Author Topic: 1975 Honda CB400F Build (Read 24385 times)

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 14, 2014, 10:45:06 AM »

Thanks for the tips! Love this forum so far, lots of good info! I'll update with photos when I have some.

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 21, 2014, 03:14:35 PM »

Took some up close pics of the rust on the spokes, do you guys think this can be removed with steel wool? What about the whole tinfoil and coke trick for this or the fenders/pipes?

NobleHops · « **Reply #27 on:** February 21, 2014, 03:50:36 PM »

Those look pretty far gone, but you have nothing to lose for trying. I'm personally not a fan of steel wool, and I have read (although it may be a myth) that bits of the steel wool can lodge in the part being derusted and actually hasten the re-rusting. Brass wool might be a better choice or even scotchbrite.

Having just relaced my wheels I can say it is not as hard as the idea of it may seem, but spoke kits are $55 ea wheel for zinc, possibly more for stainless from Buchannan's, IDK.

If you're trying to do this on the skinny, maybe remove the wheels, treat the spokes with something like navel jelly, scotchbrite them smooth and then maybe mask and spray them with one of those rust reforming paints. That might buy you some time, but eventually you're going to respoke those is my guess. If you're replacing the tires anyway, it's not going to take you that much more time to relace them than to fuss with the derusting and painting, and while you're at it you can make those hubs sparkle with little more than sandpaper and Scotchbrite.

Ahh the slippery slope, aiieeeeeee! Welcome to the madness of old bikes.

N.

NobleHops · « **Reply #28 on:** February 21, 2014, 03:55:35 PM »

P.S. I bet I have 40 hours or more into these wheels, and $750 in parts including bearings, spokes, rims, sprocket, brake shoes, tires, tubes, rim strips, refacing my rotor, and a few tools I didn't own already.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 21, 2014, 03:56:31 PM »

if you do one thing, fix the power issue above 6000k rpms. These bikes don't really have any power below 6k. They make power from 6-10k+. Get it running right and your mind will be so blown you are not gonna care what it looks like.

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 21, 2014, 10:59:07 PM »

Not sure I wanna build the wheels myself, I've never even rebuilt a bicycle wheel so I don't trust myself with that haha. And I am looking into the power issue, ordering some new cables and stuff now and a new petcock from dime city because mine is super sticky and leaks now......I dunno if I want to pay to have my wheels rebuilt or just buy new ones on DCC.

martin_uk · « **Reply #31 on:** February 22, 2014, 09:56:50 AM »

Re the oil leak from cam cover, double check its not the O rings in tappet adjuster covers, as they are often hard/squashed so dont fully seal and oil runs down and pools around cam cover joint. Its alot quicker than removing cam cover and avoids the problems with stripped threads :-)

skidooextreme · « **Reply #32 on:** February 22, 2014, 11:46:50 AM »

I just got front and rear rims, rim tape and spokes for about $255 from 4into1.com

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #33 on:** February 22, 2014, 04:58:35 PM »

Bad news

changed the oil today and went for a little ride and it just lost all power and shut off! I couldn't jump start it and the headlight doesn't turn on or crank over at all. I'm completely lost as to what could have happened!!!??? Any ideas??

My thought was maybe the ignition switch? But wouldn't I be able to jump start it if that was bad? As it died I thought it was out of fuel so I quickly switched it to reserve and bumped it back into gear and it start and died immediately and wouldn't stay running.....

volare71 · « **Reply #34 on:** February 22, 2014, 07:08:40 PM »

I just went through what you are about to with my '72 CB500. Look at the plugs and they will tell you if you're rich (black) or lean (white). Take lots of jpgs as you take off the carbs as a unit and expect to do a major cleaning (think ultrasonic) of the bodies and plan to replace all four jets and needles (with 24K miles and 39 years of wear on the soft brass).

Also plan on new points and condensers or go electronic instead of points.

The tank must be clean-clean and you might as well replace the fuel selector and bowl.

If the wheels are true they are your last concern. Mke sure both front disc and rear drum brakes are up to the task. Now that mine is running well, I need all the braking it can produce.

Finally, when you're done (are we ever done), It won't ride like a new bike (technology has moved on) but everyone who sees it will appreciate your work and care.

Buenas Suerte!

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #35 on:** February 23, 2014, 04:45:30 PM »

So it did end up being the main fuse....It looked fine but the end was broken off on one side and you couldn't tell by taking it off and looking at it, only testing it proved it to be bad. BUT upon further inspection it looked as if the fusebox had melted at one point and the PO did a shotty job of fixing it so my friend and I just built a new fuse "box" with updated clip fuses instead of the old glass tube ones:

ALSO I'm looking at getting that dynatek Dyna S ignition system, do you guys like that? I've noticed my power issues aren't as bad anymore, I can rev it up high without it cutting out EXCEPT for when I go 100% full throttle at high RPM it bogs.

