Just what i need- another bike! CB400F

Big R

Big R

Heaven is so far away.
So this is going to be a long term build. And for those of you following by other bikes, this one is gonna be REALLY long term. No plans on getting it road worthy this season or probably next. So here's the story so far: I was actually keeping an eye out for 400's for somebody else when a local DTT member responded to my craigslist ad. Titled, 16,000 miles, needs tlc for $400. After our friendly 400f collector turned down the offer, I decided I had to have it. Here's what she looked like before I picked it up:

1304040455.jpg


And within 30 minutes or so:
1304040464.jpg
 
I think we need an intervention here brother. I'm gonna have to take a couple of bikes off your hands, for your own good, of course. Just because I care... :)
 
Hey Rich, you Jammy Git! Looks like all the important bits are there and good tyres to boot :)
Are you going to run the engine up before you tear it down?
 
Oh no......there is a gawd awful death rattle coming from in there. But I will get back to that soon......after some more pics.

Box o parts:
2011-04-25_17-12-49_675.jpg


The first pic has the 77 tank mounted. Here is the 75 tank:
1304040402.jpg


And the minty fresh stock seat:
1303889822.jpg
 
Hahaha Crescent! How many times is that now that you've offered to help? Love it man, love it.

Glenn: I'm not 100% sure of the plans yet. Originally I was gonna go full vintage fairing, fiberglass tank and seat, etc, etc. But the stock bike is just gorgeous to begin with.

First things first, the motor needs rebuilt. Actually, I have 2 Suzukis to finish, then I'll really start on this. In the meantime I want to assess the damage......
 
Ok, back to the death rattle. First thing I checked was the tappets since it was ticking near the top end. Compression was low across the board- any where from 90 to 110 psi. After the tappets were adjusted (extremely tight) the numbers jumped up to around 130 (except #2 which went from 90 to 115). And the rattle was still there. Messed with the cam chain tensioner per the manual......no change. Time to open her up.

Rockers look great (I'll get into this later though)
1303955609.jpg


Everything looks good under here too:
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Leak test on the valves (#1 on the left, #2 on the right). So that explains low compression.
1304062338.jpg


Turns out the cam chain guide wasn't installed AND the tensioner isn't doing it's job either. Absolutely no tension on the chain was causing it to flail about making that dammed rattle. No real damage other than some nicks around the area. But that's where I'm at now.
 
Ya know, I actually saw that while surfing ebay. I'm curious as to why it's so inexpensive. Don't big bore kits normally go for a lot more?

Glenn, have you seen this guys page? All sorts of go fast/look great parts.
http://www.ttr400.com/photo3_2.html
 
Big Rich said:
Hahaha Crescent! How many times is that now that you've offered to help? Love it man, love it.
Click to expand...

I'm just that dependable kind of friend, always there when needed. Although I do like the idea of the overbore, and I have a soft spot for the cb400's, especially that purty little F there. I have a 78 400t tank lying around if needed too.

Shit, now I'm an enabler... ::)
 
The first step is admitting you have a problem.... Great find, I love CB400f's and have a quick rebuild coming up next month.
 
Nice Rich. Getting quite the stable of rides now. I am under the philosophy you need a bike for all your different moods and needs. A fast one, comfy 2-up. off road, dual sport, classic etc. ;D too hard to make one bike fit all those needs, so just makes sense to me to keep collecting. I have 4 now if you count the little off roaders...... Just tell me one thing, how do you keep your wife from getting mad everytime you bring a new one home? If I so much as think about another one she is right there telling me no way :'(
 
I told her I need to redeem my manliness since she got a pink scooter......

Kidding. I lie. But they are short term lies. I'll sell one of the GR's for a good profit so that will make her happy.
 
Well Rich, you already know how I feel about this purchase, and the fact that it get one more Suzuki out of the DTT PA West garage just makes it better. Hahahahahaha! All kidding aside, Im really stoked for ya. Im right up the road (kinda) so hit me up if you need anything. And you may need that big bore kit to keep up with the R5 when its done (sometime in the next decade). ;)
 
Dont worry Rich, I'll buy another zook to keep us in balance. Looking for a gs400 twin, should of never let mine go.

I'll get my 500/4 out of its cradle and we can build em together and get the honda bug out of our system. ;-) lol.
 
You guys are the best support group ever......but back to business. I forgot this earlier: the compression on #4 stayed the same at 110psi after doing the tappets. I took the cylinders into work last night to get the vintage gasket off and noticed this in #4:

1304166662.jpg


See the tiny scratch? You guessed it, busted ring (good call Mike- you jinxed me!)

1304166675.jpg
 
I'm with Maritime. That's a decent enough excuse to go big bore.
 
Wow cool. I wanna build a 400/4 for my next step up :) how much of a difference is a bike like this going to perform against a 71 cb350 such as mine? and are the 400/4s capable of interstate cruising easily? i know the cb350 doesn't like the interstate very well.
 
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