What is this tool in our toolbag for?

[Laverdaroo]

As far as the CB500/550s, there seems to be one place only where this tool fits perfectly and that is at the throttle cable adjusters.

That’s what I used mine for when tinkering about as it’s a good length for said twiddling manoeuvres


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[Oddjob]

Throttle cable adjusters are 10mm so if it fits there it will also fit the tappet adjusters, so that's a more likely use that Honda would have put it in the toolkit for.

[deltarider]

Throttle cable adjusters are 10mm... [...]

Mine are 8mm.

[...] ...so if it fits there it will also fit the tappet adjusters, so that's a more likely use that Honda would have put it in the toolkit for.

Really... in a CB500/550's toolkit? My tappet adjusters have 10mm locknuts.

[Nurse Julie]

Throttle cable adjusters are 10mm... [...]

Mine are 8mm.

[...] ...so if it fits there it will also fit the tappet adjusters, so that's a more likely use that Honda would have put it in the toolkit for.

Really... in a CB500/550's toolkit? My tappet adjusters have 10mm locknuts.

Tappet adjuster lock nuts are smaller than 10mm on the 400/4, about 8mm if I remember correctly. That's why I think it is for a 400/4 tool kit and probably hundreds of other small Hondas.

[Oddjob]

Fairly sure DR that genuine Honda throttle cables have 10mm nuts on them not 8mm ones. Just posted 2 today. Might be wrong of course but they looked 10mm to me.

8mm would be correct for 400/4 tappet locknuts, seem to recall they had those little square adjusters as well that you used that little tool on. Still got one of those lying in my toolbox. C50 used the same if I recall.

[deltarider]

Definitely the adjusters at the handlebars are 8mm.
The tool was in CB500 toolbags, looong time before the CB400F (or CB350F for that matter) arrived.
Another question: what was the WRENCH AXLE extra's eye about? https://www.cmsnl.com/products/wrench-axle_89202283000/ 26mm probably for the rear axle. Could the second one have been 23mm to advance the special cranknut (behind the ignition cover)?

[Nurse Julie]

Definitely the adjusters at the handlebars are 8mm.
The tool was in CB500 toolbags, looong time before the CB400F (or CB350F for that matter) arrived.
Another question: what was the WRENCH AXLE extra's eye about? https://www.cmsnl.com/products/wrench-axle_89202283000/ 26mm probably for the rear axle. Could the second one have been 23mm to advance the special cranknut (behind the ignition cover)?

That tool was not included in the CB500/4 tool bag. Here is a photo of my owners handbook for a CB500/4, printed in 1971 and that part is not included.

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[Oddjob]

That's a pic of an early model CB500, after 2034712 it was included in the toolkit and they ditched the double bar wrench.

I was referring to the adjusters near the carbs DR, AFAIK there is only one cable with the adjuster near the bars and that is indeed 8mm.

[mickwinf]

beat me to it Ken! interestingly the later toolkit only has 2 spanners where the early one like Julies has 3, including a 8mm size, the later one only has 10x12 and 14x17 so maybe they included the 8mm on the bar to compensate?

[deltarider]

OK, one 8mm wrench was succeeded by another, so... the correct question - in general - should be: why did Honda think it necessary to supply an 8mm wrench in a CB500 toolkit?

[Oddjob]

Dunno DR, not that many 8mm nuts on the 500.

[robvangulik]

Tappet adjuster lock nuts are smaller than 10mm on the 400/4, about 8mm if I remember correctly. That's why I think it is for a 400/4 tool kit and probably hundreds of other small Hondas.

Tappet nuts on the 400 are 9 mm.

[Oddjob]

You may well be right Rob, been 30 years or so since I last did tappets on a 400/4.

[robvangulik]

I did them last week...and those of my 2 CBR's too, checked 40 valves, corrected just 2, all in all half an hours work

[davidcumbria]

Definitely the adjusters at the handlebars are 8mm.
The tool was in CB500 toolbags, looong time before the CB400F (or CB350F for that matter) arrived.
Another question: what was the WRENCH AXLE extra's eye about? https://www.cmsnl.com/products/wrench-axle_89202283000/ 26mm probably for the rear axle. Could the second one have been 23mm to advance the special cranknut (behind the ignition cover)?

That tool was not included in the CB500/4 tool bag. Here is a photo of my owners handbook for a CB500/4, printed in 1971 and that part is not included.

(Attachment Link)

Just bought a 26 mm socket for mine. I see these early 500s had that double hole wrench but it disappeared from later tool kits. Did later tool kits include a 26 mm wrench ( not the ones I’ve seen for sale ) or were Honda thinking you could undo with your teeth 🙂?