Author Topic: CB400F Buying Opportunity (Read 2815 times)

gwallis · « **on:** December 20, 2016, 06:24:17 am »

I have the opportunity to purchase a 1975-76 CB400F. Wit 10,000 miles on the clock. The bike is yellow with the black cover on the super sport fuel tank.

From what I can see the bike is very clean.... with one exception. The bolt for adjusting the cam chain is broken off inside the case. While the bike runs well without a whole lot of noise coming from the cam chain; I am concerned that I will not be able to fix the broken bolt for future adjustment.

I can purchase the bike for $1,500. Not cheap... but doable!

Any sugguestions as to how to proceed? See attached pictures.

carnivorous chicken · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2016, 07:24:21 am »

Looks to me like a '77 from the forward peg set up, brake lever, bars and tank, but someone correct me if I am wrong. Might have a build date in 1976, but I'd be surprised if it was titled/registered as such.

On the cam chain, it's a roll of the dice. I got a $500 350F with a broken adjuster bolt and slight cam chain rattle and just decided to go with it. Lasted 10+ years, 15,000 miles or so.

$1500 isn't that bad for a 400F in that shape (although the '77 is a little less desirable than the '75-6. And if you can't/won't do the work yourself, I bet you could get a shop to open it up, refresh the top end and replace that bolt for less than a grand.

And someone may come along with a great extraction tip that will make all of this moot.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2016, 07:28:42 am »

Does the seller know about this problem and the extent of labor required to fix it? He might lower his price and then you can purchase it(what is the build date on the frame tag?)and fix it yourself w/ help from this forum.
I suspect the bike is a 75' as it still has the pass. footpegs on the rear swingarm.The tank(color)and sidecovers don't look 75' though.

flybox1 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2016, 07:45:36 am »

+1 grcamna.
This is how i'd approach it.
It'll take a bit of work to get the bolt out, and i'd leverage that into a lower price. Might even run as-is as carnivorous chicken indicated.
1000-1200 is totally worth it for a potential $5/5 hour fix, especially when the bike is this complete/original. (titled?).
A left handed drill bit and some penetrating oil might make quick work of that broken adjuster once the engine is pulled.
Id try this before resorting to opening the engine.

robvangulik · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2016, 07:48:32 am »

I wish mine looked as fresh as that

If you can get the tensioner bolt out in any way and just plug the hole with a bolt there is an alternate way to tension that chain by using the bolt and hole above the one designated by Honda.
With an adapted M8 bolt you can put pressure on the tensioner from the top through that hole.
On top of the spring, just an extended bolt nr 12.

Tim2005 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2016, 11:27:53 am »

An interesting mixture.... 77 tank, fender, footrests, brake pedal, handlebars, 75 frame and swingarm. As for the camchain, I'd budget on a worst case basis; assume you've got to strip the motor, have that bolt drilled professionally (it's a difficult one to do, odd angle, steel in alloy, and only M6 thread), and replace the tensioner blade, chain and horseshoe piece.

gwallis · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2016, 12:19:03 pm »

The bike has a clear title.... and the side covers are yellow as well... not shown in the pictures.

I would like to do the work myself.. I had a 1976 KZ650 that had a carb manifold bolt broken of inside the case. I corrected the broken bolt by drilling a through the top of the bolt with a bit slightly smaller than the bolt size.... leaving a small amount of bolt material in the hole.

I then 'Tapped' new threads with the original bolt tread size. Worked for that project.... just wondering if that might be too ambitious for the location of this bolt?

Bodi · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2016, 02:30:28 pm »

It will be challenging to drill that bolt out without damaging the pushrod. I would want the case half in a drillpress or mill, clamped on a sine plate set for the angle of the hole. Then the bolt could be faced flat, centrepunched, and drilled out to the thread root diameter.
There is a small extension on the bolt without threads so you don't need to drill into the pushrod. But... a hand held drill is likely to wander off the steel bolt into the softer alloy case.
How much of the bolt is visible? I've found a few where some with the end accessible: sometimes a slot cut in the stub and a bit of heat... voila it screws right out.
It is not a simple bolt. I think DSS has the correct oddball one available.
You will need to adjust the camchain some day.Fix it if you get the bike.

Bike looks good, no idea what year it really is though. Honda did sell some mutts around model change time so possibly it is original. Serial #s should tell the tale.

przjohn · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2016, 05:24:51 pm »

Here in CT that bike is a good buy for $1,500.00. Don't sit on your hands too long.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2016, 06:00:52 pm »

Quote from: przjohn on December 20, 2016, 05:24:51 pm

Here in CT that bike is a good buy for $1,500.00. Don't sit on your hands too long.

Clear title is a 'plus' !

