cb400 superdream

[hondakawasaki]

hi all

the base gasket needs replacing on my superdream 400 as its leaking oil

i need to take off the whole head and replace all the gaskets

can any one tell me if i need to take the engine out of the frame to remove the head

thanks

[bikenut]

wet dream, can be done with eng in frame but be carefull with head bolts etc etc etc.

if leaking tween cyl at the front bottom be carefull of centre bolt problems......see cmsnl for the exploded views etc etc etc.

study the eng exploded views, do you need more info??

[hondakawasaki]

Thanks, its leaking at the base of the head were it connects to the bottom end

It seems to be leaking from the back and somwhere on the front of the engine because there is oil around there

[smegballs]

Is it easy to get the engine out of the frame?

I'd be tempted to do so to avoid the possibility of accidentally dropping rust or paint flakes from the frame into the open guts of the engine.

[Casper]

I had a slight weep from mine. A quick 1/4 turn of the head bolts sorted the problem.

[moonzoomer]

the main frame spine under the tank has got 4 holes drilled already to allow the removal/tightening of engine studs, it is an easy job to do though I would be inclined to try tightening the studs before replacing The gasket or removing the head and barrel.

[hondakawasaki]

so i went and took off the head and barrels the first thing i noticed was the 4 cylinder bolts in the middle

here, they are missing some sort of rubber seal only 2 of the bolts had the rubber seals on should all 4 bolts have the rubber seals on? or should all the cylinder bolts have them on
i also noticed the 2 bolts with out the seals where they screw in was full of oil

could this be the reason it was leaking?
https://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq101/daz7189/IMAG1480-1.jpghttps://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq101/daz7189/vlcsnap-2013-02-18-20h28m43s91.png

also the valves looked a bit crispy should i clean them up? if so how should i do it, it also looks like 1 of the valves has been replaced at some point
https://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq101/daz7189/IMG_0427.jpg

also the pistons looking rather clean
https://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq101/daz7189/IMG_0428.jpghttps://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq101/daz7189/IMG_0429.jpg

[bikenut]

wet dream cause of oil, see cylinder base and show pics, see cmsnl for exploded views which will answer some of your questions.

[bikenut]

dont use the blue sealer, or anyother colour.

examine your parts and figure ouit how oil gets to cam, and how its stopped from leaking, see cmsnl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

some more pics and is oil control ring top and bottom rail "gaps" in line??

[hondakawasaki]

Hi cmsnl does not show the bolts with the rubber seals

Im not sure if all the bolts should have it also the holes the 4 center bolts go down have gaps that go straight through to the outside of the engine i will take a pic later to show you what i mean

Also what do u mean are the oil controll ring rail gaps in line i did spin the rings to see if they was stuck

Thanks inwill post pics later

[bikenut]

:D hi dude

so you have found the reason for the on bolt seals then!!

how is balance chain for slack, you will be able to see it thru cyl holes, its adjustable, see cmnsl.......

ring gaps paced so no gaplines up, also check oil ring wavvy bit for proper fit............

make sure all head bolt holes are clean, 10 x 1.25 from memory.....

how you getting on??

[hondakawasaki]

hi yes the bolts with the seals should be placed in the correct place i dont think they was in my bike

i am still waiting for the new gasket set

i will check balance chain tomorrow its dark now

if it needs adjusting how do i do it?

my manual says its spring loaded so i just unscrew the bolt and re tighten it? is this correct theres no pictures it pretty vague

heres a pic witch bolt do i loosen ?
https://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq101/daz7189/5-1.jpgthanks i will let you know how i get on

[hondakawasaki]

Also when i put the barrels back on do the piston rings have to go on in a certain way? Do they have to line up in any way or does it not matter

Thanks for the help?

