'nother part

Just scored this Boyer Bransden Micro Digital ignition on Ebay yesterday. It has a computer. Word is, these are the best. I love Ebay.

new plugs

I  just scored this vgc dash panel an hour ago on Ebay.

About the bike.........

Finally went and played with the damn thing the other night. I'm trying to start it so I can evaluate it. I will be removing the engine soon, but I want to know a little about it before I do. Put a little gas in it and charged the battery. Won't start. Plug time. I don't clean plugs(especially ones I didn't put in).... $9.00 for new plugs is cheap.... Those who don't agree shouldn't own toys.

Dug thru my tools and finally found a 19mm spark plug socket... changed the plugs and she fired right up on choke. The ignition is a 30 year old setup and it was weak when it was new. one of my plug wires is broke off at the spark plug end. I'm going to get a Boyer Bransden sys for it and new coils and silicone 8mm solid core wires. 

Now that I know the general mechanical shape of the engine, it's time to dismantle the bike. A lot of stuff will be sold and replaced with NOS. I already have a good headstart on that.  

12/8/2008 - more parts pics

Check these beauties....

These saved me quite a hassle. Just to relace and true my old ones would cost $250+ and I wouldn't have NOS rims or NOS hub or NOS drum

12/07/08 - more NOS from ebay

• NOS Honda brand points
• NOS Honda brand peg rubbers front left and right

Images to come....

Haven't touched the bike since its been real cold, I don't work out in the cold anymore....not even for money... I'm going to move it to a warm space soon for assessment and teardown. I believe that I can re-do this bike with mostly NOS parts at a reasonable cost. I recon that I can recycle the used stuff on ebay for a decent buck to offset the new parts. Then I calculate the aggravation in on the used parts if I reuse them. The man-hours of elbow grease. This is the reason most restorations of all types stop dead in their tracks. There ain't nothing like assembling something with all new parts. Most of the parts on this bike are available as NOS HONDA. When I say available, I mean through a Honda Dealer. Some dealers charge full retail price, some charge wholesale. NOS parts are also available elsewhere from many sources including old-time dealer attics and basements. NOS Honda parts can are cheap compared european NOS parts. My BMWs and Vespas NOS parts are a bit more scarce and pricy.  A few things not available (but turn up time to time) as NOS are: 

• main wiring harness
• clocks
• tanks
• sidecovers
• carbs

Give me time and I just might find them.

12/06/08 - Picked up the first batch of parts

NOS rims, and hub/drum laced with spokes.... More pics after I wipe them clean of the factory grease coating. 

NOS oil filter bolt

2 NOS Redwing Japanese made rebuildable and adjustable shocks

I also got an almost new rear brake mechanism with new NOS Honda brand shoes and a NOS Honda/Stanley taillamp lens.  Pics to come.

Another part...

I lost the following auctions today:

• vgc front fender w/brackets and stays
  
• vgc rear fender w/ lamp and bracket
• vgc early (smaller) signals

However, I did win an excellent rear brake assembly w/ excellent shoes... It will go great with the NOS drum that come attached to the NOS spokes which in turn are laced to the NOS rims I scored 2 days ago. I'm going to drive and pick up the stuff tomorrow and maybe get a chance to rifle through the guy's honda stuff for more bargains. I'll also stop at a Honda dealer to check for bargains.

Motorcyclist magazine article

www.motorcyclistonline.com/flashback/122_9612_honda_cb400f/index.html

Excellent example of engine detailing.....

Wednesday December 3 2008

Just scored some awesome NOS parts on ebay:

• NOS front and rear complete wheel assemblies..... hubs, bearings, spokes, rims. awesome.   
  
• NOS taillamp lense                                                                                                                         
  
• NOS oil filter bolt                                                                                                                                
  
• NOS aftermarket rear shocks                                                                                                                               

I missed out on a NOS front rotor....... pissed.

More auctions ending tomorrow. Soon I'm going to sell on ebay, these parts off the original bike: front and rear wheels with tires, side cover, original rusted muffler.... with more to add to that list.

Pics to come......

Monday December 1 2008

                                                                                   I call first thing next day and I get the owner, he is in town and its on the back of his pickup. Awesome. I round up $500. I meet him and he points out a few things and says to make an offer.. I say $400..... he says $450...... I tell him where to deliver it....We unload it at my office....Exchange cash for title....I hop on ebay (actually, I've already been looking for days.....)

From what I can see, it needs a few things like an original taillamp and plate bracket (whole new fender wouldn't hurt), keys and locks (seat, forks, tank, and ignition), the existing mirror to be thrown out, rear signals, tool kit, owners manual pack, 2 new side covers (only came with 1 broken one). the seat isnt terrible (not really ripped or anything but I want to do an original recover or get a new seat. NOS seats are out there. There is one on ebay right now for $279, totally worth it considering that the used one will cost way more to restore (blasting, paint, foam, repro upholstery work....). Original paint and decals aren't that bad.... Im gonna polish the thing and then see what it worth...

Sunday November 30 2008

 I wake up, I call. 10-15 times throughout the day.....no answer.....I leave a message.....No call back. I fear that its sold. I don't sleep well that night. 

Saturday November 29 2008

 I see this ad for a 77 cb400f supersport. Runs, needs carb work (of course it does, its 31 years old and there are 4 of them).....$500. I get very excited. I call. Per phone conversation: it runs, original paint and pipes, decent condition..... he lives way out in the sticks. I say I'll call tomorrow.