MoMo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2016, 08:30:29 pm »

Quote from: robvangulik on December 20, 2016, 07:48:32 am

I wish mine looked as fresh as that
If you can get the tensioner bolt out in any way and just plug the hole with a bolt there is an alternate way to tension that chain by using the bolt and hole above the one designated by Honda.
With an adapted M8 bolt you can put pressure on the tensioner from the top through that hole.
On top of the spring, just an extended bolt nr 12.

I've done that "fix" with good results...Larry

Rocky2010 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2016, 03:51:58 pm »

Thats cheap in Australia they would be asking up to $6,000 for that bike

thirsty 1 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 23, 2016, 08:54:24 pm »

page down in the thread

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,127295.0.html

You'll need to split the cases to get that fixed. Nice find! Good Luck!!!

What are the engine and frame numbers? This will help a bunch.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2016, 09:11:59 pm »

Did you get it gwallis ?

gwallis · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2016, 06:27:22 am »

No... Not yet.

The owner, as well as myself, are busy with family stuff so close to Christmas. He promised not to sell it to anyone until we speak again.

One more thing: The owner said that the bike runs well and the cam chain does not make much noise.... but, he did say that it struggled to rev past 6,000 RPM. I assume that this is just a fine tuning situation... points, valve adjustment and oh yeah.. cam chain adjustment.

Should I be thinking about anything else that might be a problem?

ekpent · « **Reply #15 on:** December 24, 2016, 06:56:12 am »

and carb adjustment-------------- or condensors

RAFster122s · « **Reply #16 on:** December 24, 2016, 12:06:18 pm »

Air leaks and condensors or plug caps...any could be causing it. Just when it starts to really come alive it sags and plateaus...definitely fix that issue.

gwallis · « **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2016, 01:02:05 pm »

Well... I bought it!

The actual milage on the clock is 7,629 miles. See pic.

The bike looks almost brand new under the seat and tank. The exhaust has some 'staining' from having the battery overflow on the wrong side of the bike.

It is a 1977 CB400F with the foot pegs, shifter and brake pedal in the forward position. If anyone has the peg configuration from earlier years I would love to purchase them. Currently the 'situp and beg' position, combined with the higher handle bars, was causing me to re-thik buying the bike. However, i realize that all of those things do not matter when you see the overall condition of the bike.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #18 on:** December 31, 2016, 01:38:02 pm »

That bike would be an absolute steal in Southern California. Ready for a quick, profitable flip or even if you were to have the top repaired for the tensioner.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 31, 2016, 01:57:51 pm »

Did he charge you $1500 ?

gwallis · « **Reply #20 on:** December 31, 2016, 04:16:29 pm »

Actually the final number went up... $1,600. I guess I waited too long and others were interested.

I do feel good about the transaction though ... mainly because of all the comments and YouTube video's that highlight the CB400F.

I plan on changing just a few things.... but nothing that would prevent a quick return to stock. I already have a 1976 Red Fuel Tank... I just ordered new side covers that I plan on painting flat black. I also ordered smaller turn signals, tail light and a 1976 low rise CB400F handlebar.

The side cases are being painted black because the red tank has some of the clear coat pealing and I may want to paint it... the Varnish Blue paint color. The blue color with the red 'HONDA' on the tank is my favorite color for this bike.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 31, 2016, 04:23:33 pm »

Quote from: gwallis on December 31, 2016, 04:16:29 pm

Actually the final number went up... $1,600. I guess I waited too long and others were interested.

I do feel good about the transaction though ... mainly because of all the comments and YouTube video's that highlight the CB400F.

I plan on changing just a few things.... but nothing that would prevent a quick return to stock. I already have a 1976 Red Fuel Tank... I just ordered new side covers that I plan on painting flat black. I also ordered smaller turn signals, tail light and a 1976 low rise CB400F handlebar.

The side cases are being painted black because the red tank has some of the clear coat pealing and I may want to paint it... the Varnish Blue paint color. The blue color with the red 'HONDA' on the tank is my favorite color for this bike.

That oem Honda Varnish Blue is also my favorite color on the CB400F.

MoMo · « **Reply #22 on:** December 31, 2016, 04:58:17 pm »

red is always my favorite color Bill, as it adds at least 10 hp

...Larry

mj1176 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 31, 2016, 08:58:53 pm »

Nice! My local shop always thinks my 550f is a 400f because of the sideswept 4-1. I've always wanted to see one in person to compare.

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 31, 2016, 09:18:17 pm »

Quote from: mj1176 on December 31, 2016, 08:58:53 pm

Nice! My local shop always thinks my 550f is a 400f because of the sideswept 4-1. I've always wanted to see one in person to compare.

Don't worry mate, some toy run spectator thought my 550f was a 200. Sad part is, I think they were standing next to their (or a pals) 550k. Smh

I would have preferred getting mistaken for a 400. The 4-1 collector on a 400f is a little different than the 550f. 400 is flat, 550 is squared.

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Author Topic: CB400F Buying Opportunity (Read 2815 times)