[CresentSon]

Complete Newb,
In over my head,
78 CB400T-I Hawk Clunker, should be fun.

So heres what I started with...

 

[CresentSon]

50 Bucks and a pep talk later...

 

[CresentSon]

Then there's the airbox.
This is a first for me. Yeah, those are carpenter ants.

 

[kirkn]

Steady On, and you'll get there!

Looks like a nice project. And a nice enough bike to have when yer done! Looks like the 'economy' model of that bike - drum brake and no tach? Still, the fundamental bike is a winner!

Keep us posted with your progress.

Kirk

 

[CresentSon]

And here's how she sits... awaiting road glory.

 

[CresentSon]

I have Torn down the engine, she looks surprisingly clean. She has been sitting since '86. PO dropped, dented tank, bent bars, no frame damage though. The tank I can fix, the bars I'll replace (dragbars I think, dont want to stoop to low). Shattered two signals, headlight housing, rear lens.

Here's where I am, with a long way to go...

Engine: Waiting on pars and $$$...
Compression's low, I know, but I wanted a challenge.
(hoping I can learn more this way)
working on new rings, seals, valve job if needed (if needed I'll outsource valves)
Motor paint job...

Body: Sanding and repainting now...
Dented tank.
Rusty Fenders.
Frame and swing needs paint.

Exhaust: I'll cross that road when I get there...
Gotta be replaced. Haven't decided on used stock or aftermarket.
Might try welding on straight with Cherry Bombs. They're made in my town...

Carbs: That'll have to wait till after engine work is done I think
Getting Kyster kit, unless exhaust issues = rejetting or new carbs.
Need to research aftermarket, although that may mean clamp on filters.

Wheels: Gotta have a working bike first, or is that the other way around?
Brakes are functional, finally a positive
Spokes and rim are solid though rusty... Paint or Powder time.
New rubber, that'll come later.

Lights:
Aftermarket all around, I want something more low profile.

Steering:
Bearing and seals are good.
Need to buy or Fab bars.
Plan to paint tubes, strictly aesthetic.

Seat:
Pan rusted around edges. I ground down what was bad and kinda like the new shape.
Recarved the foam, plan to sew new cover soon...
What, yeah my mom taught me to sew, and I'm pretty good too.

Electrical:
I have no idea, one step at a time.

ENGINE TURNS
GEARS SHIFT
WHEELS TURN
SEEDO'S GOOD
FRAME'S SOLID (Working on title though, I'm a cop, VIN's clear)
More pics to follow...

 

[CresentSon]

Steady On, and you'll get there!

Looks like a nice project. And a nice enough bike to have when yer done! Looks like the 'economy' model of that bike - drum brake and no tach? Still, the fundamental bike is a winner!

Keep us posted with your progress.

Kirk

Keep the pep talks coming Kirk!

Good spirits and a solid respect for this old junk heap won't get me there alone.
It'll take a while, but I think I've assumed the worst, and I'm prepared for the long haul.

 

[kirkn]

FRAME'S SOLID (Working on title though, I'm a cop, VIN's clear)
quote]


All that time, effort and $$$ on a bike with no title? Man you DO like to gamble...

Maybe being a cop gets you better treatment, but my experience with DMV types is they are generally unhelpful, bureaucratic, obstructionist nannies...

To them, there is apparently NO legitimate reason or scenario why anyone could possibly have an untitled vehicle in their possession, short of theft.

Good luck with it, anyway. I'll do my best with the pep talks! I LIKE resurrecting the ol' heaps.

Kirk

 

[CresentSon]

If all else fails I can get another frame, I am pretty much building from scratch anyway!
Good news is anything I build or buy can be used on a new acquisition down the road. Major reason to stick to aftermarket. Plus it'll be a Cafe/Rat Hybrid when I'm done.

Nothing Ventured...

 

[Henryinva]

Yep, thats what I did just yesterday. Had the guy send me the neck, the title and a bill of sale. pulled that off for 50 bucks.
Re-titling companies want 100-150 bucks.
DMV wants you to DIE from frustration and that'll cost you 1.50 for the bullet after dealing with those idiots!

Im just going to keep my original bill of sale for my bike, transfer the title on the "bike frame I just bought" and hang the neck up in the garage in case I run into any problems with the police someday...no offense....

Henry

 

[CresentSon]

Henry has got the right attitude,
Personally I have an edge, I searched the database and found the PO's name. He gave up the bike in lieu of paying the $65 owed to the mechanic for the quote. I'm sure he'd have no problem signing a lost title application for me. In Texas when a vehicle changes hands you can apply for a no registration title if the vehicle isn't running (relieves the insurance and registration burden). $2 for the lost title app, $5 for the no registration, PO's signature BADDA BING... Only takes about two weeks.

In the mean time... I got a little ahead of myself.

 

[CresentSon]

I new I'd have to go deep because of the compression problems, but as I was inspecting the seals before pulling out the tools I found where the PO had used silicon caulk on cylinder base gasket. So I started pullin'.

Surgery finding include:
-Yup, the base gasket was blown.
-There were alot of scratches under the gaskets (PO scraping off while changing?).
-No obvious cylinder or piston warpage (new rings are in order).

On the whole she looks clean, but i don't have the gear to rule out valve issues.
Other than the silicon, no smoking gun on the compression issues...
I did notice the piston on the caulked side had more carbon.

Any thoughts on the next engine move????

 

[Henryinva]

Well, looks like you've got your work cut out for yourself! Start havin at it!
Start at the beer store first thing! Then a good hot tank!

Have fun!

Henry

 

[CresentSon]

I have several obstacles in the way of working on the engine at the moment. One of which is elusive parts. In the mean time I have body work to do...

The tins are in good shape, except the pitted chrome. Sanding and priming done.
The tank is solid, but has two massive dents. I had pondered a nice 450 tank with a nice exposed gas cap, rather than the funky lid the Hawk is known for, but this bugger is growing on me. So I spent weeks popping the dents, and now the tank is undergoing sanding and bondo... which I have never done :?

here are a few before shots

 

[CresentSon]

Not the most advanced set up I admit, but it gets the job done. I was planning flat black and anti-chrome(aka brushed aluminum), but now I'm leaning towards a mix of flat black, cobalt blue, and aluminum. The cobalt would be mostly accent and pinstripe, but I've got a ways to go before that. I need to paint or powder the frame too, probably the next step while I ponder engine issues and wait on parts...

In the mean time here are some during shots.

The bondo was easier than I though although I do have a spot on the side where i couldn't flatten out a crease but it is hardly noticeable primed... enjoy

 

[Henryinva]

Rattle can paint job. Theres a trick to doing it......

 

[leethal]

Dude...you are flyin man. I'm keen to start ripping up my engine into tiny little pieces in the pursuit of knowledge, but I know I'll forget everything if I dont reasemble asap.

Keep up the good work.

Lee

 

[NE350]

Heneryinva,

Please, share you trick to rattle can painting!!!

Matt

 

[Henryinva]

Heneryinva,

Please, share you trick to rattle can painting!!!

Matt

I'll do that later today. Just woke up here in a fog............

Henry

 

[Bird76Mojo]

I'll do that later today. Just woke up here in a fog............ Henry

That aint no s*#t!! I woke up in a fog too, but on the upside, I now feel like Hugh Hefner...


I'm waiting on those "instructions" as well.

GB :mrgreen: