Project CBR400 NC29 - Ex Banana Bike (Progress Pics Inside)

[Frankiefish]

First of all, I'm no mechanic and my terminology might not be correct. I just fancied having a bash at ripping something apart and making it mint again. Any help would be massively appreciated!

So, after Dezeaz binned his new R6 a while back and me selling my CBR600 last May we both decided to chip in for a 20 year old CBR400 NC29 at Xmas that hadn't turned a wheel for 12 years! My mate Magga had this chestnut cooped up in his garage after a low speed drop .... so he says!

Here are the pictures that sold it to us for just under a monkey...

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8616457885_e0072401aa_c.jpg
CIMG1485 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8262/8617563308_62f9b3c166_c.jpg
CIMG1487 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8616456441_9cf6acc5b4_c.jpg
CIMG1489 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8117/8617562268_db43b11192_c.jpg
CIMG1490 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

To be fair it looked slightly better when we collected it and the layer of dust had been wiped off but we both still absolutely hate that colour! It has to go!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8616482667_452a0893d1_c.jpg
DSC00954 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8616494789_d75e8afd36_c.jpg
DSC00947 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8617599698_695208dfd2_c.jpg
DSC00948 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8115/8617595706_28852fed58_c.jpg
DSC00950 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8616487441_d56f29478c_c.jpg
DSC00951 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8616485877_ffd856b85a_c.jpg
DSC00952 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8616479429_466a9ebfda_c.jpg
DSC00956 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8617584212_b18b8e355b_c.jpg
DSC00957 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

So the bike has 28,000km on the clock and was a runner before the drop. We decided to just strip it down completely so even to this day so far we don't know if its a runner .... but I'm sure we will be able to get it sorted .... after all these Honda engines are indestructable right?

So, we started to strip it down and the further we got into it the more we realised the fairings were pretty much gaffer taped on with a mixture of black and yellow tape, not good! Under the fairings though the frame is pretty sweet and there is no sign of corrosion. I reckon 20 years of muck has kept it from rusting!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8617580934_bf78431c3b_c.jpg
DSC00959 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8617550222_76b201be9e.jpg
photo (1) by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

Removed the petrol tank and airbox to reveal the carbs ... I've got nee idea if these are looking good or completely shagged like

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8616455559_6d49cb4787_c.jpg
DSC00972 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8544/8617560046_e93b1c66d2_c.jpg
DSC00973 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8544/8617560046_e93b1c66d2.jpg
DSC00973 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

Dezeaz mincing about for a change....

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8616459651_6afeff7e1a_c.jpg
DSC00971 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

Only the hardest of hardcore mechanic wannabees work in garages with no heating during these conditions!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8535/8617571296_913eb2c5ab_c.jpg
DSC00968 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

Maybe the engine is not as good as we first thought after removing the carbs .... the inlet on the left has some weird yellow dust type stuff in it....looks like it will blow out or something ... any ideas what that could be? We've stuffed rags in there now to stop any nuts or bolts falling into the engine!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8616452213_5355da24d2_c.jpg
DSC00974 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

Ready to drop the engine out of the frame! Note the state of that rear shock .... that has now been recon'd up and looks mint, will upload a pic tomorrow.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8616443159_9f30ff1da2_c.jpg
photo (2) by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

Dezeaz has been polishing up the frame today and its come out quite well.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8394/8616439659_11648eba07_c.jpg
photo 3 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8616440169_d1c7b70629_c.jpg
photo 2 by FrankieFish2012, on Flickr

We have had the wheels, forks, top yoke and bottom yoke and rear sub frame powder coated in semi-gloss black ... I will post some proper pictures tomorrow.

Next on the list is to polish up the swing arm and rebuild the forks. Then get cleaning till we can afford new tyres

I'll keep this updated as much as possible and no doubt will be on asking for advice from you better educated bike people!

[i.p.phrealy]

Bikes looked better like this instead of now where they have their arse a mile in the air.
Best of luck getting it roadworthy again, looks like it'll be a good bike when it's sorted.
____________________
it is impossible to lick your own elbow...
and if you just tried you need professional help.
Finally allowed a big bike 19/03/14!

[Joncrete Cungle]

Are you familiar with 400 greybike, Rick Oliver and David Silvers?

[orac]

looks like corrosion in the intake - aluminium corrodes to a white powder. i would run a compression test on the motor to ensure you dont havy corrosion on the valve seats.

you may find compression across most of them is low - if so put a little oil down each bore (through the spark pulg tube) and then retest - if they all come up then all is fine. they may not be to spec but often a layed up motor will need to be ru for proper oil circulation
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Current rides - 2016 Triumph Street Triple Rx, 1994 Suzuki Bandit 400 VM, TGB 204 Classic 125cc
"with nothing left to lose, there is everything to gain. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"

[Frankiefish]

[Frankiefish]

Thought I would list the bad things about the bike:

1) There are only about 3 fairings that can be re-used
2) Tyres need replacing (fair enough after standing for so long)
3) Headlight assembly is damaged along with the left headlight
4) Throttle twists but doesn't return to its original position

Thats the main things. The discs, chain, sprockets, seats etc are all in very good condition.

I think the plan is to leave the engine till last as for me that is the most daunting part of the build. I'll be noting all the advice though from orac etc.

[Joncrete Cungle]