Honda-SOHC

rear view by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

So this morning before Brunch I fitted the right side system (I still plan to remove the left upper for fettlig) including looking for the parts and the right spanner done in 40 minutes - it went like a dream.

Slight improvement on previous method of fitting the Delkevic system. Firstly I fitted the lower pipe threading on the clamp beforehand. I held the pipe into number three exhaust port whilst holding the silencer end pretty much in line with the inside of the hanging bracket in place - I temporarily used a thinner bolt to pop it through the bracket to hold the silencer roughly in position. I then fitted the collets into position and nipped up the clamp ensuring it felt free, cleared the frame, the engine it looked nice and square into the port. I then removed the temporary bolt fitting one the right size and nipping it up so the bracket was fully against the hanger.

I fitted the joint & clip  onto the lower silencer, the top silencer with clamp over the pipe without the rear bracket in place I fitted into the area of number four port so I could slot the top silencer into the joint pipe. Bungee strap wrapped around the end of the silencer to stop the rear joint from poping out of place. Front collets in place then nipped up checking it was clear of the frame and engine. There is plenty of room to then fit the rear silencer bracket in place, tighten the two nuts. Then push back the main bolt to slip on the second bracket.

Lower silencer bracket is on the inside of the hangar, upper silencer is on the outside - nip up exhuast clamps and finally put a nut on the hanger bolt. At the moment I have no rear footrests fitted as I'm not as yet happy with the way they "hang".

Clearly I learnt a lot from doing the left side - I will be removing the left top silencer over the next few days to fettle so it's as good as the right side.

I agree with your approach using our real advantage as time rich private restorers. So what if takes hours  - getting an unstressed connection at the ports  that you don’t have to worry about will be worth it. Too much to hope that these aftermarket units would just bolt on but your patience is going to be rewarded.

Oh David I like the term time rich I just wish I had the phrase energy rich to match it.
I fitted the side stand in place before fitting the left side system - when using my spring puller I was giving it more grunt that some well known Tennis players.
It was my third full on fully grunted effort that got the piddling looking spring into the slot!  :'( :'( :'(

Fashion is a strange thing if can make a none-PC comparison when I was a teenager the Mini Skirt was all the rage - for me it has never gone out of fashion. The Lotus Elan S4 was always  attractive - it still is today.

In the early 1970's I thought the four pipe bulbous system on Hondas was dated compared to a decent four into one system.
Now 50 years later I chose the four pipe system not for orginality or as they are cheap - I finally understood that Honda were aiming for a classic style that endures.

That bike sure is looking pretty, I have always liked the looks of those 500 pipes, it sounds like a lot of faffing around to fit them but it will be worth it in the end.
Keep up the good work.

Cheers

Dennis