the 1/2' stubs the smaller blinkers mount on.


Mind you all I want to do is put my head light on so I can button up the electrical.

Back to work with it and this is how it turned out. ALMOST -

 

cut the tabs off and shorten the bracket.


weld flat washers on the ends and the new nubs from the old brackets.


So i painted it one more time and managed to ham fist one of newly welded nubs from the end.
Rrrrrr I gave up on that bastard thing for now.

On to my rear shocks !! Woot!!
I was going to bay a set Hagons but I have to think about how many miles the bike will see and the trade off was clean up my old one.

Starting point
 

Disassm.

Cleaned in solvent with a piece of tin foil folded into a buffing pad.

reassm.

[thirsty 1]

On to my carbs.
The bike ran excellent when I took it apart and I know they were kitted so they stayed together. Just a good scrubbin' from the outside.






Tidied up my rear light and installed my new blinkers.


So it's getting closer and closer and i did get my exhaust put on.
 


Now if i can just get that DAMN BUCKET ON!!!!

[thirsty 1]

Oh ya. Hey Nils I picked up a new chain and a 16t front sprocket. That'll bring the ratio back to 2.125 from the 2.235 which is stock. That should give me just about the right gearing for cruzin the back road 2 lanes. Thanks again for the ring. 

[NobleHops]

Oh ya. Hey Nils I picked up a new chain and a 16t front sprocket. That'll bring the ratio back to 2.125 from the 2.235 which is stock. That should give me just about the right gearing for cruzin the back road 2 lanes. Thanks again for the ring.

Totally my pleasure, happy to help. I was a little concerned about chain/sprocket wear with that combo, so that's good in my book that you got a 15 front.

The bike looks FANTASTIC, great work on rehabbing those shocks. Are those from an 1100F or something? They look a little upgraded from stock.

LOVE that tail light, looks so sleek and cool. The bike really hangs together well, looks so good. I'm a couple weeks minimum behind you.

[inv3ctiv3]

What tail light is that and where did you get it? It looks like the lucas style hooded one but lots of different places sell versions of it!
Thanks

[thirsty 1]

What tail light is that and where did you get it? It looks like the lucas style hooded one but lots of different places sell versions of it!
Thanks

You sir would be correct! I was pursuing throu some of the other build threads and found it. My tail light and bracket were/are a bit trashed so I thought I'd try it out.  It tucks up nice under the seat!   I did drill a couple new holes in to mount my plate but besides that it's pretty much plug and play.  I didn't use the third mounting hole just the two that are side by side. I used the third hole for a grounding point.

I'm not sure if this link will work. I'll take a couple more pictures of it when I get home later.
Cheers, Thirsty

http://bit.ly/1bJBCM2

[inv3ctiv3]

A few up close photos would be great!
Thanks

[thirsty 1]

A few up close photos would be great!
Thanks

Here ya go...


These are the 2 that I used for the mounting. They screw in to the same 2 holes as the original light bracket. (the ones just above the plate and under the light)


This 3rd one is the one I used for the ground (earth). I cut that machine screw down to about a 1/4' and put a eye connector on the green wire. It's probably not needed but I did it anyway.


My seat doesn't have the hinge pins in it so it looks a little wonky but you get the idea. The hole in the fender is the lower mount from the OEM light.


It has 2 wires black and red and I haven't finished up my electrical so I cant tell you which wire does what. 

[inv3ctiv3]

Thanks man, looks like I'll be ordering one of those from 4into1!

[thirsty 1]

No problem! I'd say it's the same one. If you could please do me one favor. Please visit Corrales in ventura and have a burrito. I love that place!! lol

http://www.yelp.com/biz/corrales-mexican-food-ventura

[inv3ctiv3]

Haha next time I'm in VTA I will, thanks again.

[thirsty 1]

And the work continues...

I finally got my bucket bracket done and on. That thing was a PITA! LOL.

I ended up cutting it off again right where the paint stops and I think it came out pretty good. I like how far in they are.




After the bucket was on I wanted to get the rest of the electrical stuff done. I bought one of Hondaman's magic sliver boxes so that was next on the list. I'd lost the diagram for it so here's the link to other post if ya'll would like a looksee.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=134849.0

Thanks again for the help guys!



