Topic: 1976 CB400F Paint

[grumpy56]

I have a 1976 with original paint (I believe Light Ruby Red was used in 76) and need to find some touch-up paint for a few light nicks. Any suggestions? Thank you.

[Tim2005]

Yes Light Ruby Red is the 1976 one. In UK you can get it from RS Paints, not sure if they can ship paint internationally though but it'd be worth asking https://www.rsbikepaint.com/en-gb/colours.php#makeid=66&modelid=2076&prodyear=1976

[M 750K6]

Original paint on a bike of this age will have faded. Reds are particularly prone to fading.

I have an old car. It was restored between 1981 and 1984 (by my dad). It is red. I wanted to touch up stone chips with associated rust damage. I found a local paint factor. I was able to take the panel to him. He used a device (spectrometer?), which analysed the paint. He then mixed me a perfect match.

That was 5 years ago and so far it doesn't seem to be fading any differently to the rest of the panel, so I'd recommend that approach, if you can find a decent paint factor. Was slightly more expensive, but not extortionate.

[Bodi]

I had paint mixed for a canary yellow tank. They scanned the tank and made me a small can. Wild place, with about a hundred paint jars in a room on racks that constantly tilted back and forth to mix the contents then a machine squirted quite a few of them into my can. Very good match.
They also measured the colour in the shaded frame tunnel, it was considerably different from the faded outside.

[grumpy56]

Do appreciate the replies. I of course can't tell for certain, but the paint on my tank looks as bright as new. The bike only had 6K miles and sat covered in a northern AZ garage since the late 80s. RS can ship to the US, but it is not cheap.

[WideAWAKE]

Take it to any decent auto paint supplier.

They can scan it and put it in a rattle can for you (or mix up a pint/quart/gallon)

Cost about 30bucks.

[grumpy56]

Does anyone know the color code for the light ruby red? Colorite here in the USA may be able to mix it up.

[bryanj]

There isnt one, Honda never used standard codes

[grumpy56]

Thank you.

[grumpy56]

RS Paints in the UK specifies the color as "706" and I have "377" stamped in white ink under the seat pan. Any significance?

[WideAWAKE]

As stated.

Honda (or any other motorcycle company of the time) didn’t use standard paint codes.

All the colors have codes but they don’t mean anything outside the Honda factory walls.

Your info says your in OC. Throw a baseball, you’ll hit a paint supply that can scan and give you a matched paint.

[bryanj]

377 is the model code for the 400 four, any part number with 377 as middle number was first used on 400 four, similarly 333 was 350 four

[grumpy56]

Thank you!

[jlh3rd]

I have a 1976 with original paint (I believe Light Ruby Red was used in 76) and need to find some touch-up paint for a few light nicks. Any suggestions? Thank you.

this....and Lubritech, if found, are the only original sources for original honda bike paint. I have two honda R-2c cans of Candy tone orange, top coat for sunrise metalflake orange. As fresh as day one.
He says call for others, might have yours.
fyi.

[jlh3rd]

Light ruby red requires a silver base coat then candy ruby red …
According to lubritech

[Ozzybud]

The Red on the 1975/76 CB400F is called light ruby red but it is not a candy color. It is a solid red.It can be replicated in a single stage or basecoat/clearcoat.

I have a spot on Code for The Varnish Blue. suprised no one on these forums has found a match somewhere else.

[Ozzybud]

 i found this from 2011... A Honda color (Acura)


Honda Milano Red code R-81 as used on 1992-2009 Honda and Acura vehicles is a very close match to the '75-'76 CB400F Light Ruby Red.   


http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=89936.0

[grumpy56]

Am going to try the R-81 touch-up paint and will let you all know how it goes. Thanks to all.

[grumpy56]

The R-81 paint works OK, a little darker in some spots, but better than it was. My tank nicks/scratch are pretty small and I was not able to get a picture to show the results very well.

