1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

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Moto nut
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Re: 1975 CB400F - resto progress so far

#16

Post by Moto nut »

Wow very nice bike!, these are on my radar....
Proud winner of ngwclub 2017 bike of the year......76 GL1000
SnoBrdr
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Re: 1975 CB400F - resto progress so far

#17

Post by SnoBrdr »

RAT wrote:I like the yellow version .... but that is really nice .... the pipes were a real bonus ....

Gord
I had the yellow and traded it on my GL.
78 GL1000 Original Owner 131k
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flyin900
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Re: 1975 CB400F - resto progress so far

#18

Post by flyin900 »

The gauge reface and clean up went well and I am happy with the results. It turned out that the tack mechanicals were no longer working, so I was able to pull the innards from a 1973 CB350F parts set I had and it fit perfectly into the CB400F housing.
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I have finished all the mechanical stuff and now just working on the tank and side covers. The tank is a little dented with some body filler on a few spots and was quite a mess inside. With lots of prep work on the interior I have managed to get it quite clean and pretty well rust free at this point. I have bought a POR 15 product for sealing gas tanks and plan to go ahead and install it, since I don't trust someone always keeping the tank full when I sell the bike to a new owner.


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Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
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flyin900
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Re: 1975 CB400F - resto progress so far

#19

Post by flyin900 »

Finally got the tank and side covers back a few weeks ago from the paint shop and here is the finished bike in the Honda Varnish Blue original colour. I am just waiting for spring to finally arrive and then move this up into the garage to check over the fine details and get it running and set up.
I am looking forward to a nice sunny outdoors day to shoot some better pics and take this for an inaugural ride.

I also found there was no spark when I did a test and realized the powder coating on the frame was not allowing the coils to reach a ground point. Same issue with the front and rear signals, so while recoating the frame is a nice touch the grounding points also need to be available for the electrical.
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Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
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Goboy
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Re: 1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

#20

Post by Goboy »

action1 Turned out beautiful. I see why your pockets are a little lighter, but the 4 into 1 is a big part of the image of the bike.
I know the battery box on the GL1000 has to be grounded to the frame. Wondering if this 400 would also?
You're too small to ride a hog Billy!

Mike
1978 GL1000
Previous bikes: 05 Yamaha FJR 1300, 79 Suzuki GS 1000, 75 Yamaha XS 650, 73 Kawasaki S2 350
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flyin900
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Re: 1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

#21

Post by flyin900 »

I ran into issues with the signal stems themselves on both the front and back signals. The front signals attach to a special headlight bracket that holds both the headlight bucket and the front signal stems and that bracket is rubber isolated. I ended up making a small ground harness and had to sand the powder coat off the area that the signals mount/ground to on the stems.
On the rears they too are rubber mounted on a metal bracket plate with a ground tab on the metal bracket, so I had to remove the paint where the signal mounts on the post to open up a ground path.
The powder coat on the frame didn't let the coils ground at all so I ground around the mounting holes for the coils to clear a proper ground path there too.
The battery box has a ground wire directly from the main harness that grounds that assembly and a number of mount points to the frame through the various bolts.
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
Don R
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Re: 1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

#22

Post by Don R »

That bike is awesome. That's a keeper for sure.
I just refreshed an 18,000 mile 75, Not a restoration but I returned it to stock from having a Vetter Quicksilver added to it. The headlight, frame and associated parts were gone. Every one I ever owned had the right control replaced with toggles or something similar so I ordered a DSS European switch with an off/park/headlight control and got a Marchal headlight from Yamiya with a parking lamp in it. It was fun removing the jumpers Honda put in the harness for the US spec lighting. I popped a blue LED into the park lamp socket. It looks good with the headlight on too but probably isn't legal for cruising. I'll probably get a yellow one. This one was lowered by sliding the fork tubes up in the triples and has works shocks in back for a small lady. She rode it up pikes peak.
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
Don R
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Re: 1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

#23

Post by Don R »

The Honda logo is from a 450 nighthawk.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YN4gSbIA9fju7aCg2
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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flyin900
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Re: 1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

#24

Post by flyin900 »

Hello Don, I like that logo across the front forks and we have cross paths over on the SOHC forum and I did follow your electrical switch challenges on that bike.
My plan is to sell it as I find they are just too small for my liking, since I have had a number of these little fours that I have restored in the past. Better suited to a new rider, or someone who does more local riding has been my experience with the previous models I have owned.
I have a new Honda CX650E that has become my latest restored ride that I finished last fall and have been enjoying this spring.
Current Bikes:

1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
digschopper
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Location: Goatpoop ,florida

Re: 1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

#25

Post by digschopper »

Wow. Just...WOW.
Don R
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Location: West Central Illinois

Re: 1975 CB400F - Restoration Finished

#26

Post by Don R »

I'm waiting on a stock repro muffler and then calling it good.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CRfXcgVU8reFgXju2
78 GL 1000, 70 CB750 sandcast, 70 CB836 hot rod, 1124cc 750 dragbike resto project.
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
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