Topic: Noblehops makes a 400F pretty for his wife

[NobleHops]

"You need a project!", said my lovely wife Felicia.

"Why, yes, yes my love, I do!" And so began a low-intensity search for a motorcycle to love anew, and then this machine revealed herself. A 77 Honda CB400F, substantially original, in great shape overall, but in need of the last 25% to make it shine.



 I will make it sparkle anew, and give it to my wonderful wife to ride when I am finished.

[NobleHops]

Here's what we're starting with:














It's in decent shape overall with a normal amount of patina for it's age. It's a 77, although it's wearing handlebars that look correct for a 75 or a 76. PO purchased some NOS bits including handlebar switches, bars, and a DSS muffler. Reported that he rebuilt the front brake and replaced the line, rebuilt the top-end of the engine, replaced the steering head bearings but mangled the stem threads on reassembly. The tank is just so-so, rusty within, the paint is poor, and the chrome I'd describe as "ok".

The goal is to make it immaculate, and a strong clean runner, and Mrs The Wife likes her motorcycles blue, and so we're going to do this one up in incorrect livery for its vintage, in Varnish Blue. It's a perfect complement for my '80 CBX and I'm planning a ride to Alice's Restaurant in the spring together when it's done. I'd be super grateful for assistance along the way.

[NobleHops]

I got the bike a month or so ago, did a quick inventory of it and what it needed, and started acquiring parts right away. Had to finish some major maintenance on another bike before I coud free up the lift, but we're about ready to go now.



The last time I did a restoration it was my '80 CBX and I sort-of hacked at it over the span of about 2 years. It did come out great in the end, but man did I learn a lot of stuff the hard way and made a ton of mistakes along the way I had to correct. Trying to learn from that experience and not make it quite so drawn out this time.






Mrs. The Wife (henceforth MTW) will want it to be very pretty, and very blue if possible. The paint is worse than these photos show, cracked and orange-peeled in many places and there is a dent in the top ridge of the tank, plus it's rusty and the petcock is fouled. The sidecovers suck too - the decal is smeared on one and the other is cracked and the paint is poor.





Once I determined that a  respray was in the future and was going to cost $700 or so all in with derusting supplies, a petcock rebuild, bodywork, decals and paint, the David Silver Spares pre-painted repro tanks started to look pretty good. And so I ordered one, and they relayed it from England and a few weeks later it arrived. Dented.



This could have been a huge pain in the ass except for the fact that I bought it from David Silver Spares and they are awesome. I emailed them to let them know and they immediately responded saying that I got the last one and would I be open to having it repaired on their dime? So I did just that, found a local guy that paints bikes, found the recipe for Varnish Blue online, got decals from Reproduction Decals and had both the tank and repro sidecovers repainted. And DSS credited my card for the expense and I am more than whole - the pro paint job is better than what was sent, and I have a new solid tank and OEM petcock. Customer for life - they totally backed me up and that was awesome.



I also sprung for new rims, fenders, headers, and a NOS seat and wiring harness from another member here plus a set of Tec repro shocks from eBay. MTW will ride in style.

[NobleHops]

So here's where we're at for starters:



The bike is on the lift and I'm interested in making it run before I tear it apart, although that's a bit problematic because the wiring is all apart and not having been the guy that did it I am trying to be patient getting it all together for a test firing, but in a few cases I'm not 100% sure what goes where.




I also got this battery from my local, and it's a mighty tight fit. It's a Yuasa TYX14AH that they sourced for me.  Does this look correct?



For now I am matching up wires by color and plugging them in, but I need to be careful with the starter solenoid and not let any magic smoke out of the wiring this time  .

So here's my first favor/question of many. Does anyone have (or would they please take) good clear photos of the wiring junction areas for a 400F? I could really use them for reference as I put this back together.

More to come...

[thirsty 1]

Right on! She's gonna love that bike.

[neevo]

I have a wiring placement PDF I can share and also a wiring diagram. PM me your email.

[Stev-o]

Great project, subscribed.  Good to hear about DSS standing behind their products.

