Hi all,

a quite techy question coming up this time. According this this article, I can wring quite a few more horsepower out of my CB-1 for a really quite tiny outlay. One of the easier and more beneficial jobs to do is fit CBR400RR camshafts. But it doesn't say whether that would be from an nc23 or an nc29. Are they the same? If not, are they cross-compatible and is one "better" than the other? Anyone got a pair in good condition that they'd like to sell me? I've been meaning to look at the valve clearances anyway, and it seems to me that due to the gear driven cams it "should" be a very simple case of removing one camshaft, and fitting the other in its place, instantly getting more lift, longer duration, etc. etc = more top-end power.

The relevant specs for comparison of a CB-1 camshaft are here and the rest of the manual in case there's anything else useful is here.

Any tips greatly appreciated! Perhaps I should PM GF? I bet he'd know, but I am aware that he's a busy man.

I think I have a spare engine for a CB 1 (bought in error) I took the head off, gas flowed it and lapped in the valves and removed the quietening gears from the cams before I discovered it was the wrong engine, DOH!
BTW, my bike is a Triarm......
You can have the engine, complete (the head is off and will need re shimming) cheap!
I'm in cheshire, if you are interested, pm me.
Mike
I have a spare loom I'll throw in too.

There's a mob over here in Oz that successfully race a CB400, amongst other things I believe they fitted an NC23 cam for increased valve lift.

The cam specs should be in the CBR400 haynes manual.

blueflag wrote:I think I have a spare engine for a CB 1 (bought in error) I took the head off, gas flowed it and lapped in the valves and removed the quietening gears from the cams before I discovered it was the wrong engine, DOH!
BTW, my bike is a Triarm......
You can have the engine, complete (the head is off and will need re shimming) cheap!
I'm in cheshire, if you are interested, pm me.
Mike
I have a spare loom I'll throw in too.

A head which has already been worked is deliciously tempting, but I'm in portsmouth, which is ITRO 250 miles from you.

What happens when you remove the quieting gears? Does it make more of that beautiful whizzy sound, or clatter? Does it affect longevity?

It sounds really mechanical, if that makes sense, seems ok though. I posted a few vids on youtube, a couple have sound, so you can make your own mind up!
If you search for open 500 at three sisters it should come up, failing that mallory park, no limits 19th march 2011. My username is superwonkavision, you might be able to search for that.
It's a pity you're not closer as I keep tripping up on the motor!
BTW anyone else wants it, it's 25 quid, collected, obviously!

blueflag wrote:It sounds really mechanical, if that makes sense, seems ok though. I posted a few vids on youtube, a couple have sound, so you can make your own mind up!
If you search for open 500 at three sisters it should come up, failing that mallory park, no limits 19th march 2011. My username is superwonkavision, you might be able to search for that.
It's a pity you're not closer as I keep tripping up on the motor!
BTW anyone else wants it, it's 25 quid, collected, obviously!

That is desperately tempting, but much too far to go.

Try the for sale ads on hondacb1.org , should go quick enough that way as there's a couple of members further north than me.

'Tis done,
Thanks for the advice Amorti!

If you need cams I have both inlet and exhaust cams available from a 29.

The NC23 & NC29 Cams are not interchangeable the profiles are very similar (if not identical) but the cam gears are bigger on the NC23 so I would imagine its the NC23 cams you would need for the CB-1 engine
Simon

sa.racing wrote:The NC23 & NC29 Cams are not interchangeable the profiles are very similar (if not identical) but the cam gears are bigger on the NC23 so I would imagine its the NC23 cams you would need for the CB-1 engine
Simon

Thanks, excellent info.

@Tanuki, seems I'll have to pass on your offer!