Author Topic: 1975 Honda CB400 Four Project - Rookie (Read 318481 times)

MoMo · « **Reply #325 on:** March 07, 2011, 03:05:28 PM »

Do you have any info on the exhaust other than Norton replica off Ebay? One of the 400 fours I am building needs a muffler and I like the look of that. Nice work...Larry

RickB · « **Reply #326 on:** March 08, 2011, 03:11:01 AM »

Larry,

Sure. I got it from the seller Commando Specialties. It was their Commando Specialties brand seamless peashooter muffler, much cheaper than their UK made reproduction. Duane, the guy, sold me a single muffler for $59 plus shipping from Massachusetts. Pretty decent I thought.

I'll take some photos of the mounting procedure and the bracket on my bike for you. You will need to weld up some bits as it's a totally different dimension that the CB400F stock collector.

Rick.

MoMo · « **Reply #327 on:** March 08, 2011, 04:00:50 AM »

Thanks for the info, Rick, I'll check out the seller and since I live in PA shipping shouldn't be too much. I cannot weld but have a neighbor that can and is somewhat resourceful as he restores cars. Look forward to any other info...Larry

RickB · « **Reply #328 on:** March 08, 2011, 09:02:55 PM »

Hi all,

I got the seat back from the painters today!

Sorry for the average photo, took it on my iphone as I forgot my camera.

It looks pretty good I reckon'. Now the trick is going to be mounting it. Does anyone know of a ingenious way to mount fiberglass cafe seats? I've got some rubber stoppers, so glue etc. Before I get the padding put on, I'd like to have all my holes drilled etc.

Aside from that I got my chain guard and other bits and pieces (generator cover badge etc) on.

Also worked on rebuilding my kick starter. The previous owner has drilled out the thread and used a split pin instead of a washer and clip. So basically butchered it. Oh and lost the ball bearing that hold the arm in place. If I ever meet this guy, I'm going to have some stiff words for him.

Rick.

Slams77 · « **Reply #329 on:** March 09, 2011, 11:31:34 AM »

Looks Great!

RickB · « **Reply #330 on:** March 09, 2011, 09:55:22 PM »

Thanks mate, almost done. Hopefully should get out to ride it this weekend. Need to bleed the front brake, which is proving difficult. And try and sort out this charging problem.

Slams77 · « **Reply #331 on:** March 09, 2011, 10:31:44 PM »

Check out the below topic “Brake FAQ” in the Tech Forum section. I did this when I bled my stock master cylinder and I got the lever nice and firm.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=259.msg207521#msg207521

RickB · « **Reply #332 on:** March 09, 2011, 11:36:52 PM »

Slams,

Thanks for that link, that info is great. My problem is my lines are brand new so the system is completely empty and dry. So I think I need to prime the master cylinder first, as I wasn't getting any fluid out of the MC when I tried last time. I'm sure I'll be able to fiend a tutorial here or on YouTube explaining how to do that.

Rick.

-CB-Jamie- · « **Reply #333 on:** March 10, 2011, 12:16:47 AM »

lookin' good Rick,

Have you got one of them speed bleeders for the front brake, from what I've been reading here on the forum they're supposed to be the tits. I think sb7100 is the right one for the 400f or sb7100ss is the stainless steel one. I have one ordered for my own bike once for when I get around to getting the brake sorted. Maybe you already have one of these I don't remember?

Jamie

RickB · « **Reply #334 on:** March 13, 2011, 06:24:27 AM »

So got to ride the bike today. It was the best 800 meters of my life!

It ran great out the driveway, started spluttering at about 40mph and then died. I think the generator not charging the battery is causing the bike to not have enough spark at high revs. I say this because the battery is dead now. So I've put the battery on the charger tonight and we'll see if the problems persists tomorrow. Either way, I have to find out why the generator isn't charging. Any ideas?

So apart from that, here's what else I worked on over the weekend:

So I've been battling to replace the choke locking spring and ball bearing for the carburetors. The spring and ball bearing circled above aren't listed in the part fiche, so I don't know their sizes. I've been guessing but it's not going well. I found that the spring from a Bic four-pen is kinda' right and a 3.5mm bearing sort of works, but it's not great. Does anyone know these sizes or have these parts?

A few detail shots of the seat. Pretty sweet I reckon'. Of course it needs upholstering still.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to mount the sucker. Above I'm playing around with some foam flooring tiles I got from the hardware store. I think I'm going to cut long strips of that and glue them to the base of the seat, rather than use the Honda rubber stoppers I got with the other seat. Or does someone have a better idea for padding? Is the flooring foam going to be too soft?

