Great little bikes, and fantastic that it was you’re dads! My cousin had one and I always thought it was one of the best sounding bikes ever! I rebuilt my old z1b years ago and ended up doing a complete restoration like you The one thing I simply could not have done without was my Haynes manual ! It was truly invaluable! Only thing I had to get help with was getting the block on as I didn’t have ring compressors, managed the rest myself, really enjoyed it and wish I still had it! Good luck with yours I’ll be following with interest
I have several manuals (workshop, electrics and parts) and service bulletins for the 400/4 on my PC. If anyone wants copies, PM me your email address and I will send them. AL
Thank you sir. Ive not been through the paperwork yet but am considering keeping the old loom (and other assorted bits) and maybe doing a motogadget upgrade (to make it more reliable - from a wiring perspective) and give it some new features, (keyless ignition) minimalized wiring etc etc...
No, never heard of it....ill have to go search. At the moment im leaning toward stripping the entire motor down to the cases as any coating thats worth its weight needs to be baked...
Hour or so in the garage today (doing stuff the costs nothing).... Left the chain last week in a tray of paraffin to see if it was salvageable....looks like its ok....20 mins of scrubbing with a wire brush and it came up nice....
Tried a quick polish of the chain guard (Alloy) and that came up nice....theres a few bits running a hot wash in the dishwasher at the moment....throw the pics up in a bit...
Can you leave chains in paraffin for that long? Doesn’t pro-longed exposure to it cause the O-rings to break down? I’m sure I read that somewhere Mind you, knowing how old that one is, does it even have o-rings?
Jeez, I remember that, my Mum used to hate it when I heated the tin up on the stove Probably a good idea @comfysofa to replace it with a modern one
Might do - see how the cash goes.... Anyway, moving on. It looks like my old man is going to be taking me to school. I have a friend who is an experienced engine builder and has said "you take it apart and get everything cleaned up, and ill stand over you while you put it together!" So, hopefully if i get to it this weekend the engine will be getting stripped to the cases for coating. Got some lighting stuff to do in the house first though which takes priority..! Just to add ive got a fair bit of experiece over the last 30 odd years of spannering but, ive always stepped away from complete engine builds as, if you get it wrong, better have another engine spare!!
When I had my XL500, I used to have two chains. One on the bike and the other already cleaned and lubed ready to on. If you fancy some nostalgia, fill yer boots... https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/linklyfe-chain-life-chain-lubrication-305436060
So at a little but of a stuck point...literally...the barrel is stuck solid on there...can't see anyway of getting it off...tried a rubber mallet...tried shocking it with the back of an extension bar...don't want to get too heavy handed though...
The state of your lounge floor carpet.......... .............how some people can live like that is beyond me......
Should that happen again, try filling the piston block level to the top with diesel and as long as it seals, leave it for 24 hours
Back from the optitians...confimred: i need reading glasses (to the the entertainment of my kids) - now officially a specky twat....engine stripping continues...
