ugly duckling CM400T build - Calling it finished

[hallin222]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

What size tyres are you running on the front & rear...id the front week 18" or 19" ?

The front is the stock 18" from the 1980 CM400T, but the rear gor swapped a while back, as you can see in previous pages, to an 18" off the Hawk model 400, which replaced the 16" rear seen way back on page 1. I'll let fresh_c tell you exactly what widths he's using, but I think the front is a 100 or 110 and the rear is a 120. Whatever they are, they look great.

 

[drduke]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Agreed they do look great, I think I will replace
my 19" front to a 18" to match the rear, altogether
a better overall appearance.

 

[fresh_c]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Thank you for the compliments. I'm running 18s front and rear, for now. As hallin said, the front is the stock wheel and has a 100/90 tire in the front. The rear is from a CB model and is a 120/90 tire. They wheels are not an exact match, and it kinda bugs me, although I'm sure most people wouldn't even notice. I have a 19"/18" combo from a CB400 donor bike that I'll be switching to sooner or later.

 

[fresh_c]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

I demand updates!

I bought some longer, pretty, blacked out shocks a few months ago, but they were too long. Recently I purchased a swingarm off a 80 something NightHawk since it looked to be a bit longer and I heard it would work with my wheels. Anyway, I ended up with a 1" stretch and I could almost use the new shocks. With help from hallin, we compressed the new shocks and cut down the coils. I needed to reassemble the shocks solo and since necessity is the mother of invention, I came up with this little jig. Ok, I might be the 1,000th person to build this exact same setup, but it works and it only cost $2.50 in all thread from bLowe's. Looks better and should ride much better.

New and old.

On the bike.

 

[rattpunk]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Nice!

 

[NvgtrWiggles]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Nice idea with the shocks and swingarm. Might have to do that on my Hawk down the line.

 

[hallin222]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Did you photo document the spring cutting and top-cap leveling technique, since we had to learn the hard way?

 

[fresh_c]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

I didn't get photos, and I put the second shock assembly together this morning.

To anyone interested, the coils have to be to level or the little top caps won't be level. Haillin and I didn't realize this until we put the first shock back together, by hand. What I did was grind the coil as flat as possible and weld on some spring back on to even everything out. Then I painted everything to prevent rust.

I was also having problems with my starter over the past few weeks. It would work sometimes, but other times I needed to bump-start the bike before the starter would work. I pulled the starter off the motor, cleaned to guts with electronics cleaner, and used a little 400 grit on the contacts. Bike turns over perfect every time now. No photos of this either, but it is detailed very nicely in the factory shop manual.

 

[onetruepunk87]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Did the same thing with my starter and also had to solder the main starter connection point back in place, turns over on the first try every time now.

 

[byrdo444]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Hey you wanna sell your old shocks??

 

[fresh_c]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Hey you wanna sell your old shocks??

Sure, shoot me an offer via PM.

 

[hallin222]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

I was promised images of homemade rearsets today. What gives?

 

[fresh_c]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

I was promised images of homemade rearsets today. What gives?

College football and watching my nephew got the in way. Here are some teasers with more to come I promise. I still need foot and toe pegs, and the linkages need some work but you can get the idea.
Shift side rear sets. Transplanted CB400T peg mounts, homemade reversed direction shifter arm but with linkage to have standard shifting.

Brake side with reversed direction shifter arm and linkages. The brake rod hasn't been shortened enough, but I'll knock that out soon enough.

 

[hallin222]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

I like that the brake and shift arms appear both to have the same pivot point placement. It adds a level of tidy symmetry to both sides of the bike.

 

[Tattooguy]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Just read your whole thread! Excited to here updates. I love the rear wheel swap and if you change, sell me your rear? Im also wondering if I should get Mikuni vm30s or stick with what I have for now and get pods? Let me know how yours worked out?

 

[fresh_c]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Just read your whole thread! Excited to here updates. I love the rear wheel swap and if you change, sell me your rear? Im also wondering if I should get Mikuni vm30s or stick with what I have for now and get pods? Let me know how yours worked out?

