Topic: Just purchased my first project bike - Updated 7-30, New Pics!

[cleveland]

Doh!  Never mind.   

Huh? 

I posted that you should put up pics, but it looks like you already did that.   

[grande351]

I was finally able to start work last weekend. I did a little cleaning and it's starting to look better:





The front brake didn't work, and when I removed the reservoir cap, I was greeted with this:



I removed the master cylinder and dumped out all the crap inside and cleaned it out with brake cleaner. there was some corrosion in the bottom of the reservoir, but it didn't seem too bad. The piston was stuck all the way in. Someone must have tried the front brake and the piston stayed in. I sprayed and soaked it with PB Blaster and eventually was able to pull it back out. I worked the piston back and forth until it moved smoothly. I then filled the reservoir with brake fluid and after a LOT of pumping was able to bleed the brake line. The brake felt good, wasn't mushy and didn't seem to be leaking. I pushed the bike across the driveway, squeezed the handle and the brake worked!! I couldn't believe it! The first problem has been solved, although I think I should replace the rubber hoses before riding it since they've probably deteriorated over the years.

I also removed the old dead battery and took out the rusty battery tray. I am going to bead blast, and repaint it before installing the new battery. I'll also clean all the stuff you can't get to when the tray is in place.





While I was at it, I went ahead and removed the rear fender and lights.



Great! More parts to clean!







I think I might try the electrolytic method of rust removal that I read about here.

[cleveland]

0000 steel wool and WD-40 does wonders with rusty chrome. 

[Zaipai]

Wow awesome find.. Can't wait to see it finished!

[HondaCB400F]

Before you try to start it (or kick it over any more), get that nasty old oil out of there and replace it with new oil.  After you get it running, run it for 50 or 100 miles and then change it again. 

But first things first.  The needles are stuck to the main jets, which is why the throttle won't move.  No big deal, you'll just need to remove the airbox and carbs.  Open the choke so you can spray carb cleaner into the back side, and spray it into both the front (intake side) and back (where the chokes are).  This will coat the slides with carb cleaner in case they are stuck too.  Then cross your fingers and remove the bowls.  Be careful to keep the needles and seats paired up unless you are buying new, but keep them together just the same for spares (or if you can't find new for some reason).  You'll need to set your float height before buttoning everything up, and now's a good time to make sure you don't have a float problem (pinhole, etc). 

Replace your plugs, points, battery, oil, and rebuild the carbs and front brake and for now you're done!  One busy weekend and that bike would be on the road.  Order your master cylinder rebuild kit, front caliper O ring, carb rebuild kits (gaskets, o rings at least), battery, points and plugs now so when you're ready they will be there.

It's neat to see someone getting their first bike and remembering how excited we were to get ours.  Mine was a '72 CB350 twin for $40 with a fried cam chain tensioner.  Still have it some 30 cycles and 20 years later!

Craig

[grande351]

Thanks everybody for the encouragement and thanks for the tips HondaCB400F! 

I might get the carbs off this weekend. I hope to at least. I still have to order the rebuild kits. I'm also going to drain the old gas and remove the tank. Hopefully it won't be too rusty.
Your're correct about my excitement! I've known about this bike for almost 20 years, and I've wanted it, or one like it pretty much since then.

[HondaCB400F]

I forgot.....MAJOR IMPORTANT POINTS HERE!!!

1)  Use your digital camera like crazy before and during any teardown. 
2)  Wherever possible, put any fasteners back in place on the parts that come off or the mounting points they attach to. 

These 2 things can make the difference between having a box of parts that you don't know what to do with after the teardown (meaning you'll eventually part out and sell the bike you always wanted) or having it all go back together so easily you'll wonder why people think it's a big deal you got it done.  I'm serious, it's night and day difference and hard to be in the middle unless you've done so many projects with the same model bike you can recognize the parts by themselves.  A friend found this out the hard way with a KZ1000.  He was so proud of how fast he stripped it one weekend, but eventually he sold some of it on Ebay, got tired of spending all the time listing everything, and then THREW THE REST AWAY!!!!  Yes, a major waste.

Craig

[BeSeeingYou]

I would not trust the old seals in the Master cylinder or the caliper.  For $40 you can get rebuild kits and peace of mind.  Not to mention saving yourself the trouble  when your brake pads start hanging up from an old caliper piston seal.

[mystic_1]

2)  Wherever possible, put any fasteners back in place on the parts that come off or the mounting points they attach to. 

+50 my dad taught me this trick when I was a lad working on cars with him, and over the years it's served me well.  The other thing to do is to use tons of ziplock bags to hold things and label them with a magic marker.



Oh and you may re-think powder-coating the battery tray.  To quote Warrent Officer Ellen Ripley, "Oops, I made a clean spot, now I have to do the whole thing!"

Bike is coming along nicely.  Keep us posted.

mystic_1

[Johnie]

2)  Wherever possible, put any fasteners back in place on the parts that come off or the mounting points they attach to. 

+50 my dad taught me this trick when I was a lad working on cars with him, and over the years it's served me well.  The other thing to do is to use tons of ziplock bags to hold things and label them with a magic marker.



Oh and you may re-think powder-coating the battery tray.  To quote Warrent Officer Ellen Ripley, "Oops, I made a clean spot, now I have to do the whole thing!"

Bike is coming along nicely.  Keep us posted.

mystic_1

I agree...I use the Ziplock bags labeled.  Once you get into these bikes you tend to forget how many pieces there are here.  Very easy to forget where things go.  I am on my 3rd 750K now and things are getting real familiar.  You guys that have done a lot more 750's must have a great understanding of what each bolt is for by now.

As for my battery tray, I just cleaned down to bare metal, primed and painted with Rustoleum.  I use acid free batteries so things are good in that area.

[grande351]

Thanks everybody! I really appreciate the tips. Everytime I remove something, I place the hardware in a ziploc bag and write what it's used for on the bag with a sharpie. I've also tried to take detailed photos of everything I disassemble. I got a little "Over-enthusiastic" and missed a few things, but i think i'll be alright.
I did try the "electrolysis" rust removal method this past weekend. I'll post some photos and my observations a little later. It does work. I will say that.
A pleasant surprise to me was the amount of parts that are still available new for this bike The not-so pleasant surprise is the cost. I'll need to put a lot more thought into what I save and what I replace. I guess I have even more reason to scour swap meets!

[MCRider]

I use the ziploc bags also. But rather than writing on the bag, I write on a 3x5 index card, sometimes cut in half, which can be read thru the bag, so i can use the bag over.

[Johnie]

I use the ziploc bags also. But rather than writing on the bag, I write on a 3x5 index card, sometimes cut in half, which can be read thru the bag, so i can use the bag over.

MC you are the recycling King!!! Great idea too.