Like a hole in the head...

[tkent02]

Pete, here's a pic of one just like the one I'm getting.

Just like it before or after you work your magic on it?

[nvr2old]

Larry, i have owned a bunch of those little beauties.
They like to rev but really don't go anywhere.
www.sohc4.net is an excellent website if you run into any troubles.
Check the frame where the side stand attaches. Water/condensation can collect there and compromise the frame. I had a '75 that i found on its side thinking it had sunk into the asphalt...turned out the frame was actually broken.

Thanks for the tips, Steve. They do like to be "whipped". 7-10 grand is where they like to sing. I had one back in the late 70's and early 80's, raced it, rode it daily and it was a lot of fun. If I remember right they'll do about 105mph before they run out of steam, but they are definitely sewing machine smooth in their delivery. The SOHC site is a great source of info, for sure. I visit there quite often. If we think members here (in general) are cheap, those guys take the prize, though. I posted all my finished paint jobs on the Services Offered section, got 8,000 hits and many, many positive remarks, but only netted 3 clients. This site's members supported me like no other source I've ever had.

[nvr2old]

Just like it before or after you work your magic on it?

Ha ha! After..

[tkent02]

Can't wait to see it. You have good lighting in that outhouse?

[nvr2old]

The small shop I have here is actually really nice. It's insulated, sheet-rocked, concrete floor and heaters in 2 walls with overhead lights. It would be perfect for doing paint in, but the exhaust fan would blow the fumes right into the neighbors back yards, windows, and doors..not good. I'll at least be able to work on it inside this winter.

[chuck hahn]

How well have you gotten to know these neighbors? Maybe not a big deal if they know what your doing. And maybe just one of them may need a car door redone or something. I have gotten away with lots after doing some freebies here and there for the neighbors. Grease the palms and they turn off their phones!!!!

[pete]

Cool Larry, that's the one I was thinking.

You just need some good filter material in front of the exhaust fan

[nvr2old]

Cool Larry, that's the one I was thinking.

You just need some good filter material in front of the exhaust fan

Ya know, Pete, I'm checking into making some activated charcoal filters. I've heard from some very reputable painters lately that you can make a narrow box the same size of the fan with screens on either side, fill it with the charcoal and it practically eliminates the fumes going through it..hmmm..might be worth looking into. I think I could get away with doing one every now and then possibly if that works. I'll try it with the 400, as a guy doing some hobby work in his back yard , and if no one complains, maybe expand my horizons a bit.

[tkent02]

I was thinking you could have the exhaust go out through a vent in the the wall, then run a garden sprinkler so it sprays over where the exhaust comes out. A fine sprinkler, more like a mist. It seems like all of the paint would get caught in the water and fall in the grass or gravel below. Grass is good because once you mow it the paint is gone. Dunno, never tried it but that was my plan. I'm sure the EPA would not approve but it might work well enough for home hobbyist occasional usage.

Now I just shoot paint outside early in the morning before the bugs and neighbors wake up.

[hjfisk]

My brother had one of those 400/ 4's supersport he loved it . I never rode it , but I always thought that the exhaust was really cool for being a factory system. I do know where here locally there is a mint Honda 350 / 4cyl that can be had pretty reasonable I think I believe it can be had for around $ 2K-2500.I have some pics of it , I listed on here a couple years ago but no interest was shown.

[nvr2old]

Tkent02, that's an interesting concept, too. Regulators in Idaho are much more lenient then Washington. We built a really nice spray booth in my buddie's shop in Spokane, put a really expensive explosion-proof exhaust fan in, nice lights and heat..used it one time, and the neighbor turned us in to the EPA who were there in a heartbeat to shut it down because it wasn't zoned for painting..argh. A $3,000 investment out the window. He now starts tomato plants in it. What a waste.

[Mista M]

I kick myself for selling my cb4 I found in a shed, side pipes in tact and all. Too many projects and it needed a full restoration

I'm sure you can rig up a charcoal filter setup, grab some high micron furnace filters, shove some charcoal filters between in a plastic storage bin and I bet no one will even know you are painting in there.

[pete]

Sounds like a plan to me Larry!

I'm hoping to get some good proper paint booth filter material for mine. Apparently if you use the right stuff you won't even get a whiff of fumes out the exhaust fan.

I figure if I have one filter before the fan and one after, it should be good to go.

My shed plan includes lots of insulation and hopefully sealed up properly too, so I think I'll be ok... noone dobbed me in when I sprayed in the garage so fingers crossed it'll be all good! Just wish I could get started on it...

[nvr2old]

Well, the bad news is, I won't be able to pick up the 400F till after the 6th of Aug. The seller, a good friend of mine, just won't be able to bring it to me before then. He's traveling till then.. The good news is, I do at least have a couple of pics of it. Just makes me want it more. Surprise..it's a blue one..cool..love this color.

A little rash on the engine cover. Should clean up.



Ugly aftermarket muffler. It's the first thing to go. I have a line on a nice reproduction one just like the original..pricey, but correct. The headers are in great shape..whew.



I can't wait to dive into this little beauty. It runs like a top..just gotta make it pretty again.

[GS/GR PAUL]

David Silver's in the UK sell's a lot of CB400F part's, including the muffler. Bought one of these brand new in the 70's, one of the best bikes I rode, would show up bigger bike's in the tight corners.