tomsljr
Been Around the Block
Hello all. I am a returning member, gone for some time but now back as I start another project. I am building a a 1979 CB400T as a tracker-ish sort of thing for my brother. He purchased this bike a little while back for $400, under the condition that he also take the CM400 that the seller also had. The CB was running (poorly) and the CM is pretty much a goner. It will be used to scavenge the odd part from.
Good things about the bike:
Clean tank. Very clean in fact.
It is running. Poorly. More on this later.
The wiring harness has not been chopped into, and all electric bits are working as they are supposed to.
Very little rust on the frame, or anywhere else for that matter.
Things that are of concern:
There is some sort of poorly done patch job done on the carbs near the cable loom. JB Weld or similar has been smeared all over the left carb. Not sure what it is there for yet.
The bike is running incredibly lean. This is to be expected, as the air box is gone and there is no restriction at all on the intake side.
The throttle seems to be totally knackered. Easily replaced.
Ignition caps are shot. Looking at replacing coil, cables and caps.
The crappy broke-back pressed steel frame of the CB400t.
Things that are going to happen:
Seat pan is going to be narrowed and reshaped to follow the frame shape. My brother has an industrial quality sewing shop, so expect something extraordinary in the upholstery department.
The usual relocation of electrics to an under seat box. A lithium battery will be fitted, as well as an updated fuse box, flasher relay and possibly the RR as well.
Daytona style bars.
Slightly longer shocks.
PC'd frame, swinger, and various other bits.
Mucho polishing, painting and general pimping-out.
I hope to have this wrapped up fairly quickly so my brother can be on the bike by spring.
I have trolled a bunch of builds in this section in the last week preparing for this project. There are some really inspiring things going on here. I look forward to your input as things progress. And I promise a lot of pictures!
For now just this one, the bike as it was as I picked it up yesterday:
Good things about the bike:
Clean tank. Very clean in fact.
It is running. Poorly. More on this later.
The wiring harness has not been chopped into, and all electric bits are working as they are supposed to.
Very little rust on the frame, or anywhere else for that matter.
Things that are of concern:
There is some sort of poorly done patch job done on the carbs near the cable loom. JB Weld or similar has been smeared all over the left carb. Not sure what it is there for yet.
The bike is running incredibly lean. This is to be expected, as the air box is gone and there is no restriction at all on the intake side.
The throttle seems to be totally knackered. Easily replaced.
Ignition caps are shot. Looking at replacing coil, cables and caps.
The crappy broke-back pressed steel frame of the CB400t.
Things that are going to happen:
Seat pan is going to be narrowed and reshaped to follow the frame shape. My brother has an industrial quality sewing shop, so expect something extraordinary in the upholstery department.
The usual relocation of electrics to an under seat box. A lithium battery will be fitted, as well as an updated fuse box, flasher relay and possibly the RR as well.
Daytona style bars.
Slightly longer shocks.
PC'd frame, swinger, and various other bits.
Mucho polishing, painting and general pimping-out.
I hope to have this wrapped up fairly quickly so my brother can be on the bike by spring.
I have trolled a bunch of builds in this section in the last week preparing for this project. There are some really inspiring things going on here. I look forward to your input as things progress. And I promise a lot of pictures!
For now just this one, the bike as it was as I picked it up yesterday: