First time cb400 Project

[sxecafe]

Ok So here are the pics. Sorry I had a very busy few weeks getting ready for a show. In any event....

Bare Frame:

Box 'o shit:

Engine out:

Exhaust and stuff:

Preping for paint:

Painted Frame:

Swing Arm:

Some other parts like collectors etc.:

My Girl got to work (and did a great job actually):

High Temp (and my ladies summer stick):

Getting back together:

From the back and a little more clean up like the shocks and stuff. My best friend was a four inch wire wheel labor day weekend:

New rubber for the front. I purchased both but the rear is backordered and they only sent the front... weird huh?:

I got my gasket sets in this week. I still have to pull the valves and clean them up some while the top end is off and then the engine goes back together. Then I wire it back up and paint the seat... which ill post in a seperate seat build post. BONDA GLASS RULES!

Thanks for looking and let me know what you think.

-sxe

 

[ericngsta]

looks like its coming along. what kind of seat are you going to put on it, I'm trying to figure myself, thinking about fabricating a fiberglass seat. any idea on what other seats fit well on the 400t?

 

[sxecafe]

looks like its coming along. what kind of seat are you going to put on it, I'm trying to figure myself, thinking about fabricating a fiberglass seat. any idea on what other seats fit well on the 400t?

Thanks. I have shaved off like 3" off the stocker and re-wrapped it to make a two up for me and the lady. That turned out ok. I have also begun work on a cafe seat that I started off a 400t seat pan and traced the tank lines to make a stencil for the foam. Them I whipped up some bondo glass and let that shit settle in. I have to sand and bondo next. When its done Ill post up a thread but from what I can tell I think it looks pretty cool having the seat match the tank lines. I dont really know what other seats fit on our sleds but I would like to hear about some.

 

[aaandht]

Electrical is still f-ed up. Just got the official Honda service manual. Maybe I can make some sense of this crap. Right now its starting to look like the stator, hope it isn't though.

 

[ericngsta]

I've been riding the crap out of my bike, mostly waiting for parts to come in. Can anyone give me the measurement of the carb's air intake side? I need to know what size air filters I need to order. Thanks!

 

[JRK5892]

dude what is the big deal if it is the stator... you can get aftermarket ones for like 25 bucks that are just awesome... check out ebay a few guys make them...

 

[aaandht]

dude what is the big deal if it is the stator... you can get aftermarket ones for like 25 bucks that are just awesome... check out ebay a few guys make them...

Only ones I found were OEM style. Used were about $50, new were around $200.

 

[sxecafe]

I've been riding the crap out of my bike, mostly waiting for parts to come in. Can anyone give me the measurement of the carb's air intake side? I need to know what size air filters I need to order. Thanks!

Lucky you man. I wish I was riding. maybe this weekend she will come back to life. I have all the gaskets and bullshit that came in. So now I just have to put it back together.

Are you talking about the pod size? I got 53mm and they fit real nice... and the ones I found were only like 9 bucks a piece.

 

[sxecafe]

Re: First time cb400 Project LIVES AGAIN!!!

My Shit is alive, son!!!! Started ‘er up late Sunday night after doing some lame wiring to get the spark going. It was a rough adjustment period because I forgot I had to set the timing but after I did she purrrrrrs like a kitten (even though I don’t like cats). It was as if someone had release the intense choke hold allowing the engine to breathe and stop making so much noise. It sounds and feels better than when I first got it home. I have to put the wiring harness back on properly and hook it up to the new battery, and put gas in the new tank and then hopefully put the new tires on and adjust a few more things however I have a question:

With air pod filters on a twin, how far do you have to richen the mixture (i.e. how many turns of the needle) to compensate for the new higher air flow?

 

[philos1]

With pods, you'll likely need to re-jet or raise the needle with a shim.

congrats on getting it going again!

 

[Canuck Plumber]

So, if you get a chance, could you post a bit on where you found your electrical prob? I'm going to try and get on it this weekend. Some advice would be appreciated. So close.... so very close.....

 

[Canuck Plumber]

hellloooooooo......

 

[aaandht]

Sorry haven't been on much.

Basically its down to either the CDI or the Stator. I got the official Honda manual, did some continuity tests, the CDI had a few readings that seemed quite off. But we weren't using the volt meter that Honda recommends, and they even said bench tests aren't completely accurate(which is why newer manuals tell you to just do the replace approach). The stator seemed fine, but again these tests apparently aren't completely accurate.



I found a CDI on Ebay, with a little luck, I'll win it, and go from there.

 

[aaandht]

New CDI in and she runs!


And of course something had to go wrong, pouring gas back in the tank, I spill it on my paint. Oh well, it was only the first coat, this weekend I'll fix it, get some clear coat on after it too.

 

[sxecafe]

New CDI in and she runs!


And of course something had to go wrong, pouring gas back in the tank, I spill it on my paint. Oh well, it was only the first coat, this weekend I'll fix it, get some clear coat on after it too.

Awesome Dude! Congrats!

Got My tires last night and she rolls! I just have to replace fuses, put gas in the tank, bleed the front brake cause like an idiot I accidently hit the brake handle closing the pads up and FIRE IT UP!!!!
I have some good quality pics as well but they are on Pops camera. I'll put later tonight.

 

[ericngsta]

congrats man, cant wait to see the pictures, I have pictures of my 2up setup on show and shine, working on mounting/painting my fglass seat.

 

[sxecafe]

cool picks, bro. I shall return with some updated compilations of 1's and 0's

 

[sxecafe]

Re: First time cb400 Project SHE'S ALIVE!!!

Well sorta...
I dont get it. I fired up the beast tonight when I got home. It was running pretty well drove it down the street a few times and thought "Hmm not bad. Maybe around the block". Got her around the block a few times and ran out of gas so I got some more. Then I was pulling around my neighborhood and this thing was running pretty strong. Has a nice throaty sound to it and the pods make it sound super cool. I couldnt really hear it that well before the rebuild b/c the engine was so loud due to the needed timing adjustment. So then I pull it back in front of the house to let it cool down and stop the paint smoke before I put it back in the garage and wouldnt you know it but the f'ing carb is still leaking after all this time. I should have known to hang it up after that as the little drip of gas kept laughing at me but no... I tried to fire it up again. Now what do I get...? Oh yea it doesnt fire well now. I got it to turn over but only with my hand pulling at 3/4 throttle the whole time and it barely made like 1500 rpms. WHAT GIVES!?!?! I really dont have the experience to say whats wrong here. It was running so well not even 5 minutes before and now I just get it to turn over.... Fuck this shit is getting tiring. If ANYONE has and suggestions please throw them my way.

sXe.

 

[philos1]

sounds like it could potentially be a sticking float in one of the carbs. Did you re-jet the carbs with the pods? Are the plugs fouled? It may be a combo of things. Best bet is to check for:

1 - spark

2 - air

3 - fuel


hope that helps some.

 

[colpumpkinnuts]

I had a similiar problem with my cm400. Check the floats to see if they are sticking, it could be rubbing up against a piece of the float bowl gasket. Also check the float valves, both the rubber piece and the piece that it fits into. I had bits of a corroded fuel line getting into carbs and those little pieces kept the float valves from closing.