Topic: Fusebox MIA??

[gaijin]

Hey all, finally got my hands on a CB400f. It's in pretty bad shape though, so a lot of work will be spent on it. I'm sure I'll have a bunch of questions I'll need help with but for starters, can these bikes run without a fuse box?? The whole fuse assembly seems to be just gone on this bike. The connections seem to have been patched together where it used to be with electrical tape. The starting magentic switch is also gone but that I expected (the guy I got this from apparently kickstarted it because the electric starter button is gone and starter motor possibly shot). I'll try to get a photo of the mess.

The battery on the bike was dead when I got it as the bike has sat for 2 years in a garage. I have a charged battery now but I'm hesitant to even put it in seeing the sorry shape of the electrical harnass... but I suppose any damage that could be done probably already has happened. Should I stick it in and try starting this thing up? I still need to drain the fuel in the tank and change the oil first still anyways, but I want to check the electrics for major problems soon.
 THanks guys for any help!

[oldbiker]

If the previous owner has been running it like this, then it is probably safe to start it up to try it out. However I would certainly want to put the fuse box back in at the first opportunity. As for the starter a new solenoid should not break the bank and the starter switch could well be repairable. If not second hand switches are not too rare. Starters come up on eBay fairly often but yours might be alright. The most likely problem with a starter is worn down carbon brushes which can be replaced.

[gaijin]

Thanks for the reply! Ok I'll stick the battery back in and see what happens. And it would be nice to get the starter going eventually tooo.