I did it again... Bought a baby blade to rebuild...

Malt_Vinegar · 10 Jun 2019 at 11:48

So, looking for something else to tinker with, as I have enjoyed working on other bikes, and the Hornet is not really needing a full strip down. I decided to go looking for something similar to the CBR125r I very much enjoyed riding, and just a bit more pokey.

Unimaginatively, I found a CBR400rr from 1988 listed for sale at a local breakers for £325. I contacted the guy, got some basic info about the bike, and offered him £250 cash on collection. We agreed, as he is closing down the business, and needed the space asap.

Organised to borrow my Dad's small trailer, and went up to go grab it.

Got it in the garage to take a look!

I started the strip down, and found some very interesting things

No time today to go through it, but it should be a fun rebuild

Planning to go totally stock looking if I can!

tom_e · 10 Jun 2019 at 11:57

Very much looking forward to this! Can't wait until I get a place with a garage so I've got somewhere to leave bikes in bits.

Lopéz · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:21

Haha, having seen this I feel a lot happier with the state of my FZR

Looking forward to progress! Does anything work?

Yaayuh! · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:27

Dug out a photo, this was mine around 2007. I wish I never sold it

Put a smoked screen on it at one point.

bloodiedathame · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:29

Where you based Malt?

Malt_Vinegar · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:36

Initial impressions after a bit of tinkering last night are as follows:

Motor is supposedly free and turning, got to check this.
A lot of the wiring loom and components seem to be missing or snipped.
The fairings/light panels and plastics are mostly all scrap, so it will need a full fairing kit.
The tank key has been screwdrivered, and wont open
The tank itself has been filled and painted badly
Coolant system has fluid and seems intact
Brakes seem to be ok condition (upgraded hoses on front)
No Handlebars (I added some mtb ones to make moving it a bit easier)
Rear frame is crusty and needs stripping and painting.
Rear lights looks in good nick
Front lights are some sort of naked bike addition, will be removed and replaced with stock
Main frame and swingarm look ok from what I can see.

Managed to find the ECU hiding under the rear seat

Result, let's hope it works

Interesting design on the tank too?!

Ordered a wiring loom for £10 from Ebay

Malt_Vinegar · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:37

bloodiedathame said:
Where you based Malt?

Near Basingstoke

Malt_Vinegar · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:38

Rossi~ said:
Dug out a photo, this was mine around 2007. I wish I never sold it

Basically exactly what I want!

Yaayuh! · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:42

Malt_Vinegar said:
Basically exactly what I want!

I'll be watching your progress

A couple of things (other than comfort i mentioned in the other thread):

1. The original fairings and pushpins/screws were VERY delicate, be careful or use something strongly and less fiddly.
2. Use a 3rd party reg/rec!

MowyTone · 10 Jun 2019 at 14:20

Rossi~ said:
2. Use a 3rd party reg/rec!

This is the standard for every Honda I've owned!

Yaayuh! · 10 Jun 2019 at 15:24

MowyTone said:
This is the standard for every Honda I've owned!

Did they ever solve their issue with them? lol

bloodiedathame · 10 Jun 2019 at 15:27

Get a Compufire reg rec from the states.

Dogbreath · 10 Jun 2019 at 15:56

The reg/rect is a minor concern, there is a huge amount of work and £££ to get this back to it's former glory. The NC23 is a really lovely looking machine though, almost (but not quite) as nice as the NC21 VFR400RR.

Lopéz · 10 Jun 2019 at 16:34

Dogbreath said:
The reg/rect is a minor concern, there is a huge amount of work and £££ to get this back to it's former glory. The NC23 is a really lovely looking machine though, almost (but not quite) as nice as the NC21 VFR400RR.

Heathen, it's all about the NC29!

Malt_Vinegar · 10 Jun 2019 at 21:42

The fuel tank cap had been attacked at some point, and was essentially useless:

So i attacked the already screwdrivered key with a drill to let me open and remove it:

Got it! The inside is in pretty bad nick, and the outside it not much better. Got to figure out what to do with this. Refurbish, or replace...

Now that was out of the way.. The first mystery of the bike appears...

What does that sticker say??

What in the?? A 2 stroke mix sticker? Did they ever make a 2 stroke CBR400rr?? Judging by the angle of the sticker, this must have been a random addition by someone?

Turned my attention to the fairings (whats left of them anyway) secured in with random screws!!

As you can see, they are pretty bent and worse for wear:

Now you can see why...

Starting to see whats what. The rear subframe seems to have been painted black (badly) over a silver (original?) colour:

The other side, I think it's safe to say it's had a hard life...:

Rear light panels - basically toast

:

Rear subframe off!!

Bits mounting up - The rear light unit looks almost mint:

I also managed to pull some more off tonight, will get some pics and update later.... HOWEVER I did manage to quickly whack 12v through the starter, and it did turn, and sounded ok. Well, nothing went WHACK at least. Just got to work out how to get enough room to check the compression to make sure the thing might actually run when the loom turns up.

Lopéz · 11 Jun 2019 at 08:22

Haha, yeah... not a 2 stroke

See if you can get it running - and don't underestimate how hard/expensive it can be to collect all the little bits it needs to get it back to standard.

Looking forward to updates, I will update my FZR thread soon.

Malt_Vinegar · 11 Jun 2019 at 08:45

Lopéz said:
Haha, yeah... not a 2 stroke

See if you can get it running - and don't underestimate how hard/expensive it can be to collect all the little bits it needs to get it back to standard.

Looking forward to updates, I will update my FZR thread soon.

Good stuff, I like build threads as much as anyone

That 2 stroke sticker really threw me for a moment, i was checking the frame number again to make sure i didn't get something very wrong! I wonder if the part is interchangeable with an earlier 2 stroke bike perhaps?

I am currently taking stock of what I have that I can re-use/repair and what will need to be sourced as cheaply as possible

Its not looking too bad for parts needed so far, lets hope it stays that way, I have a budget in mind, so trying to stick to it.

Parts piles are growing

Starting to look a little exposed now, whats that on the speedo cable???

Is that a speedo healer? (kmh to mph perhaps?):

I want to try and re-use these snipped wires from the original controls, so have do do a bit of working out what is what with the multimeter..

Exhaust and manifold off:

Only managed to break 2 of the very weak alloy hex bolts. one bore has been enlarged and tapped before, and only two original studs were left in place. I think I will try to go back to standard studs where possible when I extract the 2 dead ones, and perhaps helicoil the enlarged one to allow it to be the same?

Bit of work needed to bring this thing back to acceptable!

Wiring loom is due today I think. Should be able to start it if I can get it connected up enough to get the CDI running. Not got much time over the coming days, and starting it up without an exhaust in the garage late at night might not be terribly popular!!

bloodiedathame · 11 Jun 2019 at 09:50

So much work to do... Haha! Are you trying to get it back to mint?

I'm not actually far from you, Guildford way, and fancy getting a project bike to rebuild. Where do you find stuff?

MowyTone · 11 Jun 2019 at 10:14

Really nice progression over a short time

Lopéz · 11 Jun 2019 at 10:50

Your wiring pictures paint a familiar story!