New pattern clocks

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

My late father always said a firms reputation is only as good as it's worst employee.
Looks like DS is the same.

[Athame57]

My late father always said a firms reputation is only as good as it's worst employee.
Looks like DS is the same.

I think it is their batch Ted. Maybe some dizzy worker in Taiwan can't tell the difference between Ying and Yang and messed them up.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

That made me smile.😁😁😁

There seems to be a few issues with some DS Parts I had the problem with my 500 rear lock ring, other members have had issues with their 400 Petrol Tank and a recent seat not fitting. Might be a change in suppliers due to price pressures so customers become part of  the quality control loop.There seems to be a few issues with some DS Parts I had the problem with my 500 rear lock ring, other members have had issues with their 400 Petrol Tank and a recent seat not fitting. Might be a change in suppliers due to price pressures so customers become part of  the quality control loop.

[TrickyMicky]

As the clocks look as good as they do, changing the backs is not such an earth shattering problem eh?  I'm sure that if you went to any dealer for a part you would not expect them to have opened up every single box of every item to check the contents. If I bought an item and saw the box had been opened, I would be suspicious.   
      On a different subject, is anno domini catching up with me or what?  But I was trying to attach a photo to an earlier post, and it keeps getting returned as "too large".  I don't think I am doing anything differently to what I have done before, have the requirements been altered at all?

[Athame57]

Ted.... your link didn't work, always check a link before you leave it! 

[Athame57]

As the clocks look as good as they do, changing the backs is not such an earth shattering problem eh?  ...

Nah, it's not earth shattering and they are reacting quickly too. I had wondered if I had been posted the Tacho from a different model or something. 

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Ted.... your link didn't work, always check a link before you leave it! 

I did not knowingly post a link I'm using my phone it has a mind of it's own.
I think I have deleted the ghost link.

[Mikep328]

In comparing the speedo/tach backs on the pair I received to the old/new pics of the tach posted previously, I see that my new speedo back matches the pic of the "old" tach back.  The tach back of the new pair is the opposite.  So I'll swap the backs and they should fit properly.   Again, this should have been checked at DSS before shipping but it's a 5 minute "fix." 

Of course, if the backs are the same on a new tach and speedo, one of them won't mount and will have to be replaced by DSS.

[Athame57]

In comparing the speedo/tach backs on the pair I received to the old/new pics of the tach posted previously, I see that my new speedo back matches the pic of the "old" tach back.  The tach back of the new pair is the opposite.  So I'll swap the backs and they should fit properly.

This is what DSS quickly discovered, however I had gotten my speedo from a different source and it was ok, I had nothing to compare my ill fitting tacho with. DSS have responded well though, post office guaranteed delivery by 13.00hrs today. To be fair to DSS though, how do you expect this to happen?

[Mikep328]

I swapped the backs and the clocks mounted perfectly on the bike with no issues at all.  Had to unbolt the headlight shell to get the new wires in - not enough clearance with it in place to get my fingers behind it.  The whole operation to swap the backs, remove the old/install the new clocks took maybe 45 minutes.

One thing to be aware of for Concours folks if you haven't already noticed from the pics posted earlier:  The clocks do NOT have the "NIPPON SEIKI" trademark at the 6 o'clock position on the face AND the speedo has a label at the "130" MPH mark where on the original (at least on my '76 UK model), "120" is the last labeled index line.  The original has an index line for 130 MPH but it is not labeled 

[Athame57]

One thing to be aware of for Concours folks if you haven't already noticed from the pics posted earlier:  The clocks do NOT have the "NIPPON SEIKI" trademark at the 6 o'clock position on the face AND the speedo has a label at the "130" MPH mark where on the original (at least on my '76 UK model), "120" is the last labeled index line.  The original has an index line for 130 MPH but it is not labeled

You've got the version 2 then, mine has 130 mph labeled, and yes, if you peep down the bottom side you'll see Nippon Seiki down there. The is also a version that has the speed in Kph in smaller numerals on the inside track. See this: https://www.cb750faces.com/en/honda-cb400-four/86-437-honda-cb400f-four-face-plates-set-mph.html#/29-set_of_two_crimp_rings-not_included/61-version_speedo-version_1
Version 1 is obviously for the UK market because of the red line at 70mph.

[Athame57]

Well ain't that pretty?  My correct tacho base arrived this morning, boy DSS put that right quick. Fitting still wasn't plain sailing for me though because while the headlamp shell was open I had pulled a wire that was going to give at some point anyway from the light bulb housing, fixing that it wasn't a job I could do myself for the want of tools, so off to the garage and it cost me £20.oo to get sorted, stil it could have happened in a worse time and place! 

[kent400]

Speedometers fitted to the 400 Fours marked to 130mph were only sold in the USA, UK models were marked to 120mph no idea why there's a difference. Internally both types are the same. Replica ones are only suitable for the F1 model as the F2 has a km/h scale in green on the dial face.

A few owners have been unhappy with the CB750F replica gauges, internally those are similar to Seiki gauges and nothing like the the original ND ones. Those are only suitable for later models with a side trip reset rather than those that have the rear reset.

Only a few weeks ago a never fitted CB750F tacho appeared, Marked ND with a dial face screw that had fallen out and obviously the screw hasn't been tightened when the gauge was assembled.   In fact it wasn't an ND the mechanism it was a Seiki type. Obviously a replica masquerading as a genuine ND. Something to watch out for.

As for the replica 400F ones it will be interesting to hear owners  views as time goes by.   

[Mikep328]

As is true with most pattern parts for just about any vehicle, the ONLY people that will know the difference is a Concours judge...or some folks on this website!  Nobody that walks up and looks at the bike is going to notice that (in the case of the DSS instruments) there is no "NIPPON SEIKI" trademark/logo in small caps at the bottom of the face (6'oclock position) OR that it has "130" at the last index mark where the original UK version did not.

One thing that MIGHT be worth considering re adding the new clocks is that they (of course) look brand new while the rest of the bike probably does not.  I will admit that while I really disliked the faded red zone of the old tach,  I would prefer a little bit of "fading" on the new ones to better match the bike.  I still want it "red," not a slightly pinkish off-white like my old one, just a tiny bit less red! 

[Athame57]

One thing that MIGHT be worth considering re adding the new clocks is that they (of course) look brand new while the rest of the bike probably does not.  I will admit that while I really disliked the faded red zone of the old tach,  I would prefer a little bit of "fading" on the new ones to better match the bike.  I still want it "red," not a slightly pinkish off-white like my old one, just a tiny bit less red! 

I've got a new tank & cap, switchgear and repainted yoke to go with my clocks  With a bit of patience your red zone will fade especially if you make apoint of leaving it in the sunlight, right now would be a good time to start! 
I now know the 130mph speedo I just changed can't have been the original so I don't know even more so what her true mileage is, not that I really care.