Topic: CB400F - two questions - oil level and clutch adjustment

[zxshep]

Good evening.  I drained the oil and pulled the clutch cover to have the cover vapor blasted and get the 25 year old oil replaced.  Cover came out really good as did the other three items I had done.  I stripped the clutch cover down for the vapor blasting - removed both oil seals and the clutch actuating arm.  I have replaced both seals with new and reinstalled the actuating arm.  After reinstalling the cover and filling with oil I have the following two questions:

For adjusting the clutch - the actuating arm has a stud through the center with a locking nut on the outside of the cover to lock the stud in place and hold the arm in place.  Is there a certain way to set/adjust that center stud for proper operation of the clutch?  Pulling the clutch lever in I can hear things moving under the cover, so I believe I am in the ballpark.  I'd like to get it right and just fine tune the play with the adjustment at the lever or the outside of the case.

For the oil level - Manual says the CB400F holds 3.7 quarts.  I added 3 quarts and decided to check where that falls on the dipstick since it had been 25 years since I had done an oil change on this bike.  The oil level on the dipstick came to just a hair above the top line.  I was expecting it to be 3/4 up to the top line since I added just 3 quarts.  Will the level go down after running the bike for a short time, and then I can top it up?  And where does the level normally show on the dipstick?  Please keep in mind the bike has sat for 25 years, so the top end is probably bone dry and I did change the oil filter which at this point is bone dry, too.  I suspect the level will go down after the oil circulates while running, but I also don't want to overfill.

I have attached pics for reference.  The stud I reference for the clutch is at the left end of the arm and you can see the nut around it.
 I also attached a pic of the dipstick.

Thanks for your time and input.

[bryanj]

Procedure for clutch adjustmentis in the Honda manual, been 40 yrs since i serviced one so cant remember.
Oil in manual is for totally drained/dry engine and filter, you never get that much in on service.

[Bodi]

If you changed the filter (and you should have!) the oil level will drop from filling it, you can't prefill these filters like for some cars/trucks (unless you hang the bike by the back wheel I guess...).
Clutch adjustment is in the owners book and service manual, the cover adjustment is the main adjustment and the lever adjustment just compensates for some wear and lets you change the lever activation angle.

[Nurse Julie]

Undo the lock nut and turn the stud anti clockwise to remove all pressure. Turn the stud back in clockwise until slight resistance is felt, turn stud back anticlockwise ¼-½ turn to relieve the pressure felt and do lock nut up. The cable must have full freeplay during this set up so make sure adjusters at both ends are fully screwed in to give maximum freeplay on the cable.

[jonda500]

The oil level will indeed go down after running the engine to circulate the oil and fill the filter housing and you will find it needs topping up. The correct oil level on the dipstick is any where between the two lines - be careful when topping up not to over fill, better to stay under the full line and then recheck it before the next ride when the oil's had time to run back down to the sump.
John

[jrmull]

Just a reminder when measuring the oil level, the stick is NOT screwed in to get your measurement.  Have the oil stick resting on the top of the hole and see if it is in-between of the the two line.   If you screwed the stick all the way in, the measurement is wrong.

[zxshep]

Thanks everyone. I got the clutch adjusted and will leave the oil until after I run it and check the level then.

On to the next question  -

I purchased new exhaust gaskets from 4into1, but am not sure which way they go in. One side has a metal flange all the way across the face while the other side has about half the face covered by metal. Which side goes facing the engine?  I removed the old ones, but can’t tell from them.

Pics attached for reference. Thanks for your time and help.

[Bodi]

Gasket goes either way. Pick one and put them all the same, or just jam then in randomly. No difference.

[newday777]

Just a reminder when measuring the oil level, the stick is NOT screwed in to get your measurement.  Have the oil stick resting on the top of the hole and see if it is in-between of the the two line.   If you screwed the stick all the way in, the measurement is wrong.

And the bike has to be on the centerstand or held level up.