• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

  • In order to help others find info on a particular bike, be sure to put the year, make or model of bike that you are asking a question about, in the Topic Title. This will allow people to pass by posts they have no interest in.

Like a hole in the head...

Thanks, man. I got that old desk 20 years ago for nothing, just had to haul it away, needless to say it took six men and a small boy to move it. I swear that thing must weigh 300lbs. :D It does have some nice storage space in it, though. The drawers are deep and as long as the top is wide. They just don't make things like that anymore. I might have to attach a vice and a grinder on either end of it from Harbor Freight. I'm gonna need em both. Sure would like to have a bike lift. Crawling around on the ground gets old....maybe someday.
 
Next time, start the cuts with a dremel first. The blade wont go flying around once its in the dremel slot.
 
nvr2old said:
Thanks, man. I got that old desk 20 years ago for nothing, just had to haul it away, needless to say it took six men and a small boy to move it. I swear that thing must weigh 300lbs. :D It does have some nice storage space in it, though. The drawers are deep and as long as the top is wide. They just don't make things like that anymore. I might have to attach a vice and a grinder on either end of it from Harbor Freight. I'm gonna need em both. Sure would like to have a bike lift. Crawling around on the ground gets old....maybe someday.
Click to expand...

I have been watching my local CL for a lift........I imagine it will be money well spent.

Now I am going to add " old steel desk" to my CL search.
 
An old steel desk and a stout board for a ramp is almost as good as a lift, at least for long term projects that don't need to go up and down all the time. You will need a friend or two to help get it up the ramp. Perfect height and there is a lot of space on top. And you can put the tools you are using at the time in the drawers.

It's all good.
 
Not much to report other then just getting the rest of the bike disassembled about as far as I need. Got the swing arm, shocks, carbs, air box and the wiring harness removed after work tonight.



Everything has come right off, no fuss at all. The airbox was a breeze compared to the one's on our GS's.. Didn't bust one knuckle or utter one single swear word..:D





I'm such a supporter of powder coating frames since doing the S. Man, that thing turned out nice. All you do is drop them off and when you pick them up..done. I swore I would never sand and prep another one for painting. This frame is so nice under that thin layer of dirt, though. I'm pretty sure I can just clean it, scotch brite 80% of it and sand a few spots that will need some spot priming. Then just throw on a couple of coats of black single stage urethane.



I'm gonna prep and paint the engine right in the frame, too. Remove the oil filter, the clutch cable, (forgot to pull that off..:rolleyes:) mask around it and shoot it silver. Probably paint the engine first. As one big lump it'll be easier to mask then the frame.



I'm really enjoying this. It's been a long time since I did a bike for myself, and this is the first one that I'm doing completely solo. I don't have my best friend and certified Honda Tech at my beckon call here in Sandpoint. He was the one responsible for getting my GS running so well, too. It's fun remembering procedures and everything he's taught me over these many years and applying it to this 400F.
 
Last edited:
nvr2old said:
I'm gonna prep and paint the engine right in the frame, too. Remove the oil filter, the clutch cable, (forgot to pull that off..:rolleyes:) mask around it and shoot it silver. Probably paint the engine first. As one big lump it'll be easier to mask then the frame.
Click to expand...

At this point it's about three or four bolts to remove the engine, why do all that masking?
 
I guess I just don't want to man-handle the engine by myself. I can mask quickly and easily...way faster then I can remove and re-install the engine by myself. If the frame was all scratched up and needed a complete re-do, I'd pull it out, but both are really in good enough shape that I can do it all together. I also like the fact that it's nice and stable with the front end and center stand still attached.
 
Depending on the condition of the engine, that's not a bad price for that 400F, Frank. These things bring 3-4 grand for a nice '75-'76 model. I practically stole mine..so I'm pretty stoked about getting it into primo shape for about that same asking price.
 
nvr2old said:
I guess I just don't want to man-handle the engine by myself. I can mask quickly and easily...way faster then I can remove and re-install the engine by myself. If the frame was all scratched up and needed a complete re-do, I'd pull it out, but both are really in good enough shape that I can do it all together. I also like the fact that it's nice and stable with the front end and center stand still attached.
Click to expand...
If this wasn't the meticulous painter talking I'd be doing a "yeah,right".
 
SVSooke said:
If this wasn't the meticulous painter talking I'd be doing a "yeah,right".
Click to expand...

:D Thanks, we'll see how it goes..

Borrowed the kitchen sink while my wife was at work to sand a few parts this afternoon. I love having warm running water to sand with.





The battery/filter box is a pain to sand..(another reason to love powder coating)



Did the airbox and sub fender. too. Special satin black plastic paint for those 2 parts.



Swing arm's nice and smooth now, ready for primer and paint.





I'm gonna try and get the parts that I sanded today primed and painted tomorrow, then sand on the engine and frame while they dry.
 
I wet sand in the bathtub,my wife's fine with that.The in laws freaked though.Yeah sanding with warm water is really nice.
 
The Seahawks had a bye this week, so it gave me a few more hours in the garage today..:D

Got these painted. Nice to see some finished parts to stay motivated.





Removed the front and rear engine mounts, oil filter, foot pegs, shifter, rear brake pedal, side stand, and engine covers (might polish those covers instead of painting them..hmm..). Also removed the ignition and handlebars, too. I think this is all that needs to come off now. Time to start cleaning and sanding.









 
Last edited:
A little progress in the past couple of days. Got the engine and the swing arm area of the frame all cleaned up and ready to start sanding for paint.





I also started fitting the Ducati 750SS tail section. It's so close to the same, I'm amazed. The Duc is quite a bit larger physically.







I was really hoping to use the stock Honda seat latch and hinges, but they're not going to work. The seat pan sits right on top of them





I'm going to leave them there, though. Thought about cutting them off, but decided against it. If I ever want to return it to stock, I'll be glad I didn't.

The back fit real close, but not quite. I could drop the back, but that would raise the front which I don't want as it sits on the frame rails perfectly this way.





The plan is to fill the existing holes and then mold in a fiberglass "ear" to the bottom of the tail where the new bolt hole will go through. I can make it almost disappear with the paint scheme I have in mind. The PO of this part had it sand blasted..gulp. Almost ruined it and decided to buy new aftermarket parts for his restoration. I painted his bike and he asked me if I wanted the old fiberglass body parts. Sure. I'll find a use for them. Glad I did. I think it'll look really right on this 400F.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Zellock
That's a Texas GS450T, y'all
2
Replies
23
Views
177
Rich82GS750TZ
Rich82GS750TZ
G
A little story on how I intially broke more parts on my bike than I repaired
Replies
8
Views
1K
eil
eil
N
Into the deep end with an 82' gs1100e
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
7K
tosaw
T
D
'82 GS1100E finally...
Replies
11
Views
607
dorkburger
dorkburger
S
1981 GS550T Oil Cover Studs and Nuts - Also first post as a new member!!
Replies
9
Views
489
cowboyup3371
cowboyup3371
Back
Top