Author Topic: Winter project '75 400f  (Read 2249 times)

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Offline Mark1976

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Winter project '75 400f
« on: October 29, 2024, 01:14:27 PM »
   So, yeah.... I've been putting this together for a few months, a part here a part there. It's a relatively early number '75 frame, 9/74 production date and 1002495 serial. I've needed to exhaust my  supply of 400f parts sitting in boxes and shelves, so when a frame came up on ebay, (from a vendor/seller I was familiar with) we made a deal and at $185 shipped I figured why not. It does run, took a brief ride up the street and backeverything works with the exception of the voltage regulator, I'm good at this point.
   So now I'm getting it ready to disassemble and send the frame out to power coat, one thing at a time. I'm still in need of a right side cover, a 75-76 gas tank and a seat, so if anyone can help me out with any of those items, it'll be greatly appreciated.
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Offline Kevin

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2024, 01:35:18 PM »
Always a nice feeling when you have a roller that rolls under it's own power.
You are almost there!

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

A couple of 400F's and a
'98 Suzuki Intruder VS1400 ~ for long rides

Offline denward17

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2024, 01:53:24 PM »
Good to see Mark, following...

You planning on paint?

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2024, 02:07:38 PM »
Always a nice feeling when you have a roller that rolls under it's own power.
You are almost there!

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk
   It is, the motor ('77) that's in it for the moment isn't going back in, I've a completely stock '76 that I went thru late last summer. It would be nice to have a '75 model yr motor but what I have is good enough.
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Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2024, 02:23:07 PM »
Good to see Mark, following...

You planning on paint?
   Without a doubt, I was thinking maybe yellow.... gotta find a right side cover first, you can't believe what people are asking for old, broken and abused piece's on ebay, its truly ridiculous.... ebay is just getting to be stupidly and unreasonably expensive. I can buy a re pop for like $55-56 which includes shipping, or used, BTS pieces starting at $55 without shipping, its just beyond belief!!!!! I'll probably just by a re pop and be done with it...
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Online BenelliSEI

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2024, 05:31:20 PM »
You’re right on about EBay. The prices are crazy and their “International Shipping System” that so many vendors have signed up for adds a ridiculous mark up for non US customers. JTMarks still gets my business, as they still use USPost to Canada. Otherwise, I can’t remember the last time I used EBay!

Offline RAFster122s

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2024, 01:43:26 AM »
Can you talk Frakenfrankenstuff to make them?
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2024, 04:58:11 AM »
Can you talk Frakenfrankenstuff to make them?
We'll have to find out...
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2024, 07:13:25 AM »
What are you gonna do about a title in this situation?  In Michigan, you would have difficulty titleing and registering a project like that.  No idea what your state is like...
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Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2024, 08:46:50 AM »
What are you gonna do about a title in this situation?  In Michigan, you would have difficulty titling and registering a project like that.  No idea what your state is like...
   Title's a problem and not. I get a bill of sale have local law enforcement do a vin search (it's clear), once thats done I'm able to go thru dmv and get a title either applying directly or going thru a bonded title. Get to know your local dmv, it really helps when questions come up. Albany's not a big town and neither is our dmv. The Vermont loop hole was a nice option but only as a last resort, so when it closed up, it really didn't matter. There's other options as well, but your best defense is having a good conversation with the seller, sometimes you can track down the last known title owner this way, I've done it. Ya gotta do your homework. Never not been able to title a bike... From my experience, the longer its been unregistered, the better.
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Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2025, 12:25:14 PM »
   So, I was finally able to find enough sit down time and put the 400f together. Once the frame was finished, I was able to assemble the whole bike in less than 8 hrs. Apologies for not taking pics, I kinda got caught up in the moment. Still need a right side cover and a few other odds and ends, but just minor odds and ends. Took it for it's inaugural run just prior to the pics, seems fine, once it gets warmer, it'll go for a more thorough shake down.
   It has a stock motor, but I have added a Barnett clutch (it's been sitting on the shelf a long time) and dyna ignition (but have the stock ignition as well) and a set of Andrews 5 ohm ignition coils, and it runs with 80 main jets because of the exhaust pipe. So far so good...
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Offline denward17

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #11 on: February 26, 2025, 01:20:06 PM »
Looking good Mark!