[AshimotoK0]

Light ruby red requires a silver base coat then candy ruby red …
According to lubritech

That's interesting as Light Ruby red was used on my friends CB350K3 and described in this Honda 1970's Service Bulletin in my link below as Candy ruby red on white basecoat. Everyone disagreed and said it was a solid colour but see this pic of his definitely ..never repainted .. tank. and it looks like Honda (or sub-contactor) had several attempts at getting it correct. My friend used the Candy on white paint and the paint looks absolutely stunning.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3ulisgrtwkb5gok8eq1rm/Paint-Honda.pdf?rlkey=5ii604sbofl7k8yb1fkd1ul5s&st=uovtdbdz&dl=0

Light ruby red requires a silver base coat then candy ruby red …
According to lubritech

That's interesting as Light Ruby red was used on my friends CB350K3 and described in this Honda 1970's Service Bulletin in my link below as Candy Ruby Red on white basecoat. Everyone disagreed and said it was a solid colour but see this pic of his definitely ..never repainted .. tank. and it looks like Honda (or sub-contactor) had several attempts at getting it correct. My friend used the Candy on white paint and the paint looks absolutely stunning. I suspect that the 400F may have been a solid colour though.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3ulisgrtwkb5gok8eq1rm/Paint-Honda.pdf?rlkey=5ii604sbofl7k8yb1fkd1ul5s&st=uovtdbdz&dl=0

[AshimotoK0]

Original Light Ruby Red CB350k3 tank.

[jlh3rd]

I agree with you. I have no way to verify Lubritech and don't try to. Although they were a licensed Honda paint supplier/ maker, like any source, there can be mistakes. I only post their data as another source of possible answers.
    You said exactly what a vintage Honda expert said to me over a month ago when I brought this subject up. He said light ruby red is composed of a white base and a top coat of Candy ruby red
So, your picture, your service manual and the expert I know, overide Lubritech...and other...
Actually, I've seen the honda white base paint....and I'm sure the candy ruby red, show up on ebay from time to time....a proper touch up would require that white base topped with the candy ruby red......if it mattered to that person.

this is what lubritech has, which is why I posted that.

[Ozzybud]

Original Light Ruby Red CB350k3 tank.

They might both be called Light Ruby Red but they are not the same color. On a 1975/1976 CB400F is a solid red color. the 1977 CB400F switched to Candy Antares Red and is completely different

The picture of the CB350K3 definitely looks like a Candy application.

i painted a 1976 red CB400F a couple years ago with original paint on it,stripped to bare metal. There was only red paint. No primer. same with My varnish Blue one this year.. All blue paint. No primer.

comparison below

[Ozzybud]

Original Light Ruby Red CB350k3 tank.

They might both be called Light Ruby Red but they are not the same color. On a 1975/1976 CB400F is a solid red color. the 1977 CB400F switched to Candy Antares Red and is completely different

The picture of the CB350K3 definitely looks like a Candy application.

i painted a 1976 red CB400F a couple years ago with original paint on it,stripped to bare metal. There was only red paint. No primer. same with My varnish Blue one this year.. All blue paint. No primer.

comparison below

Check out this link for info

http://www.sohc4.com/cb400/cb400/

I capitalized the word SOLID

The F0 was offered in 1975 and 1976 and featured a SOLID color tank and side-panels in Light Ruby Red or Varnish Blue. The tank logo featured a large “Honda” with a smaller “Super Sport” logo underneath. The side-cover logo read “400 Four” in a distint double-line font. In 1976, after frame number 1056883, the passenger footpegs were moved from a swing-arm mount to a loop bracket welded to the frame.

[AshimotoK0]

Original Light Ruby Red CB350k3 tank.

They might both be called Light Ruby Red but they are not the same color. On a 1975/1976 CB400F is a solid red color. the 1977 CB400F switched to Candy Antares Red and is completely different

The picture of the CB350K3 definitely looks like a Candy application.

i painted a 1976 red CB400F a couple years ago with original paint on it,stripped to bare metal. There was only red paint. No primer. same with My varnish Blue one this year.. All blue paint. No primer.

comparison below

Check out this link for info

http://www.sohc4.com/cb400/cb400/

I capitalized the word SOLID

The F0 was offered in 1975 and 1976 and featured a SOLID color tank and side-panels in Light Ruby Red or Varnish Blue. The tank logo featured a large “Honda” with a smaller “Super Sport” logo underneath. The side-cover logo read “400 Four” in a distint double-line font. In 1976, after frame number 1056883, the passenger footpegs were moved from a swing-arm mount to a loop bracket welded to the frame.

Ozzybud .. I think I saw a post where you had a good match for 440F Varnish Blue ...any chance you can share the info please. I refuse to buy a solid colour from RS .. their paint is a rip-off and only a 'medium' quality brand of paint.

I often wonder what a CB400F tank would look like if it was painted the same as the CB350K3 ..bet it would really 'pop' (agree two different types of Light Ruby Red & that the 400F  is a solid colour.)