[NobleHops]

I have a wiring placement PDF I can share and also a wiring diagram. PM me your email.

Awesome Neevo, thanks a bunch, PM sent.

N.

[onagd]

Hi there,
Am in the process of putting one back together very slowly so will watch with interest.

[754]

 Nice bike, bet not too many of your neighbors have a nice snowblower , like you got..lol..
 Low hours I bet...

[NobleHops]

Nice bike, bet not too many of your neighbors have a nice snowblower , like you got..lol

Sharp eyes! That's my old shop near Boston. Moved from there last year to California. I sold the (awesome) Honda SOHC 728 tracked snowblower to my neighbor when I left and he could not have been happier. It was 8 years old and looked and worked like new. A freakin Honda, of course :-)

[MoMo]

wrong battery but if it fits it will work.  To get it fired up you only need to run 12v to the black/white wires at the coils and make sure the points are clean and the blue and yellow wires are connected...Larry

[iron_worker]

That's great to hear about DSS. I've been unhappy with a couple of their products but they've also stood behind it and reimbursed me or sent something that would work. 

You have a great bike to start with and I'm sure it's going to be awesome when you're finished.

I looovvvveee that CBX btw. 

IW

[NobleHops]

wrong battery but if it fits it will work.  To get it fired up you only need to run 12v to the black/white wires at the coils and make sure the points are clean and the blue and yellow wires are connected...Larry

NOTHING is connected up at the moment Larry, battery, coils, no grounds, the R/R, neutral switch, the starter solenoid, fuse box, nada. But are you saying I need simply power the coils, jumper those two wires to in effect hotwire it, and then kick it over? Or to I need to make the connections to the alternator, fusebox, etc?

[MoMo]

wrong battery but if it fits it will work.  To get it fired up you only need to run 12v to the black/white wires at the coils and make sure the points are clean and the blue and yellow wires are connected...Larry

NOTHING is connected up at the moment Larry, battery, coils, no grounds, the R/R, neutral switch, the starter solenoid, fuse box, nada. But are you saying I need simply power the coils, jumper those two wires to in effect hotwire it, and then kick it over? Or to I need to make the connections to the alternator, fusebox, etc?

Should be all you need, ignition power! You'll have to disconnect the wires to shut the bike off but it is the easiest , quickest method.  Hope it fires up for you...Larry

[NobleHops]

Should be all you need, ignition power! You'll have to disconnect the wires to shut the bike off but it is the easiest , quickest method.  Hope it fires up for you...Larry

Man, you just saved me hours of dicking around. Thanks a bunch.

[Stev-o]

Should be all you need, ignition power! You'll have to disconnect the wires to shut the bike off but it is the easiest , quickest method.  Hope it fires up for you...Larry

Man, you just saved me hours of dicking around. Thanks a bunch.

FYI - Larry is our resident 400F expert, has rebuilt quite of few of them....

[MoMo]

Should be all you need, ignition power! You'll have to disconnect the wires to shut the bike off but it is the easiest , quickest method.  Hope it fires up for you...Larry

Man, you just saved me hours of dicking around. Thanks a bunch.

FYI - Larry is our resident 400F expert, has rebuilt quite of few of them....

Actually, Stev-o, I am the token idiot savant   Look up momo in the urban dictionary...Larry

[NobleHops]

I'll consider myself lucky you have taken an interest in my project Larry!

[thirsty 1]

I have some I can post in a little bit.

[NobleHops]

I have some I can post in a little bit.

If it's wiring photos you're referring to, that'd be a big help, thank you kindly.

[thirsty 1]

I have some I can post in a little bit.

If it's wiring photos you're referring to, that'd be a big help, thank you kindly.

Yes.

[MoMo]

try this link   http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/wiring350F.html  but to get it started as a total loss system(you'll need a fully charged battery) you only need power to the black/white and the blue and yellow point wired hooked up and clean points...Larry

[thirsty 1]

sorry I thought they were better. I'm not sure if that helps at all. I have more but its kinda like looking at a bowl of colored spaghetti. 

[Felix]

Doesn't a '77 400F have the pegs attached to the frame?