Clock Sealing Bands

[Lynx]

Does anyone know where you can get the stainless steel bands that hold the clocks together on the 400? I've seen on fleabay a few times, chrome clock covers with a bolt together sealing bands. These would be ideal.

[kent400]

You won't find new bands, provided they have been removed correctly they can be re-used. Damaged ones can be improved if the are not too dire.

[Lynx]

I used a strip of plastic to protect them when I was putting them back together but you can still see they have been apart  .

[kent400]

I'm assuming there are marks on the top of the bands where you folded them back over the base using pliers. It sounds like you will have to take the bands off again. You can remove the marks it not too deep by polishing them out with wet of dry paper followed by a metal polish.  The best way to do this is to place the the band on the body the wrong way round (once dismantled) thus keeping it flat and then on a flat surface work it up, and down on a fine grade paper. Polishing bands on a bench mop can only be achieved by again placing if the wrong way round on the body. Polishing the band without the support of the body is somewhat hazardous, don't ask how I know this!

You should be able to replace the bands with a plastic ring to protect it but it does require a great deal of care and it's time consuming. A better method is to bore a hole the same size as the body in a piece of wood , so the body drops into it up to the band. If you have a bench drill press place the gauge in the block with a plastic punch in the drill chuck and press the band back as you revolve the gauge.

One possible alternative to the wood block is a piece of plastic drain pipe that the gauge will drop into, not sure if you can find a piece the correct size but if it's a bit too big a saw cut and a couplle of hose clips closed up  might bring it to the correct size   

[Drew400]

I'd love to find some of these bolt-on bands you mentioned, Lynx. I doubt any amount of polishing, drain pipes, etc. will enable me to repair the ones I cocked up on my bike!

[Lynx]

Hi Drew. Yes. I've only seen them on eBAY as a set with chrome clock covers.

[Bodd]

If you take your time and are careful you shouldn't need new ones, this is how I did mine, part way down the page, I have had the tacho apart again since then too.

[Drew400]

Hi Bodd,

What a terrific site you have created, with lots of tips and illustrations for other tasks on my to do list... thank you!

Cheers, D

(ex-pat Lancastrian)

[Bodd]

Thanks D, I'm no expert though, I've been winging it from the start as I did with the Yamaha RD250E, at least as I am doing a cafe racer this time I don't have to stick to a set of strict restoration rules like I did with the Yam.

[kent400]

Nice job refitting those bands Bodd, I favour putting a hose clamp around the band before removal to prevent the band spreading outwards especially on those fitted to CB750 gauges where there's such a small amount of the band to fold back over the base.

The other method to deal with the band is to cut it, carefully spread it and lift is off. To refit apply some epoxy two part adhesive on the base flange and secure the band with a large hose clamp until the epoxy has cured. If the point where the band was cut is placed at the bottom it's hard to spot. A Dremel rotary tool fitted with a cutting disc is probably the best method, those cutting discs  are only about 1 mm thick.

I have some cut bands that are perfect and will look a whole lot better when fitted than pliers marks when fitted. Just PM drew if that helps. I would add I didn't cut those bands!

[Trigger]

If you cut it, you will always see the join. I just use a piston ring clamp and a small pin hammer to panel beat it back into place.

[AshimotoK0]

I got a micro spot welder for a job I am doing and am going  to try on cut bands but not had time yet. I was going to Dremel the outside of the two clock body 'halves' slightly to make up for the cut gap.

Cheers ... AshD