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Topics - Laverda Dave

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1
CB350/400 / Parakeet Yellow Paint Code
« on: March 15, 2024, 02:55:20 PM »
Today I dropped off the tank and side panels from Ratty with the painter (Cyclesprays in Sussex).
The plan is to paint them in Parakeet Yellow with the decals supplied by Piki.
The painter will not use RS Paints as he has had problems with paint match in the past and the paint itself he found to be very thin. He uses other makes (German I think). He cannot find a swatch for Parakeet Yellow, the closest being Honda code Y106 - Clipper Yellow, this is virtually identical as we compared it to a genuine tank and side panles I bought from DSS back in 1990 and took down with me to help with a colour match.
Does anyone know of the correct Honda paint code for Parakeet Yellow, there must be one out there as Honda list a code R-6CS for Antares Red? I have contacted Honda Customer Support and whilst they could not provide me with a paint code they have opened a case with Honda Japan.
I'm just wondering if anyone on the forum has the code imprinted on their brain!

2
Humour / Electric vehicles
« on: March 06, 2024, 10:50:59 AM »
Something to test the memory....

3
SOHC Singles & Twins / Sloper alert
« on: February 25, 2024, 09:35:29 AM »
Just seen this on eBay. Only two very poor photos but looks to be nearly all there. Still 6 days to go so likely to go for serious money but maybe worth a watch.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196261983019?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=2ZgTnFgbQ5y&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=5XpGce3OSuS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

4
CB350/400 / What is the red spot for
« on: February 24, 2024, 02:47:37 PM »
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?



5
CB350/400 / DSS Cylinder Head Gaskets
« on: February 17, 2024, 11:38:25 AM »
Has anyone purchased a 400/4 cylinder head gasket from DSS recently? He lists two types, one 'genuine Honda' for £62.98 and another pattern gasket for £24.95. I gave him a call earlier to ask what brand the pattern gasket is but they couldn't tell me, all he said was it was made in Taiwan. It is unlikely to be Athena as they are in the region of £50 and are Italian. I asked if the Honda genuine item was stamped as Honda (although I knew it wouldn't be as Honda didn't make their own gaskets). Again he couldn't tell me as the genuine items are in their US warehouse but doid say they would be stamped with the Honda part number. This means nothing really, just becuase it has a honda part number does not mean it is genuine Honda but maybe OEM and we all know what that could mean!

So, has anyone bought a head gasket recently from DSS, both 'genuine' and pattern and does the pattern one give any problems?

I would really like a High Level/NE brand head gasket but nobody appears to sell them as a seperate item, only as part of a full gasket set.

6
Announcements / The passing of a local legend
« on: February 15, 2024, 10:53:57 AM »
Sad to report the sudden passing of Mike Harrington a couple of weeks ago.
Mike was the owner of HGB and Daytona motorcycles in Ruislip Manor, Middlesex. Although in his mid 70’s he was still actively working 4 days a week in the shops and still riding his Goldwing. 
He was a legend in West London having started HGB Motorcycles in the mid 1960’s selling British bikes. He became a Honda only dealer in 1976 at HGB and took on a Kawasaki and Suzuki franchise at Daytona motorcycles across the road and later briefly added the new Triumph range to the shop.
His family requested a motorcycle escort from the church to the crematorium. The funeral took place on Monday with about 100 bikes taking part in the escort lead by two police bikes for the 10 mile journey through west London. We passed by both shops on the route. There were a lot of locals outside the shops to pay their respects.
Anyone who knew Mike would know what a legend he was both far and wide and to all his staff who frequently would start their career in the shop and never left.
RIP Mike.

7
CB350/400 / Rear tail light, can they be taken apart
« on: January 16, 2024, 10:54:07 PM »
I am going through all the chrome parts on the rat bike to determine those parts that need a re-chrome and those I can clean up. The kickstart and gear change pedal appear as they will clean up with a bit of tlc as will I hope, the header pipes will do as well.
One part that will require a re-chrome is the rear light. Having looked at the fitting I cannot fathom how to remove the reflector from the rear chrome backplate. The thick rubber bracket mounting is sandwiched between the back plate and the reflector that contains the lamp holder and I cannot see how the two parts are joined to enable me to take them apart.
Has anyone managed to separate these two parts or is it a case of these parts were all assembled as one and pressed together using a jig at the factory?
I know I can buy a repro part but they are not very good quality and I'd like to save the original if possible.

8
CB350/400 / Replacement DID wheel rims
« on: January 16, 2024, 09:12:34 PM »
I need to replace the existing wheel rims on the rat bike as the PO fitted a wider wheel rim on the back and a replacement rim on the front, both rims are rusty and the one on the back is much to wide (it was part of the chopper/cruiser look).
I notice DSS has replacement rims for £45+VAT for the front and similar for the rear. He is also selling DID rims for both but they are much more expensive at £110 for the front.
The description of these DID rims is the are from the OE manufacturer. My question is are these rims of the same design as the original DID 400/4 rims or are they so different to the extent paying double over the cheaper rim isn't worth it?

