Author Topic: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?  (Read 1094 times)

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Offline Selfteaching Dane

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Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« on: December 21, 2015, 03:06:23 PM »
Hi guys! I've decided on a Honda CB 400 F as my first bike to take completely apart!

Right now my question is about the Master Brake Cylinder. I want to order a rebuild kit from eBay.
One seller where selling a kit for the 75 and 76, others for all years. Now I'm confused and scared to buy the wrong kit. My bike is a 77 european model.
But the question goes, weren't all master brakes the same no matter the year and region?

Hopefully I have expressed myself so it's possible to understand!

Offline calj737

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2015, 03:50:35 AM »
Don't bother rebuilding it, buy a replacement unit from DavidSilverSpares.com Cheaper, easier, and guaranteed to operate when you're done.

Many find that rebuilding a master cylinder requires a lot of niggly bits and pieces and that the internal bore is never fully cleaned. Pitting or corrosion around the piston and bore leads to leaking of fluid or infiltration of air. So unless you absolutely want to say "I rebuilt that" spend your time rebuilding the other components that aren't readily available and buy a quality replacement.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline przjohn

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2015, 05:45:21 AM »
Don't bother rebuilding it, buy a replacement unit from DavidSilverSpares.com Cheaper, easier, and guaranteed to operate when you're done.

Many find that rebuilding a master cylinder requires a lot of niggly bits and pieces and that the internal bore is never fully cleaned. Pitting or corrosion around the piston and bore leads to leaking of fluid or infiltration of air. So unless you absolutely want to say "I rebuilt that" spend your time rebuilding the other components that aren't readily available and buy a quality replacement.

+2
Just by the reproduction master, unless you are going for a concourse restoration. These work very well, and for the price you can't beat em.
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Offline mycoal

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2015, 06:25:41 AM »
Are there any reproductions that keep the cylindrical reservoir style? That's the only reason why I want to rebuild my master cylinder. I don't like the square ones, and I don't like the newer street fighter style ones either.
1978 CB750K with 1977 GL1000 front end

Offline calj737

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2015, 06:59:28 AM »
Are there any reproductions that keep the cylindrical reservoir style? That's the only reason why I want to rebuild my master cylinder. I don't like the square ones, and I don't like the newer street fighter style ones either.
All you have to do is a bit of typing....

http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB400F-SUPER-SPORT-FOUR/part_123885/
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Online Don R

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2015, 09:20:38 PM »
 DSS was the king of 400F parts. They still have a lot of them.
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Offline 754

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2015, 10:52:02 PM »
Does the 77 master have a plastic see thru part? I think the Europe bike had that..
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Online Don R

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2015, 01:24:54 PM »
Does the 77 master have a plastic see thru part? I think the Europe bike had that..

 My u.s.77 does not.
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 754

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2015, 10:32:25 PM »
I think it was mandatory in Europe... Harley simply added a gasket, clear plastic spacer block, and longer screws!
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Redline it

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Re: Different master brakes for Honda CB 400 F?
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2015, 10:34:14 PM »
Hey! I have a 400F, 76's (2 of them,) and rebuilding master cylinders rings a "distant" bell. This last rest period for 10 yrs in the garage, leaning on it's side stand, and bars cocked all the way to the right, a balanced stance. When the time came to breathe some life into the one, I noticed a nice trail going down a non dented factory red with original but signs of hard riding paint and decals from the leaky master cylinder line. Awesome! This thing "broke" while sitting, and I washed it right away, getting most of the fright in me to get a grip, and the streak is gonna be there forever. But what I did to fix it, was to take the M/C apart, with a ice pic to remove the c'clip, washed the dirt or corrosion out of it, relubed it with dot 3 brake fluid and massaged the cups a little, and put it back together like it was, with visible pitting. And cleaned out the piston and lines at the disc "slave" cylinder, and put it back like it was. It's working awesome. Any cute passengers of mine gets the rebuild story. The biggest thing here, I should of put it on a tips and tricks thing, but while in storage, keep in mind the little buggar can spring a leak, and cut a path right down the tank and through the decal.