Author Topic: New Project - 1975 CB400F (Read 10248 times)

SanDogDewey · « **on:** April 04, 2011, 02:36:54 PM »

Just picked up a gem this weekend. '75 CB400F from the original owner with 8,500 original miles. The owner had all the receipts, owner' manual, and service manual. She's a diamond in the rough with the fairing, trailer hitch and back rest with luggage rack (all have been removed). But with a quick shot of the power washer, it looks like it going to clean up well.

I've got carb kits, fork seals, chain and sprocket, and tires on order. Tank was clean and rust free, so I expect to hear this baby roar in the next few weeks. The header and pipe are solid and rust free.

OneWheelDrive · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2011, 02:38:55 PM »

Damn, jealous. Where'd you find that gem? Get that sucker running and commit to the Relay!

Owned · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2011, 05:25:48 PM »

A 400 with a trailer hitch!?

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2011, 09:09:37 PM »

Quote from: Owned on April 04, 2011, 05:25:48 PM

A 400 with a trailer hitch!?

I thought the same thing. WTH?!? The owner had a Goldwing that he towed a trailer with, and this was his wife's bike. They did a lot of traveling and he had the hitch put on the 400 in case the Goldwing broke down.

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2011, 09:31:09 PM »

Got some more of the 10 years of grim off today.

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2011, 09:34:18 PM »

Hey for all you guys with 400F's...I ordered a bunch of parts from Honda today. A lot of stuff was still showing available. Does Honda still have a lot of parts for these bikes?

Marco83 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2011, 11:06:24 PM »

Very nice bike! Good find!
Japan have tons of parts for 400four.

TPColgett · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2011, 11:57:48 AM »

My experience with the local stealership has been OK. So far most things have been available, but were on round three for the appropriate petcock. Then again mines a 77 so its kinda the odd duck of the 400's >_< These days I take in my laptop with the parts fishe loaded up and dictate to the guys at the counter to make sure I get what I want!

That looks like a gorgeous little gem, check out my build if you get the chance:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=81893.new#new

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2011, 12:33:03 PM »

Thanks TP,

I just got off the phone with my local Honda dealer and I got lucky so far. Carb kits, carb insulators, fork seals, chain and sprockets, master cylinder and caliper rebuild kits, tires and tubes all available. I realize they may be a little higher, but I like using Honda parts. If you don't throw a little money their way now and then, they won't be there when you need them. Plus you don't pay shipping.

Not everything on my list has failed, but after 35 years I rather replace it while I've got it apart. My daughter is going to ride this bike, so I want it to be as dependable as an old Honda can be. I'll probably be putting a dyna on it as well. Keeps things much easier to maintain.

I was checking out your thread last night and it looks like you've got quite a project on your hands.

Dewey

TPColgett · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2011, 12:37:32 PM »

I'm with you on the Dyna. Coming from a background replacing 40+ year old British rubber, ill be working my way through every thing. I'm also considering one of Honda Mans blade type fuse adapters...

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2011, 09:42:11 PM »

Got the carbs cleaned up and rebuilt today

The ultrasonic cleaner and a little AlumPrep cleaned them up really nice.

After getting these cleaned up and installed the bike started for the first time in 10 years.

Mini-me and the CBX

Got the carbs all sync'd and she's running smooth.

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2011, 09:57:43 PM »

The bars on this bike have a 5" rise. It that stock? I though they were a little lower.

leogriss · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2011, 10:05:19 PM »

nice find! wonder how much it cost you. I'm jealous argg hah

-CB-Jamie- · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2011, 12:48:39 AM »

Nice find! cleaned up a lot better than I thought it would after I saw the first pic.
I presume you know aout DavidSilverSpares for buying parts, he does pattern parts as well as genuine parts for probably much cheaper than Honda themselves. He also has more parts than what's listed if you search by part number.

vames · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2011, 07:40:30 AM »

Those bars don't look stock for a 75-76. Originals look more like what are commonly referred to as "superbike bars".

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2011, 07:47:52 AM »

Quote from: -CB-Jamie- on April 10, 2011, 12:48:39 AM

Nice find! cleaned up a lot better than I thought it would after I saw the first pic.
I presume you know aout DavidSilverSpares for buying parts, he does pattern parts as well as genuine parts for probably much cheaper than Honda themselves. He also has more parts than what's listed if you search by part number.

Yeah it's surprising how well they can be preserved under all that dirt. This bike was fortunate to be stored in a dry environment. The tank was full of bad gas, but it wasn't rusted.

I've got some DSS parts on my CBX, thanks for the tip!

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2011, 07:51:00 AM »

Quote from: vames on April 10, 2011, 07:40:30 AM

Those bars don't look stock for a 75-76. Originals look more like what are commonly referred to as "superbike bars".

I didn't think so. I wonder if they were put on to work better with the fairing? It also had some brackets on the top triple tree to set the bars back a few inches to clear the fairing. I'll be looking for a set of original bars...

Also looking for OEM type stainless brake lines. I want the original look, but with the stainless lines.

Slippery · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2011, 06:13:01 PM »

Lookin' good, man...Varnish Blue and that awesome header makes it my fave of all the SOHCs. *drool*

luceja · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2011, 06:49:05 PM »

I believe the stock bars are lower for all years. Nice find. I kind of love that rack/hitch.. maybe not the right bike for that kind of thing, never thought of the 400f as just a utilitarian bike, but cool nonetheless!

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2011, 06:03:25 PM »

Quote from: OneWheelDrive on April 04, 2011, 02:38:55 PM

Damn, jealous. Where'd you find that gem? Get that sucker running and commit to the Relay!

Found it in Perris. She fired up this weekend and purred.

brandEn · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2011, 07:46:21 PM »

Nice find! That bike cleaned up well and it only has 8500 mile on it. Score. Check out this site. The owner Kevin is a member here.

http://www.400fourstore.com/

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2011, 09:19:23 PM »

Quote from: brandEn on April 11, 2011, 07:46:21 PM

Nice find! That bike cleaned up well and it only has 8500 mile on it. Score. Check out this site. The owner Kevin is a member here.

http://www.400fourstore.com/

Always nice to have another source for parts. This bike is proving to be a lot easier to find parts for than the CBX. I sure could use a set of those snap ring pliers shown on 400fourstore for my master cylinder. It's proving to be a real PITA!

Got the fork lowers cleaned up, now just need to install the new fork seals and dust caps.

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #22 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:05:36 PM »

Got two major milestones completed tonight. Got the circlip out of the master cylinder and the old forks seals out.

Forks cleaned up pretty nice.

TPColgett · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:10:28 PM »

They sure did at that! Ill have to pull the front clip off mine for a tear down and rebuild once I get the bike back from the machinist

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #24 on:** April 13, 2011, 09:10:47 AM »

Does anyone have a comprehensive list of the painted yellow dot assembly marks that are applied from the factory for a CB400F? Are ther any other red dot marks other than those on the brake caliper and master cylinder?

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Author Topic: New Project - 1975 CB400F (Read 10248 times)