Author Topic: 1975 CB400F  (Read 16395 times)

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Offline przjohn

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1975 CB400F
« on: December 20, 2014, 05:15:18 PM »
Started the teardown of the CB400F that toomanybikesmike of the NEdirtbikes site  found for me this past Summer. This restore may take a bit longer than usual as I am also redoing the garage at home. The plan is to have it ready for Deals Gap first week of May next year. It is an ambitious goal and may require a bit of "Playing Hookie" from work. I give it a 50/50 right now. Winter is a long time of year unless you have a deadline to get a bike built. Some before pics of the bike.













« Last Edit: December 20, 2014, 05:18:45 PM by przjohn »
I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Online Don R

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2014, 05:18:26 PM »
I'm watching with interest what are your goals, stock resto or modified?
No matter how many times you paint over a shadow, it's still there.
 CEO at the no kill motorcycle shop.
 You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2014, 05:24:46 PM »
I like a stock look. The only major change will be the color, that will now  go to Red. I have a thing for Yellow bikes and I promised Mike I wouldn't do it with this bike  as they didn't come that way that year. Here is how it looks end of day today. I should have powder coat and chrome ready to go out Monday. The tank still needs to be cleaned and lined so hopefully even with the holiday I can get that done this week and have it out after the first. The paint and chrome are the long leads for me and getting them out quick should help with my deadline.

I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2014, 05:38:39 PM »
Looking forward to your project.

I like the posters of the RZ350 and RZ500.  My buddy Jay has one of each.  Very cool 2-strokes.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2014, 06:03:41 PM »
I have 2 RZ350s, and I restored one of them. The RZ500 had to be sold to raise funds for a Norton 850 restoration and that bike is sorley missed, it was a very fun bike. I have always been into the 2 strokes but they can be high maintenance, especially when on a trip.
I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2014, 01:53:19 PM »
Today got powder coat and chrome ready to go out. Powder coat usually onlt takes a few days but with the holidays and all it should be back after the first. Hopefully the chrome won't be more than 6 weeks



The tank also got cleaned, it had a fair amount of rust in it. My process is;

 1. Pour out old gas and rinse with water.
 2. Acetone and sheet metal screws.
 3. 50/50 Muriatic Acid and screws.
 3. Bicarb of Soda rinse.
 4. Water rinse till clear.

 Put it on the hair dryer for a few hours and will let it dry for a week in a heated room before installing the Caswell Tank Lining Kit.





Also started on the wheels. The rear bearing retainer came out with my Motion Pro tool, heat, and an impact wrench, that thing was in there. This front wheel retainer I still need a tool for as the MP one doesn't fit it, still need to research that. any help on the trick for getting the front out would be greatly appreciated.





 The bunch of goodies I have been collecting for a few months.





I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline MoMo

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2014, 07:28:58 PM »
Is the side stand mount rusted out?  Common problem with the 400.  Also, did you drill out the punch mark before attempting to remove the retainer ring?

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2014, 04:08:44 AM »
The side stand looks to have been re welded at some point. No I did not drill out a punch mark on the bearing retainer, thanks for the tip
I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2014, 03:07:28 PM »
Got started on a few things that will lead up to a rolling chassis. This is my modified "Hack" method for removing the cush drive bushings. Basically it involves jamming a drill bit into the drive and heating the bejesus out of it, then the Cold Chisel method is applied. All those years of apprenticeship, patience, and methods go out the window. End result is all 4 are out.


I have always torn down wheels and saved the spokes, why? This bike gets a whole new process.








Rear hub polished.




Also got to the front forks today. One of the lower Allen bolts securing the damper rod to the lower leg was stripped so that took some drilling and and EZOut. As you guys know, a 40 year old bike is bound to have a few Gremlins from previous repairs. I thought I had ordered new tubes but was wrong and will wait for the new tubes before putting the legs back
together.



I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Online Don R

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2014, 04:04:27 PM »
 I like how you roll. No nonsense, get it done.
No matter how many times you paint over a shadow, it's still there.
 CEO at the no kill motorcycle shop.
 You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2014, 10:57:23 PM »
Exactly how I disassembled my wheels.  Nice polishing on the fork legs.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline thirsty 1

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2014, 09:09:54 PM »
Lookin good! Keep it up and you'll meet that deadline. !!! I really dig my 400f.  It's sup fun!
73' CL125, 75' CB400F, 16' KTM 1190R, 05' KTM 525EXC

75' CB400F  -  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=127295.0

My 79 CB750F for fun   ----   http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=19923.0

Offline nvr2old

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2014, 10:04:36 AM »
Yep.  Always nice to see another 400F being saved.  Looking forward to the progress.
'76 CB550F-'72 XL250-'82 MB5-'82 CX500 Turbo-'77 naked Goldwing-'75 CB400F cafe'-'79 Suzuki GS1000S..hey, it's a Wes Cooley..

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2015, 03:57:48 PM »
Got some parts in that are going to really help out getting this build to a rolling chassis. Here are the NOS Cush Drive Bushings for the rear hub. Plan is to install these Sunday.