[grahamd1]

bbbbbNot all of the head bolts have seals or even washers

https://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/head1_zpsf2a0965a.jpg

Also the order in which the head bolts are undone and tightend on the SDs is critical

https://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/head2_zps218fdc6f.jpg

Heres an exploded view that acutally shows the seals

https://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/head3_zps9909c8bb.jpg

And the correct tightening sequence

https://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/head4_zpse4503d5b.jpg

Hope it helps, I'm on my second rebuilt SD (first was a messy 250, second is 400NB). Some of the later 400s had an additional oil pipe on the top of the head, if you have that one let me know and I will share those pics as well.
____________________
XV1100, XV750
CD175 (Rebuild)
CF70 (Chaly - Rebuild),

[hondakawasaki]

hi, i have now rebuilt the top end took me all day

i now have another problem the bike took about 10 mins to start and when i did get it started there was a horrendous whirry rattly sound coming from under the rocker cover

i did adjust the valve clearances i had to unscrew them for ages to get the feeler gauge under it says 0.10mm for inlet 0.14mm for exhaust

i think i have set them way to big should the valve springs be compressed by the tappets i set them so they have a little play in them a sliding fit with the feeler gauge

please help!!!

[hondakawasaki]

also does the engine have to be on the right stroke to set the valve clearances

i remember my cg 125 had to be on the right engine stroke to set the valve clearances

i think i set them wrong now they have a huge gap?

[hondakawasaki]

Hi, ok so it turns out i set the valve clearances WAY to big i was on the wrong engine stroke

So i re set the valves and it took 2 kicks its very smokey now and i seen no oil leaks


Thanks

[paddlesat16]

If you own a superdream you need here

https://honda-superdream.proboards.com/index.cgi

lots of like minded people owning superdreams

The piston ring gaps should have been equally spaced at about 120 degrees.

With the head off I would have re-lapped the valves, changed the stem seals and then bolted it back up.

You need to buy a Haynes manual at the very least for this bike especially when your dismantling and rebuilding the engine as you could have bent all the valves by mis-timing the engine.
____________________
I once saw a bloke shagging a donkey.... in Saudi arabia. Theory Test Passed 26/10/09 Mod 1 Passed 26/4/10, Mod 2 Passed 7/6/10 Current Bikes Suzuki GSX1400 K5, Aprillia Pegaso 650, Suzuki DR350T.

[hondakawasaki]

Hi, i have a haynes manual we timed it properly it starts ok it just real smokey for 5 mins and has a slight oil leak on the front of the engine

Could oil be leaking into the piston from the same place its leaking out the front of the engine i think theres a dodgy seal also som of the cylinder bolts are the wrong size so i couldent torque them up properly

[paddlesat16]

Hi hondakawasaki

Pop onto the superdream site and say hello, they are a friendly bunch and will help out, you may find the bolts on there.

Your smoky engine could be that leak?? difficult to say.

Regards
____________________
I once saw a bloke shagging a donkey.... in Saudi arabia. Theory Test Passed 26/10/09 Mod 1 Passed 26/4/10, Mod 2 Passed 7/6/10 Current Bikes Suzuki GSX1400 K5, Aprillia Pegaso 650, Suzuki DR350T.

[bikenut]

the head bolts wi5th the onbuilt seals go into the holes in the cyl which have the daft cut out designed in oil leak holes..........you have seen them??????

the balance shaft has an adjustable adjusting slotted quadrant bit.......the shafy also has a "dot" on the end.

[bikenut]

you sure you fitted the correct bolt in the correct hole?????where the haed bolt holes cleaned out, ie crap in the bottom of the holes??????

10mm x 1.25

you have a haynes manual so better than nothing........

the "dot" looks to be at 1 o clock position so plenty of adjustment left.

dot at 3 o clock max OFF position

rotating anticlockwise to 9 o clock position MAX ADJUSTMENT.

if dot below 3 amd 9 o clock its worn out ( eng strip ).

the quadrant is splined to the balance shaft and is adjustable relative to the balance shaft.

you can see the balance chain through the gaps, when adjusted, any slack??

adjust on stationery eng at "T".

also when at "t" are cam sprocket marks parrallel to head or sloping backwards??

oil leak at front would be from favorite place, those daft channels in cyl base and poor seal tween cyl and built on seal head bolts

oil can leak down the 4 inner headbolts and make it appear at bottom, favorite place..............so take care of that. 8o) 8o)

400's are very desirable so dont get it nicked!!!!!!!!!!!!!