Aye SteveL, apologies for a delayed reply to this plea for assistance.

Fleabay Lot No.: 296512993468

BUT! Just shy of £100 for a head gasket seems extortionate. Especially, when there will be an import duty, VAT add-on above that and if they are shipping rather than flying, the delay could be worse.

I have dealt with the seller some years ago and I was very pleased with the condition of the 2nd-hand parts I purchased, packaging, etc., so I don't think quality should be a problem.

Alternative is "Yoshi Parts" in Japan, here is the link, with GB selected as the destination and P+P costs, but NO import duty that I can see.

Link: Yoshi_Parts_2NY111810000

Fowlers, Bristol, need to order one, but appears to be still available. Price inc VAT = £66-68 + P&P Nae cheap! But for convenience, the best a bor can get. 

Link: SRX400_head_gasket_2NY-11181-00

Trust that you and yours are all chipper?

Good health, BillR

Positive news that the bike is still going. Best of luck with reacquainting yourself with it 🤞
Cheers, Michael

with spring upon us it's time for me to sort out my oil burning 400. so, off comes the barrel and off to the engineers for a rebore, out to the size of my +50 piston.

the sticky problem will be the rebuild, going to need a top end gasket set... in reality just a head gasket will do and a set of exhaust rings (which are the same as the 600 so not an issue.)

has anyone sourced a gasket kit for 400's

it may be that the existing gasket will be ok, i'll find out tomorrow...

No chance of getting this thing MOT'd at the moment......

The front brake was easily fixed. My friend suggested trying a Chinese master cylinder off eBay, they are only £10 post free incredibly.

Looking through my spares I had the feeling I'd already got one and lo and behold, yes I had. Bought for my 750 Monster about 2 years ago but the mirror mount was wrong so I never fitted it. It bolted straight on and bled up almost immediately. I think I paid about £30 - £40 but it seems to work very well though not tested on the road yet.

I'm now going through the ignition system which isn't easy. Coils seem almost impossible to get at .I've already encountered problems with spark plug threads as earlier posts show.

Upon checking the carb to head inlet rubbers they are cracked and hard as rock so they are going in the bin as fitting the carbs has become increasingly difficult-I must have had them on and off at least 10 times!. Fortunately China has come to the rescue again with new ones at £10 a set. Hopefully they will do the trick but the airbox rubbers are just as bad and the only new ones I can source at the moment are from CMSNL in Holland.............

Posh! Paint never was cheap and hourly rates, even for cash jobs must have gone up a bit since I had the Ducati 450's tank done for £250-00, plus the paint and petrol proof lacquer that now ethanol is here is essential in my mind.

As for the shed contents, it looks a good deal tidier than many professional "workshops" I've encountered. 

Good health, BillR