All help appreciated - Honda CB400SF Restoration

enj1996 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jan 2015 Karma :

Hi all,

My father recently passed away from cancer and left behind all his motorbikes to me. One that lives fondly in the memory is the Honda CB400SF he had, which he had an accident in and did not ride it after that.
I charged its battery but the steering lock won't even turn, no matter how hard I try to twist the key or the steering. I need a real help in at least knowing how much it will cost to fix. The front brake handle is broken off and so is the foot part for the stand. I need to have an idea of what is wrong with it mechanically so I can restore it - at the very least, get it up and running so that I can take it to a shop and start doing small jobs on it.

Any and all help is much appreciated, it would really mean a lot to me if this bike can feasibly be retuned to the road. I have limited knowledge, only doing work on my YBR125 - which in comparison to the CB400, is a piece of piss to fix.
____________________
JDEP - 05/09/1960 - 13/06/2017.
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness".

Dave70 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jan 2012 Karma :

Try posting in the Workshop section. You'll probably get more help in there.

Best of luck getting it sorted. Thumbs Up

____________________
There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Take Paddy's pending offer.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

Are you sure that it is the right key?
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Yamaha YZF-R6

enj1996 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jan 2015 Karma :

GeorgeB. · Crazy Courier Joined: 08 Mar 2013 Karma :

Try putting a bit of upward/downward pressure on the key while turning and moving the bars - My old CB400 had a quick where the key would only turn if the was sideways pressure on the key too.
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Current: '99 Fazer 600 | '99 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE
Previous: Keeway TX125 | CBF 125 | CB400SF Project Big One
CBT 04/12/12 | Theory 03/12/13 | MOD 1 06/01/14 | MOD 2 13/01/14

Oldie · Brolly Dolly Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Karma :

Maybe too obvious, but are you sure that your actually trying the steering lock, and not putting the key the ignition? I don't know about the 400 but my 250 has a separate steering lock below the bars.

If you have a problem with the actual steering lock then try spraying some penetrating oil down the barrel a few times.

enj1996 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jan 2015 Karma :

Thanks all for the tips on solving the steering lock problem. Used some lubricant and juggled it but finally got it it moving. Next thing to do is analyse the costs and damage to the bike.
____________________
JDEP - 05/09/1960 - 13/06/2017.
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness".

enj1996 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jan 2015 Karma :

Small progress. Charged the battery. Warning light for oil comes on, engine starts but dies when I try to rev it. Gears are a bit sticky and brakes seem to come on and off when they want to.
____________________
JDEP - 05/09/1960 - 13/06/2017.
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness".