What is the red spot for

[Laverda Dave]

I began the overhaul of the 400/4 front brake caliper yesterday. Once I finally got it apart and after having to reconnect the overhauled master cylinder to pump brake fluid as the grease gun/air combo method refused to even budge the pad/piston from the caliper the piston finally popped out and it was immaculate, not a mark on it! The cause of the huffing and puffing was the brake pad seizing in the caliper bore. I bought a new piston and seal kit for it months ago having experienced badly corroded pistons in the past so I'll fit these and keep the old one as a spare as you do!

A mystery needs solving though, can anyone advise why Honda put a red spot on the outside of the caliper, was it used in the production line to indicate the piston and seal had been fitted? I know Honda marked important parts with a blob of yellow paint to indicate they had been torque set but why the red spot?
The paint of the caliper body was almost unmarked under the 20+ years of storage dirt and rats droppings and I intend to keep the original paint complete with the red spot; I just wish I knew what the spot was for?

[Nurse Julie]

As with all parts, Honda didn't make them Dave, so we think it was a sign from the brake manufacturer that the item has been tested 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[haynes66]

the honda part number for those is 01-04-24

[Orcade-Ian]

the honda part number for those is 01-04-24

You are over a month early with that one!

Ian

[Rozabikes Tim]

I began the overhaul of the 400/4 front brake caliper yesterday. Once I finally got it apart and after having to reconnect the overhauled master cylinder to pump brake fluid as the grease gun/air combo method refused to even budge the pad/piston from the caliper the piston finally popped out and it was immaculate, not a mark on it! The cause of the huffing and puffing was the brake pad seizing in the caliper bore. I bought a new piston and seal kit for it months ago having experienced badly corroded pistons in the past so I'll fit these and keep the old one as a spare as you do!

A mystery needs solving though, can anyone advise why Honda put a red spot on the outside of the caliper, was it used in the production line to indicate the piston and seal had been fitted? I know Honda marked important parts with a blob of yellow paint to indicate they had been torque set but why the red spot?
The paint of the caliper body was almost unmarked under the 20+ years of storage dirt and rats droppings and I intend to keep the original paint complete with the red spot; I just wish I knew what the spot was for?

The red dot denotes upgraded part fitted to a red bike because as we know, they are so much  faster!😜

[Laverda Dave]

🤣🤣.
I've had every colour of 400/4. I had a red one but the g/f at time didn't like it as the passenger foot rests were on the swing arm. The candy red F2 was quick though. I've heard Mr Honda blueprinted the engines in the yellow bikes in his shed to make them the fastest model and that's why they are so rare 🤥🤥🤥🤔😂

[Rozabikes Tim]

Surely Antares Blue.....printed.🤫

[TrickyMicky]

As with all parts, Honda didn't make them Dave, so we think it was a sign from the brake manufacturer that the item has been tested 🤔🤔🤔🤔

  The manufacturer was short sighted, and instead of Honda, he thought it said Hindu.

[AshimotoK0]

Just a hunch but I wonder if it was to indicate the use of DOT5 glycol based brake fluid.

By the way the fastest colour 400 (well 460) was a white one ... Mocheck Harrier 

[Bryanj]

Dont think Honda ever used dot 5 on a sohc Ash

[AshimotoK0]

Dont think Honda ever used dot 5 on a sohc Ash

Well DOT whatever it was Bryan but I meant glycol based rather than mineral like Citroen were using. Or some other fluid.

[Laverda Dave]

Just a hunch but I wonder if it was to indicate the use of DOT5 glycol based brake fluid.

By the way the fastest colour 400 (well 460) was a white one ... Mocheck Harrier 

Very true, very nice bikes as well. I followed one on eBay a couple of years ago. It had CR carbs fitted as well. The owner was honest enough to tell me the motor had some problems though, namely smoking really badly. Considering these were 460’s an oversized piston kit wasn't an option so it would have been a case of finding another barrel to bore out and assuming the pistons were still ok (and probably a new set of rings if they could be found). I think it was sold in the end after appearing on eBay a couple of times but stripped of a few things , the CR carbs being one of them.

[AshimotoK0]

Anyone remember 'Project Dole Racer' .. a magazine build around 1986 of a 400 on a budget in the style based loosely on the Mocheck Harrier?
It must have been broken for spares as I saw bits of it being sold on eBay a few years back.


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[Laverda Dave]

I don't remember that bike Ash but I like the exhaust arrangement. That would be a good basis of a special today had it survived.