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #36 on:** February 23, 2014, 05:20:49 PM »

I have a huge list of parts I'm ordering from 4into1 and bike bandit:

Clutch Cable
Speedo Cable
Tach Cable
Throttle Cable
OEM Honda Petcock (mine is super hard to turn and leaks)
Carb Rebuild Kits (4)
All Balls Steering Bearing Kit
All Balls F/R Wheel Bearings
Emgo Rear Shocks (mine feel blown and are rusting)
Honda Front Wheel Spoke and Nipple Kit
Honda Rear Wheel Spoke and Nipple Kit
Huge assortment of random bolts, washers and grommets

I'm really looking to get one of those Dynatek Dyna S ignition systems to get rid of the points (I hate points haha).

NobleHops · « **Reply #37 on:** February 23, 2014, 10:09:18 PM »

Quote from: inv3ctiv3 on February 23, 2014, 05:20:49 PM

I have a huge list of parts I'm ordering from 4into1 and bike bandit:

Clutch Cable
Speedo Cable
Tach Cable
Throttle Cable
OEM Honda Petcock (mine is super hard to turn and leaks)
Carb Rebuild Kits (4)
All Balls Steering Bearing Kit
All Balls F/R Wheel Bearings
Emgo Rear Shocks (mine feel blown and are rusting)
Honda Front Wheel Spoke and Nipple Kit
Honda Rear Wheel Spoke and Nipple Kit
Huge assortment of random bolts, washers and grommets

I'm really looking to get one of those Dynatek Dyna S ignition systems to get rid of the points (I hate points haha).

Attaboy!

Now repeat after me: Restraint is for pussies...

:-)

I have a Dyna in my CBX, works great, is maintenance and fiddle free. I'm a fan!

thirsty 1 · « **Reply #38 on:** February 23, 2014, 10:23:23 PM »

I had that list too! It's nice working with new parts!

rear shock option if you haven't already ordered.

http://www.hagonshocksusa.com/

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #39 on:** February 23, 2014, 10:38:28 PM »

Quote from: thirsty 1 on February 23, 2014, 10:23:23 PM

I had that list too! It's nice working with new parts!

rear shock option if you haven't already ordered.

http://www.hagonshocksusa.com/

Those look good but are twice the price as the Ergo's on 4into1, are they that much better than those shocks? And I guess I'll order the Dyna S and probably need the 5ohms coils right? Or is it ok with the stock coils?

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #40 on:** March 03, 2014, 11:42:02 AM »

I'm debating doing black hubs and rims with stainless spokes.....What are your guys thoughts? My wheels are pretty nice except the spokes but I kinda like the black wheel look...

NobleHops · « **Reply #41 on:** March 03, 2014, 11:48:15 AM »

I think they look very cool in black, and there's a side benefit that it'd likely be faster and cheaper to disassemble your wheels and have both the rims and hubs powdercoated than it would be to buy new rims and refinish your hubs like I did. I don't think your eye would 'see' the stainless spokes though. Maybe Woody's Wheel Works has a photo of the combo you are thinking about. Or another member here?

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #42 on:** March 03, 2014, 12:58:43 PM »

Quote from: NobleHops on March 03, 2014, 11:48:15 AM

I think they look very cool in black, and there's a side benefit that it'd likely be faster and cheaper to disassemble your wheels and have both the rims and hubs powdercoated than it would be to buy new rims and refinish your hubs like I did. I don't think your eye would 'see' the stainless spokes though. Maybe Woody's Wheel Works has a photo of the combo you are thinking about. Or another member here?

I'm thinking something like this, I saw it on here:

NobleHops · « **Reply #43 on:** March 03, 2014, 01:00:50 PM »

Ahh, I stand corrected, those spokes are clearly visible in that shot. Looks cool!

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #44 on:** March 03, 2014, 01:06:07 PM »

Black rims are for cheap bicycles...jmo

inv3ctiv3 · « **Reply #45 on:** March 03, 2014, 01:34:13 PM »

Here are 3 photoshops of what I could do:

How it sits (minus tail light being photoshopped out):

Black wheels:

Black wheels and black engine (I wish I could do this but I doubt I'll be removing the engine to paint it):

MoMo · « **Reply #46 on:** March 03, 2014, 02:14:23 PM »

It is hard to improve upon the appearance of one of the most beautiful designs ever...Larry

thirsty 1 · « **Reply #47 on:** March 03, 2014, 06:33:56 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on March 03, 2014, 01:06:07 PM

Black rims are for cheap bicycles...jmo

Or cheap guys like me. LOL

2strokeTrush · « **Reply #48 on:** March 03, 2014, 07:36:32 PM »

Quote from: MoMo on March 03, 2014, 02:14:23 PM

It is hard to improve upon the appearance of one of the most beautiful designs ever...Larry

X2^

Operator · « **Reply #49 on:** March 04, 2014, 04:06:02 AM »

My fuse box looks like that, but it spans the width of 3 fuses. I like your solution, looks clean and gets rid of the glass fuses.

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Author Topic: 1975 Honda CB400F Build (Read 24385 times)