So, after boasting how I sped this job up by cutting the spokes for the first time in dozens of wheel builds I got screwed. The front spokes ordered thru Ebay, (read, Taiwan) would not pull in and appeared to be too long, either that or the new rim was screwed up. I of course doubted my lacing abilities and re did it 3 times taking up about 3 hours, and most of my cuss word vocabulary. Something had to be wrong with the spokes because all I could get was spokes that were sticking out of the rim about a 1/4" too long after assembly onto the rim, WTF. Since I had cut all the old spokes there was nothing to measure against, so much for that time saver. :bleep: Ordered new front spokes from 4 Into 1 and they are about 10MM shorter, looks like problem solved and should be ready for assembly Sunday.





Got a couple of other parts prepped and painted that are needed for the rolling chassis. The only parts missing now are the front fork legs and rear shock bushings that are on order.





Here are some pics of the garage restoration that is holding this project back a bit. It is just about ready for the flexible PVC Tile Floor now, I wish I had taken some before pics. My Stepson had a race car shop going on in here and let's just say it was a bit disorganized and slightly dusty. He moved to South Carolina to be with his GF a couple months back, he was about 100 yards down the road before the garage started getting cleaned and demoed.










The shed that holds the race car and all it's oil dripping trinkets. I would have opened the door and taken a pic but it is too cold to push back all the stuff that would roll out. Since the NETRA Event is Saturday, hope to have some more progress pics of the bike posted after Sunday.





Almost forgot, powder coat is back. 22 pieces total in Mirror Black.


I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline Riceman

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2015, 04:18:30 PM »

Offline inv3ctiv3

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2015, 09:13:34 AM »
Looks like an awesome project!
1975 CB400F

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #16 on: January 11, 2015, 04:54:59 PM »
Got to work on the wheels today. I always repack the new wheel bearings on one side only of the bearings. Been doing it for years on dirt bikes and it just carries over to restos. Grease must be really expensive in China.



The Wife and Son went skiing today At Mount Snow so I got to bring a helper with me to the workshop today. Her name is Carley but I call her PITA.




The front wheel on the truing stand. I don't know if it was the amount of time spent yesterday at The Refreshment Station of the NETRA Awards Banquet or what, but this farkin wheel took me forever to lace properly. Finally figured out I had skipped a spoke, brain fart city.




The wheels finished with new rims, spokes, rim bands, tires, tubes, bearings, cush drive bushings, and seals. The rear sprocket side bearing had a sneaky spacer/bushing inside it. Putting everything into plastic ziplock bags when tearing down the bike pays off. I wouldn't have noticed it unless I had that bag of rear wheel parts to refer to. Why Honda did it is beyond me. It basically just extends the collar in the wheel that prohibits an axial load on the bearings by about 5MM?




Next weekend is an away weekend so nothing will be getting done on bike or garage. I am hoping to work a few nights and get this thing to a rolling chassis by Friday, once again, 50/50 shot. Was looking thru some of the H1 posts from last year and figure if I can get to that point by then the bike will be pretty close to on the same time line. Man, I gotta get The Maid in and wash that floor.



I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline MoMo

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2015, 06:20:16 PM »
I see the Stooges are watching over you...Larry

Offline DanJ

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #18 on: January 12, 2015, 08:56:13 AM »
"Playing Hookie" from work..

Since when do you work? Something new you're trying out for the new year?

Offline Kevin

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #19 on: January 12, 2015, 09:11:07 AM »
Wow, nice work! Nice shop too!
Watching........
A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides

Offline NobleHops

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #20 on: January 12, 2015, 02:31:41 PM »
 Great thread!
Nils Menten * Tucson, Arizona, USA

I have a motorcycle problem.

My build thread: NobleHops makes a 400F pretty for his wife: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=131210.0

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #21 on: January 12, 2015, 03:11:38 PM »
"Playing Hookie" from work..

Since when do you work? Something new you're trying out for the new year?

Hey, sitting next to you and Gunn catching up was the reason I missed that spoke.  :) I think he talked me into getting that KTM 250 ready for the new Vintage Series this year too, it's a busy Winter!
I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline Kwality

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #22 on: January 12, 2015, 07:20:49 PM »
Yep, I'm in.  Great work.  Subscribed!

Offline DanJ

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #23 on: January 13, 2015, 08:37:14 AM »
John does nice work on all the bikes he's done

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1975 CB400F
« Reply #24 on: February 02, 2015, 04:41:02 PM »
Nothing like a good snow day to get things moving again. Finally at a big step in a resto for me, the rolling chassis. Today was spent Zinc plating axles, bolts, etc, and getting things mounted on the bike. Everyone has their own way of doing things but for me a rolling chassis is a great platform to work from. I see bikes strapped to lifts with no wheels but full handlebar dressing, signals, and motors in them. I just think the rolling chassis makes a nice secure platform to continue to work from. After you drop a bike off a lift you learn quick. The only snag today was The All Balls Tapered Head Bearings. They had some spacers and washers and measurements to be taken that made no sense. If I had just gone with my gut it would have saved an hour and a half. If anyone does one of these bikes just put the bearings in and ignore the spacers, it will save you a lot of aggravation. Since our club's Enduro, the Snow Run, is now postponed, this weekend should see some good progress tearing down the motor and other stuff to the chassis. Some pics from today,












I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.