Did you have to do any engine work?

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #12 on: February 26, 2025, 01:58:03 PM »
   I did, this motor has 13k and change on it and is not original to the bike (nothing is really, its a bitsa bike) and until a couple yrs ago it had been sitting on a shelf for at least 30 years. It had the typical head gasket oil leak so I pulled the head to address that and was surprised to find that at some point it had been apart before. It was assembled rather poorly, the rubber sleeves that are used to seal the oil passageway was pinched hence the oil leak. There were several smal indentations in the heads surface, no deal breakers but I've never seen anything like it before, aftermarket head gasket as well.
   I checked the head for flatness, ran a stone over it looking for high spots, just minor stuff. Disassembled the entire head, checked the guides, cleaned the valves, recut the seats for concentricty with your basic 3 angles then did a very light lap to verify width and location on the valve, installed new seals, reassembled and reinstalled.  Done...
   
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Online BenelliSEI

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2025, 04:14:34 PM »
Mark….. Looking very good. I’ve often thought it would be neat to individually renovate all the sub components and then spend a day assembling it all…. Never had the patience. Nice work!
« Last Edit: February 26, 2025, 04:30:00 PM by BenelliSEI »

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #14 on: February 26, 2025, 04:23:10 PM »
Mark….. Looking very good. Nice work!
Thanks, John.
It's far from perfect, but it is a real nice runner.
Lotta small stuff to finish up on. It'll make someone a good weekend ride...
Start with the end in mind...

Online BenelliSEI

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #15 on: February 26, 2025, 04:32:30 PM »
Mark….. Looking very good. Nice work!
Thanks, John.
It's far from perfect, but it is a real nice runner.
Lotta small stuff to finish up on. It'll make someone a good weekend ride...

My wife really loved hers, but when we got a pair of 2008 Kawasaki KLRs it became a bit redundant. She still talks about “her favourite bike”. It was painted to match my ‘78 550K.

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #16 on: February 26, 2025, 05:24:14 PM »
Mark….. Looking very good. Nice work!
Thanks, John.
It's far from perfect, but it is a real nice runner.
Lotta small stuff to finish up on. It'll make someone a good weekend ride...

My wife really loved hers, but when we got a pair of 2008 Kawasaki KLRs it became a bit redundant. She still talks about “her favourite bike”. It was painted to match my ‘78 550K.

I've got a 77 400f thats been in my possession since the fall of 88, to me, of all the sohc4 bikes the 400 is by far the easiest to maintain and repair. Its literally a big lawnmower engine, put gas in it, change the oil and once in a blue moon tune it up... if ya could cut the grass with it in the summer and blow snow in the winter with it, I'd be all set.
   Klr's just a more friendly and versatile ride, without a doubt. My wife can't stand the damned things, won't even ride on them, that's ok, more room for me... Her origins with bikes go back to her 1st husband, he rode a hardtail harley chopper w/springer front end. If I started on a hardtail I'd probably feel the same way.
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Online BenelliSEI

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #17 on: February 26, 2025, 06:05:58 PM »
Hey…. We all occasionally “stray” a bit……

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #18 on: February 26, 2025, 06:15:17 PM »
Hey…. We all occasionally “stray” a bit……
But its a "Honda"!!!
Lol.....
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Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #19 on: May 07, 2025, 11:00:11 AM »
   A few more details, all the warning/caution tags were added last week during the nonstop rain. Swapped out the Ontario pipe for a kerker, a little more restrictive but much quieter and more responsive.
   Have been riding it  (when it's not raining), runs pretty good. It has a pair of Andrews ignition coils, dyna ignition (I'm contemplating swapping it out with marks transistor ignition, after a few more rides for comparison. My experience is I prefer the transistor addition. Its in my other 400f, but I like the points and most people these days don't), put a drilled rotor up front (a shelf part I've had sitting around for years) with some 1/2 " spacers and some 20w oil in the forks to stiffen up the springs and give it a smidge more damping (which is like nonexistent normally), also installed a set of barnett steels and fibers in it, pushed it to 80's on the mains with 16/38 final drive.
    For just scooting around and reminiscing on any given day, it's fun, its all I do for the most part these days. Still need to replace the upper front brake hose with one of the appropriate length and put on a new rear tire, then it's done, for now... And as always, we'll find a good home for it.
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Offline MauiK3

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #20 on: May 08, 2025, 08:01:21 AM »
Nice bike.
Just checked Yamiya body sets, yikes, they got expensive!
https://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=179_245
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10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline denward17

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #21 on: May 08, 2025, 08:22:55 AM »
Nice looking bike Mark!

