CB400TII "Bruce Campbell"

[NvgtrWiggles]

So I guess I've been registered here for 3 years and haven't posted a build yet. I bought this bike about the same time. It had some kinks when I first got it (leaked a bit and idled horribly.) It's a '78 CB400TII that started off almost 100% stock save for some superbike bars and a missing centerstand. I got it with the intention of turning it into a cafe racer, but never got around to it till recently.

The bike's been through a lot. It suffered a pretty spectacular failure last fall when I blew a piston. When I went to check out the bike's guts I found that the CDI was caput and the woodruff key on the stator was sheered. Spent the winter slowly rebuilding the engine in my room (bedrooms are like garages but warmer and carpeted.)

Along the way I picked up parts on flea-bay to slowly convert the bike to a cafe. I've got some Vortex clip-ons, a brake cylinder from a VTR1000 because the stock one interfered with the clip-on brackets, a Napoleon mirror because the old ones shook out of tolerance on a trip to Lake Mowich, and some other goodies like turn signals and new grips.

Anyways, I just finished laying up a new tail and I'll be building some new brackets to lower the exhaust an inch or so to fit rearsets.

Here's how Bruce sort of began:

and here's how he sits right now:

 

[Maritime]

Nice work so far, was it the right piston?? That is the one I blew, and my cousin blew, and 2-3 other members here have blown on these 400 motors. They are lean from the factory from emmissions and anything in the carbs to plug a jet etc. can cause you that grief. I ended up swapping in the later 450 motor and ran it just slightly rich and never had another issue with lots of 8-10 hour days at full throttle. Going to look good when you finish, the seat flows pretty good with the tank.

Cheers,

Maritime

 

[NvgtrWiggles]

Nice work so far, was it the right piston?? That is the one I blew, and my cousin blew, and 2-3 other members here have blown on these 400 motors. They are lean from the factory from emmissions and anything in the carbs to plug a jet etc. can cause you that grief. I ended up swapping in the later 450 motor and ran it just slightly rich and never had another issue with lots of 8-10 hour days at full throttle. Going to look good when you finish, the seat flows pretty good with the tank.

Cheers,

Maritime

Yaaawp. It was the right piston. I've read about the whole right piston/carb issue. I'm fairly certain mine was a timing issue caused by a wonky CDI. A new box and the bike ran perfectly. I considered the upgrade to the 450, but that would've meant losing the kickstart and I already had all the bits and bobbins to do a top end rebuild. Had the Great Seymour of Jolly Rogers fame hone the cylinders for me. Awesome guy. Called my bike a super zipper and regaled me with stories about his old 125.

I'm pretty happy with the tank, but in retrospect I wish I had been more patient and made it an inch shorter before doing the layup.

 

[JustinLonghorn]

If Chins Could Kill!

 

[hallin222]

new project name..... Project: BoomStick!


"shop smart. Shop S-mart."

 

[NvgtrWiggles]

Ha! Yeah, the bike's named Bruce because it's gone through a lot of rough stuff and I love Army of Darkness. Now I should figure out how to attach chainsaws to it...