Aussie 79 xs400 Build

[TimBuz]

Hey Guys, recently purchased a 79 xs 400 with intentions of restoring and possibly going cafe style with it. They seem pretty rare to find in Australia compared to the US, there's only one other on bikesales going for 5 grand which seems a little ridiculous

Its got 50,000kms on the clock but was originally not running and sat for years in a old guys garage. However all it took to start was a clean of the points and it kicked to life. Starts in 2 kicks feels like there's still plenty of compression, revs well but the carbs definitely need a clean/tune as it will die if left to idle.

Its all complete except for the tail light, however previous owner threw one in for a virago with the sale that should do for the time being. Also the front master cylinder is cracked and has a stripped screw in the reservoir and the rear master is completely frozen and really badly corroded. Calipers seem fine but will definitely get a rebuild for piece of mind.

Heres a couple of pics of the bike how I got it. You can see my mates bikes in the garage photo, ones a 71 cb450 and the other's a little honda rebel 250. Ive started stripping the bike down and bagging and tagging parts so I can figure what needs replacing. Not sure on the time frame on this build just want to get it inspected and on the road before i change things up too much.

 

[xschris]

Good find Welcome to the forum.

 

[TimBuz]

Also dont be fooled by the xs250 side covers that someo es put on. Its definitely a 400

 

[willem]

Welcome!

we're not fooled easily we know an xs400 when we see one

rear disc brake is an upgrade though (not stock), that's nice

although the drum brakes on these bikes are not bad at all, but still.

Here's some tips

 

[Sesty]

i thought rear disk were stock on some models, including the 79 xs400F. the 2F has drums in the rear

 

[TimBuz]

Yeah im fairly certain I have the 400f that comes with stock disks. Model id starts with 2L0

 

[Sesty]

based off the ID chart
2L0 UK model is a 79F but the 2L0 US model is a 78E

 

[Pork Chop]

Gday Tim, good to see another Aussie on here.

Posted via Mobile

 

[xschris]

based off the ID chart
2L0 UK model is a 79F but the 2L0 US model is a 78E

The 79f also has the 2L0 code. You would have to look at the build date to tell the difference.

 

[TimBuz]

From memory I think its 12/79. Anyway bit of an update the bike is mostly stripped down. Just need to unbolt the engine and take off the electrics. This was going to be just a tidy up but I figure I may as well clean up the frame and give the engine a polish up because its looking pretty sad on the exterior

 

[xschris]

12/79 would make it an 80 model. Does the frame and engine have the same vin?

 

[TimBuz]

Yeah engine and frame numbers both match. So does that mean I have an 80 model xs400f?

Put in a big order today for parts. Rebuilding front and rear calipers, carbys and doing fork seals. Plus a bunch of other little bits and pieces I thought I may as well get to save on shipping later. Really keen to start getting into this bike. I hadn't really looked at many xs400's before I saw this come up in the classifieds but after seeing Sandrew's feature at pipeburn.com and reading a ton of member's build threads it pretty much sealed the deal, can be turned into very cool little bikes.

 

[xschris]

Being a bike from Australia it would have a different model code than here in the u.s. Even tho it looks like a 79f it would be an 80 something in your country. Just like bikes in Europe that are 80's models but look like a 77 or 78 here in the u.s.

 

[JezXS420]

any of you blokes in vic??

im restoring a 360 with a 400 head bored out to 420

ive also got an xs250 im donoring parts from

 

[JezXS420]

oops just saw you're both nsw.. any tips for parts suppliers? mikes XS?

 

[TimBuz]

Yeah Im getting alot of my parts through mikes. Few little bling bits from dimecity like grips and a mini speedo but alot of their shit is overpriced

 

[xschris]

any of you blokes in vic??

im restoring a 360 with a 400 head bored out to 420

ive also got an xs250 im donoring parts from

Bored out to 420? What pistons are you using and what size are they to get that?

 

[JezXS420]

I'm not exactly sure! I bought it after it had been sitting on a farm for years!! no record of aus reg but ADR complianced.. has a ton of custom machined alloy parts on it.. no idea of the history.. got it for $600 not running, and a spare xs250 for $400.. replaced fusebox and some wiring, did valves, and adjusted points and it fires right up!! i want to go kickstart only but I'm curious as to should I take out the starter solenoid?

 

[TimBuz]

So little bit of an update, the past month i've stripped everything and taken the frame down to bare metal. Gave the frame and wheels the most premium rattle can respray that I could manage.

Started with a few coats of sandable primer, 5 top coats of Rustoleum Gloss Black and 3 coats of clear. Ended up looking pretty good for a home respray. Currently at the stage of getting the wheels and bars back on, still going to give the engine a tidy up cosmetically sanding the alloy and spraying the fins.

Next on the list is giving the carbs a quick clean to get it running better before its taken for an inspection, also need to get a new bracket welded for the brembo rear master cylinder that I bought. Wasnt much more than the cost of fully rebuilding the old one and will be easier to adapt for rearsets down the track. Bought a new Magura front master, new sintered pads all round and rebuilt the calipers which were fairly stuck and corroded but luckily no major pitting on the piston.

Pod filters and emgo shortys will be going on after the inspection as well as a carb rebuild and rejet.

 

[TimBuz]

Well its been a little while since I last updated this thread. Ive started reassembling the bike. Ive whacked on some pods and emgo shorty mufflers and it starts pretty easy but it runs really rough and needs the carbs rejetted (ive already given them a thorough boiling and cleaned the passages). I pulled the carbs to bump up the mains and install new throttle shaft seals, but i've realised that
1. PO has snapped the tip of the air mixture screw off into the carb body.
2. washers/seals are missing from under the mixture screws so Im guessing that's creating a big air leak.
3. I cant loosen the screws holding the butterflies to do the throttle seals and Im worried they'll strip.

At this stage im tossing up with trying to get these bs34's to work, because they seem to do the job when maintained. Or im looking at purchasing some new Mikuni VM30's. I've read alot on jetting these for kz400s, worked cb360s and cb400 twins and they seem to deliver the goods

Still got a way to go with wiring and sorting out a new seat. seat thats on there is borrowed from a friend with a cb450. I think originally it was designed for an sr