Author Topic: CB400F 1978  (Read 868 times)

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Offline miguel.furlaneto

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CB400F 1978
« on: December 27, 2016, 01:30:29 PM »
Greetings from Brazil,

I own a CB400F dated 1978, acquired in a federal police auction by my dad around 20 years ago. Apparently it was busted by the police back then because it was illegally imported by some dude from another state. As a matter of fact it seems it is the only '78 400F in Brazil since it was prohibited by law to import bikes in that year around.

The bike runs ok, but that's about it. There is a lot of work to do in order to get it right and original. By looking at the bike's documentation and surfing in the web I'm trying to put the puzzle together to find the parts for a truthfull restoration. Hope you guys can help me out...

Documentation
CB 400F
Year: 1978
Frame: CB400F-1088712
Engine: CB400FE-1084517

According to the attached table it looks like it is a MODEL "CB400F2" AREA CODE "ED" TYPE "EUROPEAN DIRECT SALES"

Any comments? Recommendation for spare parts from USA or Europe? I occasionally travel abroad and could bring some parts.

I have also attached a photo.

Thanks so much.

Miguel

Offline miguel.furlaneto

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2016, 02:39:12 PM »
Another thing, installed gearbox is 5 gears. I'm wondering if it is original. Isn't the original a 6 gears? Where can I find one?


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Offline carnivorous chicken

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2016, 05:46:14 PM »
Bem vindo, amigo. Eu falo portugues, mais acho que seu ingles e mehor que meu portugues... entou...

In the US, the CB400F was 1975-77, although I believe there were 1978 models available elsewhere -- someone else who knows better will likely come along and chime in -- or they might have been 1977 models left over and titled as 1978. In the US, in 1978 Honda switch to the CB400 Hawk twin. All three years (75-77) in the US the bike did have a 6-speed gearbox, and the 1977 model featured pegs that were moved forward and higher bars. People here frequently try to replace the 77 pegs with 75-6 pegs (and shift linkage and brake lever -- and they work on CB350Fs too).

From the vin #, however, it looks like a 1975 (again, someone can correct me, but the first year VINs started with 10-----, second year 20-----, third year 21-----. Take a look at the pegs -- do they sit forward or behind the
bolt where they mount? And the passenger/pillion pegs -- are they mounted to a loop on the frame or mounted to the swing arm? That might help as well. It's possible the bike was first titled in Brazil in 1978 but is an earlier model.

In terms of parts, David Silver Spares has a lot of OEM and reproduction parts for these bikes. Ebay is another spot. They are getting rarer and are sought after, so some parts don't come cheaply. Some parts can be cross referenced with a Honda parts fiche to determine if parts from other models will work (especially CB350F, although those are rare too).

Hope this helps, others will likely come along and chime in...

Offline MoMo

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2016, 07:11:45 PM »
Don't have any knowledge of non_USA models but if were US it looks like a 75 model.  75 had matching color tank and side covers.  Don't recognize the gauge covers. 

Offline stikman

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2016, 04:44:06 AM »
Welcome to the forum, Miguel.
1977 CB750A "High Horse": 836cc, mild porting, custom cam, K5 roundtops, v-stacks...
1973 CB750K D5 plunger frame chopper currently building..

Offline carnivorous chicken

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2016, 11:11:53 AM »
Don't have any knowledge of non_USA models but if were US it looks like a 75 model.  75 had matching color tank and side covers.  Don't recognize the gauge covers.

Yep -- looked at the photo, maybe I should have done that before I responded! Peg set up is 75-76, paint too. Passenger pegs are on a loop, but some of the earlier ones had that. Regardless, nice bike!

I should also add, looks to be in good shape. If you travel abroad and look for stuff, maintenance pieces would be the first priority I imagine (unless there is something you know is wrong): good points, plugs, oil and air filters. I'd get one or two extra rocker adjuster covers (Honda still has them, they're about $3 each if I remember correctly) and a set of O-rings for them too. The covers can sometimes strip and need replacement, and the O-rings need replacing every once in a while as you adjust the valves. I'd look at the brakes too, and the chain and sprockets.

Offline vfourfreak

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2017, 04:38:29 AM »
And please route correctly that clutch cable  :-[

Welcome  :)

Kev

Offline stikman

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2017, 01:34:56 PM »
And please route correctly that clutch cable  :-[

Welcome  :)

Kev

I'm assuming that pipe configuration is the reason for that, but have to agree it's a little unsightly.  Great looking bike otherwise!
1977 CB750A "High Horse": 836cc, mild porting, custom cam, K5 roundtops, v-stacks...
1973 CB750K D5 plunger frame chopper currently building..

Offline carnivorous chicken

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2017, 03:03:52 PM »
And please route correctly that clutch cable  :-[

Welcome  :)

Kev

I'm assuming that pipe configuration is the reason for that, but have to agree it's a little unsightly.  Great looking bike otherwise!

Stock pipes, just need to tuck that cable up and under the channel of the tank, between the tank and the frame.

Offline MoMo

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Re: CB400F 1978
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2017, 04:41:33 PM »
And please route correctly that clutch cable  :-[

Welcome  :)

Kev

I'm assuming that pipe configuration is the reason for that, but have to agree it's a little unsightly.  Great looking bike otherwise!

Stock pipes, just need to tuck that cable up and under the channel of the tank, between the tank and the frame.




There is a little loop on the valve cover through which the cable is supposed to be routed...Larry