I'll get some updates sooner or later. I'm waiting on pegs right now so not a whole lot going on.

As far as the stock carbs go, they suck. They suck big time. And with pod filters on there, the bike won't hardly run. With pods, I was able to get the bike to run good down low, but it would die out above 6k. I wanted to go with pods because they would open the rear triangle of the frame and would allow for a little more power. Wrong. All I got was an open frame and shit for power. Either keep your stock air box or upgrade the carbs. Don't try messing around with putting shims inside the pods unless you are going after a certain look and don't care at all about performance. There is a reason so many folks are against pods on the stock carbs. I've only got a couple rides with the Mikunis, but I can tell you there is a night and day difference. Once I get pegs installed, I'll be able to go for a ride and continue tuning.

 

[Frankenfe]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Wow...where have I been...oh I know out in the garage. No seriously I need to check all my spam settings and notification settings on the DTT forum, I seem to have missed a lot of bikes and progress. Yours in particular has been impressive since your April start, keep up the passion and the good work.

I have flashbacks seeing you go through a lot of the same issues I dealt with on my CM Build. As you know by now these ain't no CB350. There aren't formulas to follow, and off the shelf parts hahaha ha ha. The frame lines in particular are a real challenge if you want the flat line of a cafe'. I think your solution with the mesh filler was brilliant ...simple and nice. The adaptation the the tail section worked out nice. (What is the current plan for the tail light?)

It is a shame how many CM/CB400T builds I have followed that played out or died in the garage. I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that so many are started by first time builders (Like you and I) because the CB purists turn their nose up to these bikes. I guess Like the DOHC4's CB750 owners may be snubbed by SOHC4 CB750 purists. (I should talk ....I now prefer only the 1969 - 1976 SOHC4's..but I digress)

Many of us "Newbies" have the dream but not the funds or skills to realize it and end up taking on more than they can. Many are not thought out and start on all the "Cool stuff" before ever seeing if it will run. Some frankly, dare I say it ... shouldn't be let near a wrench and a rattle can.have the right to say this as the author of "So you bought a CM/CB400....Now What...Over 50 Build links" Linked Here http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=26184.0

Just don't let this bike thing become an addiction ..lol.. What started as a "It would be fun to build a little cafe bike" has turned into an old Honda addiction (Now with emphasis on the various SOHC4's) here is a little peak into my garage currently with 7 bikes. Link Here http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113041.0

If you follow suggestion above it won't take you 3 years 6 months and 14 days from the day you brought that Ugly Duckling home like mine has to look like below. My Build Thread http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=20018.0

Keep up the great work I like the more modern version your going with. Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[longhorn717]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

UPDATES needed!!!

....to keep everyone entertained while we wait for the OP to post up again, here's a funny pic of me on this bike, which shows that if you're 6'3", and 220+ lbs, you shouldn't ride a small bike. Luckily, the owner is more appropriately framed for this bike.

LMAO. I'm 6'1" and 260lbs and love my bike but don't think I'll be doing the ton on it anytime soon.

 

[longhorn717]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Can't wait to get mine going either. Going to do the GM coil mod. but I was thinking about mounting it in the back under the seat along with the cdi box and the rest of the electrical and battery. Would the extra few inches of spark plug wire make a big difference?

 

[fresh_c]

Re: ugly duckling CM400T build

Can't wait to get mine going either. Going to do the GM coil mod. but I was thinking about mounting it in the back under the seat along with the cdi box and the rest of the electrical and battery. Would the extra few inches of spark plug wire make a big difference?

Theoretically, you want as short of wires as possible to reduce the resistance, but I think you'll be ok back there. I guess there could be issues with interference from the other electrical components with the plug wires, but I'm not positive. With the 400f tank, the coil fits perfect just below the stock location, but I could see it as an issue with the stock tank. Then again, I think the coil looks pretty cool sticking out in the open.