Back with a 500 ....

[SPR]

So .... today bit the bullet and got everything ready to swap the cases for the polished ones ..........

You have to bear in mind this for me is like Ted stripping his 500 completely !!!!

Managed to get the new clutch pushrod in and still have an operating clutch - so result

Managed to not have any oil leaks - so far

All in all is seems to have gone smoothly - albeit over 4 hours !!!

It has improved the appearance somewhat although I'm not convinced I'd go the same route again with the cases

Simon

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[Johnny4428]

That’s looking good. A bit of shine looks as if we care. Good to see the proper JIS screws in there too.

[Bryanj]

Well done, always good to still work after doing things!

[SPR]

That’s looking good. A bit of shine looks as if we care. Good to see the proper JIS screws in there too.

Yep - I got all new for them

[SPR]

Well done, always good to still work after doing things!

Yet to road test 

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

There's no stopping you Simon - nice bling covers - and a
Laverda on its way. ,👍👍👍

[Oddjob]

That’s looking good. A bit of shine looks as if we care. Good to see the proper JIS screws in there too.

I hate those screws with a vengeance. Allen keyed ones don't look good but replace them with the more modern 8mm headed bolts and they look great, like they were designed to have them fitted. Plus, they don't round off, you can get more grip and pressure on them, you can use a air ratchet on them no problem, or a speed bar (like an old fashioned starting handle for a car).

The left side looks good, don't know why the clutch cover doesn't look as shiny though. Should have done the dipstick as well Simon. If I do one soon I'll send you one FOC, I've got quite a few lying around. Should have had the camshaft end caps done as well. They are meant to be semi shiny but yours have gone very dull.

The rubber on the clutch cable is supposed to slide over the top nut BTW, not a big thing but it's the little touches that complete the look IMO.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I like any fastener as long as it isn't a JIS headed screw.
I have painful memories of removing the clutch cover on my old 250 Dream. I think four of them ended up with chewed heads that had to be drilled out. Then my stud extractor only managed to undo three of the bolt shafts - the last one snapped off so had to be drilled out. I bought a Honda  T bar to put it the new screws as back in the day it was a Phillips head only world. About a year later when the casing had to come off again I still had to drill one out.

[K2-K6]

These seem a good substitute to both look in keeping and having durable drive method

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And

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Look unnoticed until you inspect more carefully, but with much more assured drive in practical use.

[SPR]

The left side looks good, don't know why the clutch cover doesn't look as shiny though. Should have done the dipstick as well Simon. If I do one soon I'll send you one FOC, I've got quite a few lying around. Should have had the camshaft end caps done as well. They are meant to be semi shiny but yours have gone very dull.

The rubber on the clutch cable is supposed to slide over the top nut BTW, not a big thing but it's the little touches that complete the look IMO.

It isn't as shiny - didn't help I suspect being packed with oily bubble wrap before I collected them ! I've tried to get it better but it would really want doing again - the other two look ok but the chain cover one has some black marks/ corrosion still visable underneath

The dipstick does look a bugger 

I was looking at getting replacement camshaft end caps and having a go with some solvol / scotchbrite - same with the tappet covers

Good spot on the clutch cable - I'd forgotten after adjusting

[Johnny4428]

I get that about the screws without a doubt. These look like a good alternative Nigel. I fitted Allen cap head screws on the 550 cases but thought they spoiled the look slightly. I will change them out yet but will probably replace or re plate old ones. Just my preference.

[Oddjob]

Seriously, try the new Honda bolts they are still using to this day, started around 1980 on bikes like the 250N etc.

They do the correct sizes, meaning if the specs say 32mm then that's what you can buy, not having to fit either a 30mm or a 35mm. Plus because the head is so small they can fit where a 6mm bolt with a 10mm head can't, like the ends of the camcover. The beauty of them is you can buy a job lot off Ebay, where a breakers has broke a late Honda and you get loads of them. Plus the part number system is very easy to understand, a standard 6 x 8mm headed bolt is 96000-0603200 for instance, that's a 6 x 32mm bolt, if you want a different size just substitute the 32 part with the required length, like 96000-0610000, which would be a 100mm bolt. You can search and check if they make a specific length very easily.

You can see them on this pic I took when restoring my L reg. Fitted on the rotor cover and the camcover.



Plus, just thought of this added bonus, any bolts that face upwards, like the camcover ones, don't get flooded with water etc when it rains, this then rusts the edges of the socket hole causing them to fail when you try to remove the bolt. They don't hold dirt the same way and are easier to clean as it's a solid surface with no cavities.

[philward]

I've got these on my 500/750 - with a touch of coppersil I have never had any problems. Look original with no corrosion
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224451498118?var=523235625776

[Johnny4428]

That’s a nice looking restoration Ken. Very interesting regarding bolts and simple ordering number system.
Phil these screws look the part too. Thanks for link.

[SPR]

Picked up a spare swing arm and had it powder coated .... so today its raining and thought ... go for it !!

All went pretty smoothly - one surpeise was the swingarm that came off had the roller bearing bush setup - no idea if this is better or worse but I'll probably get it powder coated and keep as a spare.

The end result to me looks better as the original was badly scratched - but it is really hard to tell

Simon

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