Author Topic: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F  (Read 1567 times)

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banjoprat

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Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« on: April 24, 2013, 09:54:44 AM »
I just got a 1977 Cb 400 F in not really good shape, since We got the bike 2 days ago I've been trying to start the bike with no Luck, the guy that sold me the bike says that it has some carb problems but that the bike start, today I will take another look to find out the problem.
 I have a lot of questions:
Can I fit the CB 400 F with a CB 500 F seat? I like the sport seat that I guess was an aftermarket item in the 70's
My bike has a lot of wireing under the fuel tank, I think is because the bike has a non stock front light, smaller than the original and I'm not sure but I guess that the wireing should be inside the front light, I'm I right?
Thanks!

Offline Powderman

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2013, 10:32:17 AM »
A lot of the wiring junctions were inside the stock headlight.

Offline iron_worker

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2013, 11:57:22 AM »
Most of the connections should be in the front headlight I believe.

If the bike has been sitting then it likely needs the carbs to be cleaned. The fuel gums up the passages in the carbs quite easily and it will never run right.

Also, if the battery is old and has been sitting it is likely no good either.

Electrical connections also corrode as these bikes sit and can cause problems as well. The worst thing for these bikes is for them just to sit around!

IW

Offline John Eberly

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2013, 02:02:28 PM »
There are two major connection bundles under the tank on my 400F and I read the manual to say they belong there. I don't think you'd get all that wiring into the headlight, and I don't think the wires are long enough anyway.

Good luck starting it, you will gradually face all of the stuff that need to be fixed as you slide down the slippery slope -

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2013, 02:04:12 PM »
Getting it to run should be simple, getting it to run well, that could be a challenge.

The bike needs, air, fuel, and spark to run. Be systematic and check them out.

Spark is the easiest to check for. First, make sure the battery is fully charged.  Remove the points cover. Rotate the engine with the kick start lever, do the points open and close? Get a multi-meter or circuit tester and make sure you have power to the points. If you do, pull one spark plug. Attach it to each of the 4 caps in sequence, touch it to cooling fins (I prefer to use rubber handle pliers to do this) and turn the bike over with the starter. Is there spark at each plug? If yes then move to fuel.

Unscrew the float bowl drain screws, is there gas in all 4 bowls? If yes, then you have fuel to the carbs.

At this point you have spark and fuel to the carbs, the most likely issue is that the jets are clogged from sitting and you will need to pull the carbs off, clean them and install new rubber seals.

However, another approach to try at this point, just to get it to start, would be to remove the air box so you can get to the carbs and to disconnect the fuel hose from the petcock and drain the gas in the float bowls and then re-tighten the screws. Attach a small funnel to the fuel line and poor some fuel system cleaner into the funnel to fill the bowls with cleaner. With the airbox out of the way you should be able to fit the red plastic tube from a can of spray carb cleaner over where the jet protrudes into the venturi of the carb and spray cleaner down the jet to help clean it out.

This isn't a substitute for a proper cleaning, but may let fuel flow enough to start the bike.
« Last Edit: April 24, 2013, 02:10:18 PM by Bankerdanny »
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Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline Garystratos201

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2013, 02:20:45 PM »
Just taker the air box off and spray starter fluid into each of the carbs, after you do the steps tha BD listed........Gary
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banjoprat

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2013, 08:30:55 AM »
Thanks for your help. I will post some pics of the bike electric system... but for now this is the motorcycle

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2013, 08:14:49 PM »
LOL, good call Gary, I spent so much time thinking through the steps that I completely forgot the obvious quick check step of starter fluid (spray carb cleaner and flameable brake cleaner also will work)
"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline MoMo

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2013, 03:06:45 AM »
that is an aftermarket light and, yes, the wiring should be under the tank and on the left side of the 400f...Larry

Offline iron_worker

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Re: Help Needed :Restoring a Cb 400 F
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2013, 08:18:54 AM »
Wow. Just wow to that color scheme.

LOL

IW