CB400 Rectifier/Battery and model identification issues!

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Divver
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Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:50 pm

CB400 Rectifier/Battery and model identification issues!

Post by Divver » Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:37 pm

I've already made two previous posts in the general section of the forum yet I've had no luck with any replies and I'm absolutely reaching my wit's end with the bike so I'm sorry to bother you all, I've been all over the internet and not found anywhere as informative as this forum for the CB400.

I've decided to post here in the work shop with some pictures and more detailed information hoping that someone may be able to help me somehow, please! :)

If you don't want to read then please see my YouTube video summary and then read if you need to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkB0jEAz6Ck

So first a little about the bike. I acquired it on the 22nd of April this year with 12 months tax and MOT.
It was previously owned by a man from London, he was the 6th owner since it was registered here in 1998. It was manufactured in 1992.

Upon purchase I had nothing but problems. I traded my 2002 Yamaha Trail Way 125 and £330 for the bike as it was up for sale at the dealership for £995. The dealership I purchased it from works closely with webuyanybike.com
The bike seems to have had many underlying problems that were fixed and disguised and they won't have been apparent unless they'd taken the bike out for a long run, which they never did.

Firstly I had to wait a week for them to fix the fuel tap. After they ordered a 250 Super Dream tap I decided to go at it myself and went to the local breakers and he pulled me a tap off of an old 550 Four I believe which was a perfect match for mine however the vacuum pipes had been blocked with screws which hasn't really caused any problems as the tap on it previous to that was the same.

The second day after I acquired the bike I was run off the road by an elderly woman who pulled out of a junction on a blind corner without checking and then when she finally did check, she acknowledged me and slammed on her brakes in the middle of my lane on a 40mph road.
I promptly pointed the bike at the junction she pulled out of which was more of a farm track and as I was unable to stop I dumped it on it's left hand side and slid it down the road with myself under it, 90% of the damage was taken by the luggage rack and the front left crash bar. The only other damage the bike sustained was a crack to the tachometer and headlight, everything else was fine still which was very lucky I thought.
It was my first accident ever in 3 years of riding motorcycles so I feel I was quite lucky for the damage both me and the bike received.
She promptly drove off when I stood up and she saw I wasn't dead, I lifted up the bike and it had flooded with being on the floor, it took roughly 30 seconds to get it going and off I road back home to assess what was what.

Roughly a week later the bike began cutting out in first gear randomly, which I later discovered was every time I turned left, an hour later and an inspection of the wiring loom near the front end and I found a 2 into 1 bodge that had come loose and it was only maintaining it's connection when the bike was pointing forward or to the right. I sorted that out with a few spades and a small extension.

The next week I was at the petrol station using the cash machine, roughly a two minute ride from where I live and when I noticed my legs were becoming very warm, specifically my thighs from the seat, after removing the seat from the bike there was a plume of what looked like smoke but I later found out was the prompt release of the acid that was evaporating and building up so much pressure it was blowing the rubber seals from the top of the battery.
I've since replaced the battery and tried to replace the rectifier however I'm unable to find a direct replacement for the regulator as the one that's on it isn't standard I believe.

Please see attached images and see the attached video for more information if you would be so kind as to give me any advice you can.

My frame number is NC311101042, I've been unable to identify my model with this number as it appears to be outside of all the ranges of models I've found.

Thanks,
Dave

Youtube Video Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkB0jEAz6Ck

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Divver
Settled in member
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:50 pm

Re: CB400 Rectifier/Battery and model identification issues!

Post by Divver » Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:21 am

I've solved part of my problem. Half of my wiring harness is from a VT600 as is my rectifier.

As seen here, http://www.cycleterminal.com/wpimages/VT600wiring.jpg

Superjack44
Familiar Member
Posts: 272
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:52 pm
Bike owned: 1CB400 SF 1 VFR800 1 Moto Guzz
Location: Prudhoe Northumberland

Re: CB400 Rectifier/Battery and model identification issues!

Post by Superjack44 » Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:28 pm

Hi The CB400sf is a super little bike but the one you seem to have is a right mongrel, the best bit of advice I could give would be to replace the complete wiring harness because someone has spliced another part in, all this will do is give you a headache.
The wiring harnesses do come up on ebay so watch out for one, keep us posted as to how you get on and if you need Pictures of any particular part of the wiring say so and I will see what I can come up with. Jack

billgrundies
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Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 8:41 pm

Re: CB400 Rectifier/Battery and model identification issues!

Post by billgrundies » Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:07 pm

I have a 93 sf400 project big one and like yourself have had and still having problems with identification of bike and parts etc. your bike looks like mine which I now know is a cb400f2 n. don't know what that bunch of excess wire is. my original rectifier is marked up sh633-12. I would say the advised loom change is a good idea. I have been told the bike I have was only made for the jap market so there is no English manual for it. have looked for 92 and earlier manual but keep getting offered a cb1 manuals which won't do. was told to buy a 400vfr manual which uses the nc23 motor but found out they run a sprocket for timing and not a camchain. the coolant leak you have is not the bolt. if you drain the coolant then remove the bolt you can pull chrome coolant pipe out of the engine and you will find a rubber seal on the spigot, this will probably be all crusted up. you can get these seals from any hydraulics outlet like pirtek for pennies. if pitted use a little sealant. hope some of this is of use.

Valters
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Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:02 am
Bike owned: CB400 F2R
Location: Latvia

Re: CB400 Rectifier/Battery and model identification issues!

Post by Valters » Sat Aug 23, 2014 10:02 pm

Divver wrote: My frame number is NC311101042, I've been unable to identify my model with this number as it appears to be outside of all the ranges of models I've found.

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As can be seen the picture, motorcycle model is CB400KP. These motorcycles were used as training motorcycles or as a police motorcycles, exactly, I do not know, have not found any info. These motorcycles have different wiring.

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