Topic: CB400f 1975 Kickstart

[R J Hunt]

I have a CB400f 1975 & the spline on the joint at the bottom of the kickstart are damaged (the splines on the engine shaft are AOK) I can't find a replacement does any one know if the joint of any other bike will fit, the cb360 looks promising from the pictures I can find!
Thanks Richard

[carnivorous chicken]

Not sure about the 360, but the 350F is identical. Might try looking up part numbers with a fiche. I think the 350F and 400F have different #s but they are the same.

Here's one without rubber that seems little pricey to me -- I remember selling a couple of these for around $25 with good rubber only a year or two ago. I may have one, but I won't be able to get to it until C19 calms down.

[Erwin83]

They're not the same as a 350 unfortunately.
The 400 has the pegs located further back, with the right peg being a fold-up type.
the kickstarter is specifically designed to cope with the very limited clearance with the peg.

Due to the splines being weak, finding a good 400 kickstarter is a challenge.
I tried this one, as a cheap option:
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32487777394.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dcsE8Eb

The splines fit, but this one also does not clear the peg, so it's basically not usable.

[carnivorous chicken]

They're not the same as a 350 unfortunately.
The 400 has the pegs located further back, with the right peg being a fold-up type.
the kickstarter is specifically designed to cope with the very limited clearance with the peg.

Due to the splines being weak, finding a good 400 kickstarter is a challenge.
I tried this one, as a cheap option:
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32487777394.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dcsE8Eb

The splines fit, but this one also does not clear the peg, so it's basically not usable.

They are the same, I've switched them out. If you put 400F pegs on a 350F, you need a 550F kickstarter to clear them. But the 350F and 400F kickers are the same, despite the difference in pegs. I've seen 550F kickers being sold as 400F kickers, and they look vey different.

Have a look.

Here is a 350F kicker from a parts fiche:
https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb350f-four-1972-usa_model435/arm-kick-starter_28300333010/#.X2n6jouZKM8

Here is a 400F kicker from a parts fiche:
https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb400f-1976-usa_model443/arm-comp-kick_28300377000/#.X2n6mYuZKM8

[Erwin83]

OK, maybe you're right. I've owned only CB350f frames, but both 350 and 400 engines.
Currently have a 350 with a 400 engine, with 350 pegs, and a 350 with a 350 engine but with 400 pegs.
I've always notices a clear difference in length, the 400 having a shorter kickstarter. But who knows if mine were original to start with...


Good tip on the 550 kickstarter though. Unrelated to this discussion, it might actually help me out on the 350 with 400 pegs.

[carnivorous chicken]

Good tip on the 550 kickstarter though. Unrelated to this discussion, it might actually help me out on the 350 with 400 pegs.

It works perfectly -- I have one on my 350F with 400F pegs that I've had like that since 1997. THe 550F kicker folds out farther.

[Erwin83]

Good tip on the 550 kickstarter though. Unrelated to this discussion, it might actually help me out on the 350 with 400 pegs.

It works perfectly -- I have one on my 350F with 400F pegs that I've had like that since 1997. THe 550F kicker folds out farther.

I'm not that well informed on the 550's.. there's K's and F's. and different years and types. Any specific 550 type I should look out for?

[carnivorous chicken]

Has to be a 550F, not a 550K. The F models had different kickstart levers to clear the 4-1 exhaust. If you do a google image search you can see that the "knuckle" for the mount sticks out a little more, and there is a little bit of length on the kicker before it turns 110 degrees or so up.

https://picclick.com/75-Honda-Cb550-Cb550F-Supersport-Oem-Kickstart-Kick-162769936145.html

That will ensure that it will clear the folded up RHS peg from a 400F on a 350F frame.