9
CB350/400 / What's my Headlamp
« on: January 13, 2024, 09:21:36 PM »
I have a Cibie headlight on the rat bike and surprisingly unlike the rest of the bike this is in very good condition apart from the adapter ring that is rusty and needs a re-chrome.
My question is on the CB400/4 I had back in the early 80’s the Cibie headlight on that had a convex glass whereas this one has a concave glass. Is this one for a motorcycle or is it for a car?

10
CB350/400 / CB400/4 Carb Float Pins
« on: January 11, 2024, 09:08:12 PM »
Does anyone know the diameter of the float pins used in the carbs and a supplier of new ones? I have mangled two of mine getting them out of the float hinge, they were stuck fast and nothing would get them out. In the end and after soaking them in clock cleaning fluid, the ultrasonic bath and carb cleaning spray I had to use a blowlamp very, very carefully to expand the hinge enough to pull the pins out but in so doing they were bent, twisted and scored by the
pliers!
From what I can see it is a length of brass rod and doesn't appear to have a taper.
This is the worst set of carbs I have ever seen, they have been soaked in carb cleaner and been in the ultrasonic bath four times for 30 minutes each time and only now are they looking clean. I soaked the jets etc in clock cleaner for 2 hours before plunging into the ultrasonic bath. Carb bodies No 1 & No.4 are replacements as the support pins were broken.

11
CB350/400 / Quick question about top yoke finish
« on: December 17, 2023, 08:05:32 PM »
Hi All.
A very quick question before I take all the parts off for powder coating tomorrow, Does anyone one know the correct finish of the top yoke and handlebar clamps? I know they are black but should they be gloss black or satin black? Most bikes I have seen and not just Honda's have a satin black finish on these parts but mine have been painted with a spray can by the PO. I've just completed a search but unable to find the answer in the 400 section.
Thanks
Dave

12
Misc / Open / Something a little different
« on: December 08, 2023, 10:11:24 AM »
Just thought I'd share this on the forum after seeing it last week at the Kempton Bike Show.
It's a fully working Myford ML7 with a difference, it's a 1/4 scale model of the real thing :o

It has a great story behind it as well. The guy who made it was showing it at a model engineering exhibition when it was spotted by the owner of Myford. He was asked by Mr Myford if he would sell it to him as he wanted it in his office. The answer was a polite 'No'. He was then asked if he didn't want to sell it would he make him one if he was paid but again the answer was a polite 'No' on the basis the guy didn't need the money. Mr Myford then pulled out the ace card and said to the modeller, 'If you make me one I will give you a brand new Myford complete with all the tooling'. The deal was done and there are now two of these fantastic models (or there were, Myford has long since gone and I don't know what happened to the other model).

I dont know if the above story is true but that was how it was told to me :)
Amazing model making, mindblowing to think the hours that must have gone into making it.

13
SOHC Singles & Twins / Nice 125S Project
« on: December 05, 2023, 08:46:58 AM »
Just come across this on eBay. Nice project for the money and it has the original silencer complete with heat shield.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145468392304?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=iDdapBYhQd2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=5XpGce3OSuS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=MORE

14
Other Bikes / What to do with a spare Honda Nighthawk frame
« on: December 02, 2023, 01:37:21 PM »
Something left field seen at the Kempton Park Classic Bike show today.

This special uses a Honda Nighthawk frame with the two downtubes cut off and replaced with a single downtube that splits under the engine into two loops that are bolted to the single downtube and rear frame section to enable the engine to be pulled out. The motor began life as a Norton ES2 500cc. The builder made his own barrel on a lathe from solid billet to enable a bigger but shorter liner and high comp piston that came with the dismantled engine to be fitted and so therefore shorten the stroke. The guy who originally began the project was a Ford development engineer who had a hand in designing the Sierra Cosworth. There was a lot of development work going on to obtain the best performance for the new Cosworth engine to power the car. At the end of one trial the pistons and liners were removed ready for the scrap bin. The development engineer saved a liner and piston for his bike project but never got round to starting it and sold everything on.  The guy who bought the pile of parts and built this bike has created a work of art in the three years it has taken to build it. The lines are spot on and the bike could almost be factory. Who would have thought a Nighthawk frame could look so good  :)

15
SOHC Singles & Twins / Unique Sloper for Sale
« on: December 02, 2023, 12:52:53 PM »
Hi All.
I spotted this CD175 Sloper for sale today at the Kempton Park Classic Bike Show and Auto Jumble. Apparently the bike is a genuine one owner example (a Concorde pilot no less) and was in daily use until Covid. It has 22,000 miles on the clock. It looks pretty solid from what I could see. Nice period patchwork on the seat. Not a bad price considering the condition and history assuming it is a genuine one owner example @£1,799 although a haggle would no doubt be called for and expected. This could be the perfect Christmas Gift for those who enjoy enduring frost bite whilst tinkering in the shed :)

Henry Cole, Alan Millyard and Skid were also there filming so best buy the Sloper before Henry does and sells it for a SPQR  ::)

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