Topic: Hello from not so sunny England

[leet20]

Hello fellow owners,

I have purchased a 1976 CB 400/4 with the aim of either restoring to what it was or going down the cafe racer route.
The Ace Cafe has a 75th anniversary this Sunday at Brooklands which I will try to squeeze in if possible to get some inspiration.
I have turned my hand to a restoration in the past starting on a cheeky little 2 stroke twin shocker and having enjoyed the build thought I'd give the 4 stroke scene a visit.
My CB400 was actually in a pretty good state but if a jobs worth doing and all that.........  I have stripped the bike, I have had the crankcases aqua blasted by an excellent chap in the Kent area (TSR Vapour Blasting). The frame is ready for powder coating, hopefully this weekend. All I need to do is begin my PhD in main bearing selection with no sign of any colours or numbers and having had the shells fall out on disassembly. Photos to follow..............

[vfourfreak]

Welcome to the forum ! All the knowledge you need is available here ! Nice choice , the '76 CB400 was my first brand new bike.

Kev

[leet20]

Thanks, I think I'm going to need all the help I can get.
I must say though that this website and forum are an invaluable resource to have available. I find youtube is also extremely helpful in some cases but am surprised no one has taken the time to video document a CB400 engine rebuild from bottom up, although there are good video's available for the 500 and 750's. I will attempt to video my progress in the hope that it will help others by watching my bodging around, more of a "how not to do it" instructural effort.

[SteveD CB500F]

Join us at www.sohc.co.uk and use the same details so that we recognise you.

There are a few owners in W Kent (Sidcup/Maidstone etc) area.

Steve

[tool14]

welcome aboard

[RAFster122s]

Welcome to SOHC/4 haven/refuge...

[leet20]

Hi,
Not sure if this has been found by other members yet but a chap on youtube is videoing his CB350 build, his intention is to make a cafe racer buts it would be very interesting veiwing for anyone starting out.

Cafe Racer Build Project Part 1 : 1973 Honda CB350F / CB350 : Removing Seat & Tank

[leet20]

This is my CB400 after I had picked it up.

[leet20]

Partial strip down.

[leet20]

As you can see it wasn't looking overly healthy once the head was off but then again Rome wasn't built in a day so onwards.

[leet20]

Cylinders weren't too shabby though

[leet20]

Piston, needs a good clean up but underneath I dont think they are too bad

[leet20]

Filth

[leet20]

Crankcases after vapour blasting. As you can see after a good clean up they look like they did when the came out of the factory. This was the easy bit, now I need to start putting it back together, not so easy.