Down under, an idiot and a 400F

Kanticoy said:
I'll hold on to the cam for ya man.

Can't tell you how appreciative I am!

Looks like getting it fixed might be an option, spoke to someone this morning who does this sort of thing regularly. Looking at welding and regrinfing surface or installing a cam journal.

Fingers crossed its not too expensive!
 
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More done today. Went down to my local sheet metal supplier at lunch and bought some 1mm sheeting, a bargain I thought at only $15.

Finished work at 5 and thought I would get some grinder action happening, cut out some sections after working a template out of artboard (cardboard):

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Took a fair bit of finessing the tank and also the panels but in the end got them 90% there, just a bit more fine edge work to make them fit perfectly:

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Now I've got to learn how to weld!!!

I've got some fabrication work to do underneath too as the shape of the cut outs has meant the bottom of the new sections at the back don't join the tank, going to work some L shaped sections so that its fully braced and also double thickness at the back of the cutouts.
 
Tank's looking cool Neevo.

Word of advice from someone who's been there done that and had the fuel leaks.
Get a PRO to weld your tank ! Not the thing to learn on really. ;)

You've done all the creative part - no foul in letting someone else weld it !

And yes I DID weld a tank I'd built, finished it off, nice coat of paint - ooops 4 pin holes as soon as I put petrol in it - start all over. ::) Needless to say, I'm no loss to the World of welding.
 
No problem beachcomber, was looking at having some help with that one. Do I need an actual tank welder or do you mean someone that's good at welding?
 
neevo said:
No problem beachcomber, was looking at having some help with that one. Do I need an actual tank welder or do you mean someone that's good at welding?

All welders are (or at least these days in aus they are) trained to a national standard in aus, they should all know how to weld your tank just find someone who can do a tig weld neatly, if they or their shop don't wish to weld tanks or flammables they should at least be able to refer you to one, at Least by getting a tradesman to weld it up you can guarantee it's function and of it leaks take it back no loss...

What's your location mate I'm studying welding at the moment and I know a few good tradesman!
 
Neevo,

any good welder will tackle the job. Just need as neat a weld as they can and then finish off by knocking the welds back to the surface and then finish off in normal way with filler.

A pro will pressure test the tank after - cheap way out is to seal appertures with tape and immerse in tank of water - then hope you don't see any air bubbles !

Just any good welder will do - don't go to a "tank welding specialist" - as soon as you mention "specialist", the price doubles !
 
Sorry Neevo I'm of no assistance I'm all the way up in northern nsw, just find any welder but remember, you will always pay for what you get! (and if u don't there is fair trading haha)
 
No problem, thanks anyway Ryan.

There should be plenty around my way that can do it.
 
Took the oil restrictors out of the head and the seals fell apart. Where can I get replacements?
 
Actually are these the parts?

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB400F-SUPER-SPORT-FOUR/part_51274/
 
neevo said:
Actually are these the parts?

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB400F-SUPER-SPORT-FOUR/part_51274/

Yeah, but you should be looking on ebay for a gasket set. You're going to need one anyway. Those are included (at least in the set I bought??)

Oh, I should qualify that first statement. The two feeders have different sized o-rings if I remember correctly??

cheers
ian
 
Yeah man, better get this one to be safe.

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB400F-SUPER-SPORT-FOUR/part_28474/

It does have those gaskets.
 
Hahaha! I'm just a sucker for a man that loves a 400f. They are and have always been my favorite bike. Takes a special fella to love them enough to bring them back from the dead. And no problem Neevo.

BTW, I love the tank. Never saw one done up like that but I definitely dig it!
 
Kanticoy said:
Hahaha! I'm just a sucker for a man that loves a 400f. They are and have always been my favorite bike. Takes a special fella to love them enough to bring them back from the dead. And no problem Neevo.

BTW, I love the tank. Never saw one done up like that but I definitely dig it!

I have to say its mostly from ignorance that I am where I am. The 400F was just the prettiest bike I saw, especially with the straight headers, and for my cafe project I needed a bike with a straight rear frame. Read a bit on the intermernets and worked out that the CB was a classic and lo and behold a train wreck of a 400F Super Sport turned up in my price bracket (bugger all). I liked the fact it was in an aweful state too, really makes the end result even more special.

Just jumping in head first with the build and not really thinking about how hard things are, just having a go. Loved the looks of the Benjie tanks with the big scoops but couldn't afford one, so needs must and I got the grinder out. I think its turning out really well. Waiting for the big roadblocks to rear their heads.
 
Slowly running out of things that don't cost money so I might be coming to a brick wall soon. Have decided I am going to get the frame fixed first (new rear frame section, repair tube where side stand goes and fit rear hoop). Will then get the bike rolling with new rims and spokes before getting the motor fixed and buttoned up.

Decided to cut more out if the bike this evening:

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The rear was tweaked where the forklift had hit it. This is the base of the backbone:

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This is near the rear frame brace:

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Struggled to bend the frame even after some blowtorch and hammer action, so I thought laterally and went and nicked the wife's car jack out of her car:

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Overextended the frame and it bounced back pretty damn straight:

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Still need to tweak the section after the shock mount, but it's much better:

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Might have to fashion some sort of jig to straighten out the sections round the shock mount.

Also had a crack at getting some paint stripper on the tank, unfortunately it made the black on top go all gloopy and barely touched the multiple layers underneath. I think I need some better stuff:

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Lastly wanted to keep the rear mudguard holder off the damaged frame section so I can weld it back on and know its the same as the other side:

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Need to get it in a vice to get it nice and straight again:

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Measured the tube that I cut off, looks about 2mm, anyone know what gauge this is? I have a local engineering co quoting the hoop and frame sections and would prefer like for like. Also anyone know what steel it is? Mild? Chrome moly?

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Great work Neevo - Wife's car jack - you just found a low tech Portapower !!!!!

Re: tank paint. As you are going to have to skim most of it with filler to get the shape back / you want and lose the inevitable rippling caused by welding [ however slight ], why not just hit it with a DA sander? I HATE using those chemical jobies and by the time I've paid £10 for the gloop + all the aggro - I'd rather pay someone £15 to blast it all off !

I here what you're saying about finaces - exactly my position. Stuff only gets bought when I've released some cash from selling unwanted parts. Can be really frustrating and slow the project down [ I have THREE ] - but you'll get there and with greater satisfaction than some high roller who pulls a wad out of his pocket and says "build me a bike".

Now if only I hadn't sold my 400F .......................................
 
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