1981 cb400t wanting a kick start.

[Yamatech]

What if any kickstart motors swap for mine and bolt right up to the cb400t frame. The cm400s look similar but not sure what works.

 

[crazypj]

Pull clutch cover, crankcase is probably machined for one.
You may only need a clutch cover with kickstart hole/oil seal

 

[taggat]

pretty sure the cm 400 t's and a' and cb 400's were all the same motors practically, even engine mounting wise from 77-82, only real difference was the rear tail section oreintations on the rear hoops, cb being flater and the cm being curve up for the tourer look. I bet the cb 450 is the same. there was a difference of single down tube in the front vs. two but I cant remember which to what.

 

[crazypj]

Never saw a 400T with twin downtubes?
The later CB350T had a 'trellis' style frame, maybe that's what your thinking of?

 

[kicker]

I used a XL250S kickstart mechanism in an FT500 engine, so Honda do like reusing parts in similar engines, crankcase was ready to go, I just needed a mechanism, lever and seal.
No really much help to you but good luck!

 

[Gissmo50]

Re: Re: 1981 cb400t wanting a kick start.

The cm and cb are almost identical engines only difference is the cb uses a 6 speed box and the cm uses a 5 speed you can fit the kick start from the 1979 cb250/400 but you need the whole mechanism and the clutch cover it also involves splitting the cases, I've don't this myself I went from a cb400 engine to a cm400 engine and then fitted a kickstart.

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[crazypj]

Cool, I thought the cases on later ones were machined, problem is, I haven't worked on one in a dealers since 1980 ;D
Probably cheaper to let the robot do it's thing than stop the production line to remove that station?

 

[Gissmo50]

Yeh the only station they took out was the clutch case being machined on the out side its still had the holes on the inside of it if you had the tools you could machine out the kick shaft seal and hole from the front nd you wouldn't need to find the clutch cover.

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[crazypj]

Well, it's real good to know you've done it, did you have any issues with re-setting the balancer chain timing? (it aint oing to be so easy for someone with limited mechanical experience and aftermarket manual)

 

[Gissmo50]

You don't have to touch the balance chain at all, to split the Cass yo have to remove the flywheel and stator, the oil pump chain and the clutch hardest part for me was removing the clutch needs a special tool but you can make one from a socket. Inc those are off you turn the engine over and undo the retaining bolts for the cases and split them all the mechanicals are held in the top case its only one gear box shaft that loose, I'm not the worlds best mech but I managed it with a Haynes in an afternoon. I would use the diagrams on www.cmsnl.com to give you an idea of what parts you need to find for it to work.

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[crazypj]

I forgot the crank will hold it 'in time' as long as nothing is lifted out
the tensioner quadrant (#13) needs re-setting before refitting clutch cover, they are never right from factory

 

[Yamatech]

thanks for the help guys, Ive done a top end rebuild on my cb but never ventured further as it ran fine. I hear a lot of people talking about the balancer and timing in these things, they act like its a pain. Was curious what the pain was? Im not in love with this motor anyways so I doubt i"ll be doing anything with them but its good to know in case of a rebuild.