CB400f Shock Disassembly

o1marc

Over 1,000 Posts
So I'm taking apart my shocks to clean up and powder coat. In order to get the lower spring retainer off the top the eye must be removed. Is the nut in the picture just a jam nut against the eye or is it part of the eye and comes off with the eye and nut as a unit?

 
Nut is separate from the eye, the eye slips onto the frame over a threaded post. Basically just a nut and washer to keep the shocks in place.
 
timeconsuming said:
Nut is separate from the eye, the eye slips onto the frame over a threaded post. Basically just a nut and washer to keep the shocks in place.

I'm talking about the nut under the shock eye on the shaft. I'm not that stupid, DUH. Weren't you wondering how I got the springs off without having removed the nut holding the shock to the frame?
 
it should just be a jam nut that locks the shock shaft to the eye...use some heat, it was probably assembled with locktite from the factory...
 
VonYinzer said:
Don't be an asshole. The phrasing in your question was somewhat vague and the guy was trying to help you.
His reply made me sound like a fucking idiot. The nut holding the shock on the shaft is not a jam nut but a crown nut. It's obvious that the spring has been removed and the nut he was referring to was already removed. I was not being an asshole in my reply, only trying to clarify. No one else thought I meant the crown nut. I appreciate the fact he was trying to help , but it was no help at all.
I loosened the jam nut till it tightened on the shaft. I removed the rubber bushing from the hole and while holding the jam nut with a wrench used a piece of pipe in the eye hole and popped it loose, no heat required (amazingly enough).
 
Its clear that your a smart guy. my only question is why are you working on such slow bikes. moto gp is missing one hell of a chance with you as a wrench
 
bradj said:
Its clear that your a smart guy. my only question is why are you working on such slow bikes. moto gp is missing one hell of a chance with you as a wrench
What do you mean "bikes". I am piddling with this while I wait for the motor to come back for my other "slow" bike, My 62 Sportster XR1327 LSR bike:


 
I was only concerned about the jam nut as I haven't taken one of these 4's apart before and as old and rusty and frozen up as it it is I didn't want to round off the jam nut trying to turn it the wrong way.
 
bradj said:
Wow Just when i thought it couldnt get worse you pulled the hd card. so you got two hyped up to be better than they are bikes, bravo! 13 hundred cc of pin ball machine and bowling pin parts. will the epa even let that thing on the salt with oil running outta ever gasket surface.
Not much left on this one that is H-D anymore. And it was long before they bought the bowling alley. Here's the killer, it weighs 50lbs less than the CB400, has 100+Hp. I made this one everything H-D should have done and made XR's for the street.
 
1300 cc for 100 plus hp. my friend has a banshee that is 350 cc and it dynos at 112 hp. so why do harleys need the extra 1000cc. I know of several rd's that are in the 70 ta 80hp range. i just dont get the attraction for a 2 hundred year old v twin design.
 
o1marc said:
Not much left on this one that is H-D anymore. And it was long before they bought the bowling alley. Here's the killer, it weighs 50lbs less than the CB400, has 100+Hp. I made this one everything H-D should have done and made XR's for the street.
they didnt buy the bowling alley they were bailed out by the bowling pin maker.
 
bradj said:
1300 cc for 100 plus hp. my friend has a banshee that is 350 cc and it dynos at 112 hp. so why do harleys need the extra 1000cc. I know of several rd's that are in the 70 ta 80hp range. i just dont get the attraction for a 2 hundred year old v twin design.
You are comparing apples to oranges. Who peed on your cornflakes this weekend? Your RD will never have the same resale value as mine will.
 
You shouldn't be knocking him. Getting 3x the stock HP out of a Harley Engine is an accomplishment.

Plus, with loud pipes, they seem so much faster too...
 
I've owned H1s and other 2 strokes and don't see the attraction to smokey bikes that were ill handling and could get you killed if you pushed them.
 
mydlyfkryzis said:
You shouldn't be knocking him. Getting 3x the stock HP out of a Harley Engine is an accomplishment.

Plus, with loud pipes, they seem so much faster too...
it's actually only 2x the stock HP, but thanks for the extra. My pipes can be regulated for sound, back pressure and HP.
 
I don't know how this thread got so out of hand and into a pissing match. I apologize for not making my first post clearer on which "jam" nut I was referring to and appreciate the first members reply to try and help. The shock assembly has been disassembled and there is no longer an issue. I apologize for my negative attitude. I had other issues on my mind this weekend with the loss of a 2 family pets.
 
Was looking at your build on the other site you use...I was wondering how you got so much power from a Harley Engine. Figured it out. You stayed away from Harley parts except the bottom end.

Nice work....Not knocking the build. But when you replace everything with aftermarket good stuff, is it really a Harley anymore....Maybe "Harley Based" .

That will be a very quick bike. Almost Ducati Like...low weight V-twin..

2x the Horsepower (a 1200 CC Sportster barely make 50HP at the rear wheels) and 1/3 the weight. That a typical hot rod formula for success.

You are right though, that is the bike Harley could of made, and it would of been competitive with many of the Japanese bikes. It was a shame that an 883 Sportster has trouble keeping up with a CB360. Had Harley taken the route you are going, they would of been a bike I consider.

The problem is, for the casual biker, the cost of making a Harley competitive is pretty extreme. The value in Harley is the heritage, not the performance. If you aren't into the Harley History, then Harley has little to offer. Resale value is a joke. Unless it appreciates in value, which they do not, then there is no positive outcome. When you count the labor hours and cost of parts to build your bike, you will never get the real value back. That is true for most of these builds. That isn't a knock on you, it's true for all these bikes we build. The value of labor and parts is never recovered unless you are restoring a vintage, historic bike. then maybe....Custom builds are poor investments, money wise. Self satisfaction, or as a rolling demonstration of a shops ability, then there is value, but investment?? rarely if ever.
 
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