How does it compare to the 550 as far as rideability?

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #22 on: May 08, 2025, 09:08:18 AM »
Nice bike.
Just checked Yamiya body sets, yikes, they got expensive!
https://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=179_245
It's all getting kinda ridiculous, new, used, repop, whew!!!
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Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #23 on: May 08, 2025, 09:45:28 AM »
Nice looking bike Mark!

How does it compare to the 550 as far as rideability?
   Ya know Den, I really prefer the way the 550 felt. Decent balance between a smaller or larger bike, give it 10-15 more hp and I'd ride that bike everyday, not all day but everyday.
   The 400's just a small bike no matter what, not a bike I'd spend a long time on, at least not at my age. It's real cool factor is its age and history, pull into any parking lot with people around and you're going to draw some attention. Like any of the sohc4's, (there's still plenty of them out there) having a nice, clean, well kept and running one is the exception these days. And if you're really lucky you get to share it with others on a forum like this...
Start with the end in mind...

Offline MauiK3

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #24 on: May 09, 2025, 07:53:46 AM »
Agreed
1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Online BenelliSEI

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #25 on: May 09, 2025, 03:09:42 PM »
Nice looking bike Mark!

How does it compare to the 550 as far as rideability?
   Ya know Den, I really prefer the way the 550 felt. Decent balance between a smaller or larger bike, give it 10-15 more hp and I'd ride that bike everyday, not all day but everyday.
   The 400's just a small bike no matter what, not a bike I'd spend a long time on, at least not at my age. It's real cool factor is its age and history, pull into any parking lot with people around and you're going to draw some attention. Like any of the sohc4's, (there's still plenty of them out there) having a nice, clean, well kept and running one is the exception these days. And if you're really lucky you get to share it with others on a forum like this...

Totally agree. I loved our 400F but at +6’ and close to 200lbs I always felt a bit silly on it. My 550K was a much better fit. Having said that, my 5’8”, 128 lbs. wife looked a perfect fit and never wanted to ride the “bigger” versions. She still brings it up 10 years later!

Offline Mark1976

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Re: Winter project '75 400f
« Reply #26 on: May 10, 2025, 06:36:23 AM »
Nice looking bike Mark!

How does it compare to the 550 as far as rideability?
   Ya know Den, I really prefer the way the 550 felt. Decent balance between a smaller or larger bike, give it 10-15 more hp and I'd ride that bike everyday, not all day but everyday.
   The 400's just a small bike no matter what, not a bike I'd spend a long time on, at least not at my age. It's real cool factor is its age and history, pull into any parking lot with people around and you're going to draw some attention. Like any of the sohc4's, (there's still plenty of them out there) having a nice, clean, well kept and running one is the exception these days. And if you're really lucky you get to share it with others on a forum like this...

Totally agree. I loved our 400F but at +6’ and close to 200lbs I always felt a bit silly on it. My 550K was a much better fit. Having said that, my 5’8”, 128 lbs. wife looked a perfect fit and never wanted to ride the “bigger” versions. She still brings it up 10 years later!
   Last spring in converted my other 400f's front fork back to its original set up after having a 550 dual disc fork on it for years. It's an entirely different ride now (feels and behaves like a small bike), the 400f's front end is just less everything, much softer and virtually no damping at all, even after adding heavier fork oil and spring spacers. I'm 5'10 and 190 lbs, I'm riding on the edge of what it can and will do and still feel comfortable about the feedback it gives. I live in a small town (3000 residents) and for the riding in and around the area, it's just right. I could ride it longer/farther like to the Adirondacks but there's other, larger more comfortable bikes for that...
   But regardless, its a really great ride to have in any individuals collection provenance or not and if for no other reason, just because. ...
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