Topic: CB400F restoration project - nearly done..

[seabird]

Just thougght I'd let you guys see the '75 CB400F project I'm working on for the sunnier spring weather - the engine goes in on tuesday.

Woohoo!!

Terry
Seabird

[GroovieGhoulie]

Looks GOOD!!!

What are the rear shocks?  What would you say was the hardest thing to do?  The most expensive?

Was this a total frame-off with powdercoating/painting or more of a "freshening"?

In any event, looks good.

[seabird]

Tnx for the nice comments fellas!
The rear shocks:  in a word, "Dunno!" - their adjustable, with dual rate springs - no leaks and good compression/rebound damping.
I'd say they were fitted around the same time as the front forks were upgraded by a PO = there are Tuning stickers down the lower legs, but once again, no mention of the manufacturer (of the shocks/forks or stickers.

The frame finish is by me and my mate "Finnegan" - he's a smooth guy!  The frame was stripped back as much as I dared, then sprayed.

Wheels, Tank and side covers, Seat...a few other bits and pieces from Ebay (UK).

NOS 4-into-1 goes on after the lump is in place and my new hernia (if it arrives while lifting the mill in with my son)has settled.

Hardest thing to do?  heheh - managing to keep a little (very little) money away from the restoration fund!  seriously, on what you see - fitting the front mudguard (Fender) - the stays drove me to drink( not hard to do) - and I'd like to change the rear sprocket but how to get the four cush drive bolts out??

Watch this space!

Seabird

[Objectionableone]

From here it looks like a set of Fox shocks - very desirable indeed 

[Uncle Ernie]

How can you see the shocks?! I'm wondering what was so hard about the fender (mud guard)? Is that stock paint (it looks different, but nice)?

[seabird]

You need to remove the big circlip to get the sprocket off and then the bolts just fall out.

Just fall out?  Man, I've tried heat, whacking them witha rubber faced mallet, shouting and cursing at them - they just sit there and grin at me - and here i am with a nice new sprocket all ready to fit.

On second thoughts, the teeth don't look _that_ bad!

 

Seabird

[seabird]

Checked the new rear wheel against the old one - it's a mirror image except for the crud (around 25 years' worth) on the old hub.  The four cush drive / sprocket bolt threads are clean and shiny, but at the back of the sprocket(nearest to the hub), the bolts have flat plates which fit into a gapbetween the outer ring of teeth and the inner aperture for the hub.  These plates are pretty badly seized  in place, and have so far resolutely refused to respond to any kindness I've shown them - like fire, repeated whacking with large soft-faced mallet - (so far I've resisted the impulse to get the club hammer out of the box - but maybe not for much longer).

The sprocket is attached correctly to the hub with the "washer" and circlip, and all other fixtures and fittings are correctly assembled and operating properly.

Actually, the sprocket looks pretty good on closer inspection - no hooked or distorted teeth, so if all else fails I might go with it and keep a close eye on things.

Seabird

[seabird]

How can you see the shocks?! I'm wondering what was so hard about the fender (mud guard)? Is that stock paint (it looks different, but nice)?

HI Unka Ernie! 

 found the fender fitting more annoying than difficult - spent 15 minutes trying to get a small bolt started in it's thread where te right side stays fit at the base of the front fork, only to find that some heavy handed sod of a PO has sheared off the original bolt in the hole.  That's going to be one of the minor tasks for my friendly local M/C Engineering company if I can't shift it.

As for tank color, whether or not it's "Varnish Blue" or a shade close to it I can't say - but I saw the tank and side panels up on Ebay and lusted after them (the original was Antares red, with the tank in pretty poor condition,  The blue outfit is mint, inside and out. 

Seabird

[seabird]

You know...I had this  awful feeling that's what's going to happen tomorrow morning....

 

Seabird