Down to Napa for a relay which is supplying power to my Dyna coils and the magic box. The idea here is to take some of the load off of the handle bar switch and give full strength to my plugs.




All wrapped up and ready for the final install.
 

I used a bit of Velcro and tucked it away. It fits nicely in there.


One small fuse for the coils power circuit. 7.5 Amps should be plenty.


Tied up and done.


So I hooked up my battery and turned the key! Hey Hey I have power and nothing is smoking - BONUS!! The only problem I had was that my low beam wouldn't work but the high would? I checked for power and found nothing at the bucket, so I opened up the high/low switch to find this. Another small issue but nothing my little soldering iron couldn't fix.


So as of now all of the electrics are done!

[NobleHops]

Great update. Smart idea re that relay circuit!

[thirsty 1]

This part (literally) sucks! I knew I was pressing my luck but I went for the Dot 3 and started bleeding my front brake. I pumped and pumped and pumped and even though I could feel some resistance in the lever it wouldn't get firm like it should. I did some investigating and found the line leaking at my new caliper. WTF??? As we all know brake fluid is some nasty stuff. Try as I might but of course the S got all over everything. I guess i'll see how well I cleaned up in a couple weeks.

So now I have to get ahold the vendor on Ebay and do something to get another one. I can see where the seat for the hose is not installed strait causing the leak. LAME!

[thirsty 1]

Great update. Smart idea re that relay circuit!

Thanks. I did it to my last bike and it seems to help all around.

[tweakin]

You guys with these 400f builds are killing me.   I really want to do a 400f restore, someday soon if I can find one that won't break the bank.  Hope to see you out and about on this thing this summer, I am down in Tacoma.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You guys with these 400f builds are killing me.   I really want to do a 400f restore, someday soon if I can find one that won't break the bank.  Hope to see you out and about on this thing this summer, I am down in Tacoma.

You've heard it here first.  Look out 400f members!  Tweakin's new build in the making!

[thirsty 1]

You guys with these 400f builds are killing me.   I really want to do a 400f restore, someday soon if I can find one that won't break the bank.  Hope to see you out and about on this thing this summer, I am down in Tacoma.

You should you do good work. That being said I kinda fell into this one.  I'll be up at backfire in Ballard during the summer when it starts up again along with Vashon. We'll have to grab a beer some day and talk shop. What's happening down in T town ? I know they have some hot rod shows but I'm not sure where?  I'll keep an eye peeled for a donar if I can find one.

[2strokeTrush]

Everything is looking beautiful! Really like those red spark plug caps! Hoping my 350f comes out this nice!

[nvr2old]

You guys with these 400f builds are killing me.   I really want to do a 400f restore, someday soon if I can find one that won't break the bank.  Hope to see you out and about on this thing this summer, I am down in Tacoma.

I've enjoyed following the progress on all of the 400F projects currently under way on this site.  400F's are such cool bikes.  That's the reason I bought mine.  I owned one back in the late seventies, sold it to fund an '81 750F and have always wanted another one.  There's just something about that tiny little engine and how well it works that makes them so much fun.  Maybe we can all hook up this year at Vashon.  That would be great.

[thirsty 1]

You guys with these 400f builds are killing me.   I really want to do a 400f restore, someday soon if I can find one that won't break the bank.  Hope to see you out and about on this thing this summer, I am down in Tacoma.

I've enjoyed following the progress on all of the 400F projects currently under way on this site.  400F's are such cool bikes.  That's the reason I bought mine.  I owned one back in the late seventies, sold it to fund an '81 750F and have always wanted another one.  There's just something about that tiny little engine and how well it works that makes them so much fun.  Maybe we can all hook up this year at Vashon.  That would be great.

Vashon would be a lot of fun with several 400 buzzing around. I have yet to get in on the poker run. I usually just cruze the island and check out the other bikes. Sounds good to me. 

[thirsty 1]

This came in the mail yesterday. From LA of all places.!.

[nvr2old]

Very cool plate surround.  I'd leave it just the way it is..don't re-paint it..

That's the only part of my 400 I'm not looking forward to mounting.  The plate will look like crap on an otherwise clean tail section..

[thirsty 1]

First start

http://youtu.be/f5jbPnU1MaI

first start

[NobleHops]

http://youtu.be/f5jbPnU1MaI

Sounds great. Matt! Fantastic, great job!