Rick.

strynboen · « **Reply #335 on:** March 13, 2011, 06:31:10 AM »

hey the generator needs power for the elektro magenet in stator..think it vill work vith an loadet battery

RickB · « **Reply #336 on:** March 13, 2011, 06:38:58 AM »

Thank you strynaboen, but I'm not sure what you mean.

I have a Dyna S ignition system. I thought that as the battery was running without getting charged, when I reached higher revs under load, that perhaps the ignition could not produce enough spark to continue. This is why the throttle started flat spotting and the engine spluttering until I backed off the throttle. Eventually the bike wouldn't even start with electronic or kick start.

Or are these two separate issues? Could the performance issue be lack of fuel whilst the battery not charging is something else?

Rick.

britz73 · « **Reply #337 on:** March 15, 2011, 03:01:23 AM »

Hey Rick - Let me get to my carb spares tomorrow and I'll send those parts you need - Message me with your address buddy and I'll get them off in the mail...............

RickB · « **Reply #338 on:** March 15, 2011, 03:49:15 AM »

Mark,

Wow, thanks mate. I just emailed you.

Rick.

RickB · « **Reply #339 on:** March 15, 2011, 05:05:48 PM »

*/ Start Rant

So I took the bike to the Mornington Honda dealershop workshop for a Dyno this morning. The workshop manager said he wouldn't touch it. Said they need it running right to Dyno it. My problems are from the bike running too rich. How a Honda dealer workshop can turn away a Honda bike that needs a Dyno to set it's mixtures is beyond me. I guess unless it can be tuned with a laptop, they aren't interested. Bull#$%*. Are all bike mechanics useless or is it just my part of the world?

/* End Rant

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #340 on:** March 15, 2011, 05:18:03 PM »

The local super dealer (the Japanese big 4+Ducati and some misc scooter brands), which just went out of business over the winter, had a policy of not working on any bike that was over 10 years old.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #341 on:** March 15, 2011, 05:57:00 PM »

Send forum member Terry in Australia a pm , he's just outside Melbourne, if he can't help you he should be able to point you to someone who can.....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=profile;u=25

Mick

RickB · « **Reply #342 on:** March 15, 2011, 06:30:56 PM »

Thanks Retro, I just PM'ed him then.

ivanhoew · « **Reply #343 on:** March 16, 2011, 01:06:03 AM »

well done rick ..really interested to see what power it makes .its all pretty much stock isnt it ?

RickB · « **Reply #344 on:** March 16, 2011, 03:18:36 AM »

Thanks mate. Yep, all the power generating stuff is stock. For the engine, here's what I've done:

Stock pistons (+.25 for new bore)
New and lapped valves.
Heavy duty valve springs
TTR400 cam chain tensioner
Heavy duty cam chain
New drive chain
New crank bearings
NOS cam shaft
Dyna S ignition

That's just the motor of course. Besides the cam shaft, everything was relatively easy to get a hold of. I can't wait to 'feel' the power. Hopefully get my carbie problem sorted tomorrow when I pull the airbox etc.

Rick.

RickB · « **Reply #345 on:** March 16, 2011, 10:07:04 PM »

Just been in the shed trying to sort this running rich thing. Had the battery on charge overnight, pulled the plugs, cleaned 'em, removed the airbox to verify my choke was correct, drained carbies just to be sure. Nothing. Won't start now. It just splutters. Maybe it is electrical? The start motor seams to work. Could my loose advance plug in the Dyna ignition be causing this?

ivanhoew · « **Reply #346 on:** March 17, 2011, 12:53:46 AM »

whip out a plug and see if its wet ?

RickB · « **Reply #347 on:** March 17, 2011, 04:33:15 AM »

I've got a couple hours with Matt the mechanic tomorrow to try and troubleshoot this thing. Here's hoping for a ride this weekend!

As I was pulling the airbox today, I inspected the air cleaner rubber seal and noticed it was split. I did know it was, but up until I saw someone here asking after a new one, I didn't know it wasn't supposed to be split. Would this affect performance? Even when the clamps are screwed down? Could this be adding to my 'richness'?

Rick.

MoMo · « **Reply #348 on:** March 17, 2011, 04:36:56 AM »

About the only problem would be unfiltered air getting by if there is not a tight seal...Larry

MasterChief750 · « **Reply #349 on:** March 17, 2011, 08:58:55 AM »

super glue will hold it, used it on a ripped airbox horn the other day

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Author Topic: 1975 Honda CB400 Four Project - Rookie (Read 318481 times)