Honda-SOHC

If I have worked the size out correctly the captive headlamp earth nuts on the 400 & 500 are M9 presumably 1.25 pitch thread can anyone point me in the direction of a supplier for some SS bolts?

I had some SS hex headed flange bolts in my stock & could do with a couple more.

Purists do not read beyond this point.

As some folk will know I have fitted a LED unit to my 500 - good old google has come up with a suggestion that I might like this retro P700 type lamp.

Just wondered if anyone here has fitted one - a bit cheaper than the DS unit - not sure what the beam pattern would be like.

P 700 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

Parts manual shows NGK D-7ES or Denso X-22ES

The Denso seems to now have a U at the end now shows as Denso X-22ES-U

The NGK looks as though it is obsolete - I have resistor caps so don't want NGK DR-7ES.

Green Spark Plug Co shows the Denso X-22ES-U at good price.

Can't find my old spark plugs - I've been using some used NGK D8EA plugs to keep debris out.

Is there an easy fix for floppy footrest when in the upright position?

I bought a B & W rear plate for my 500 in February this year from a firm calling themselves "Qualitypressings" on flea bay (seller currently on holiday).
It was not cheap at £18.70  it included a pretty substantial bonded on alloy backing plate so on the face of it seemed good quality when it arrived.

I was well miffed when today as I carefully attached the plate to the rear fender mounting the black backing was already starting to bulge from the plate.
Even worse as I tightened up the plastic screws two ping marks appeared on the plate that have no obvious cause - not the mounting bracket plus no corresponding marks on the back of the plate. The rear of the plate when I removed it is lovely unmarked flat alloy wtf. I have contacted the seller but unlikely they will replace it f.o.c. imho.

Does anyone make propper pressed plates today or are they all stick on types as mine clearly is?

Wish I had orderd B&W plastic now.

.Pic 1 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

.Pic 2 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

Thought I would bob the carbs onto the engine - not difficult - nicely in place nipped up the circlips.
Thought I might as well pop the 4 into 1 air chamber box onto the carb intakes.
It will not fit from the carb side of the frame so tried popping it down from the top in the middle of the frame with the battery & battery box removed but it is stll too big to fit past the right side of the frame.
I have the four rubbers fitted to the plastic air chamber box - I can get the rubber onto number 1 carb but the other end will not get past the frame!


Do I need to remove the right hand upper engine mounting bracket to get the end of the air chamber box past the frame or is there some other rubics cube route that I am missing?

I have removed the carbs again just in case!!

I need to start thinking seriously about an exhaust stystem for the 500 I'm minded to go for the Dekelvic system as it's not daft money plus it's stainless as well.
I like a longer silencer so the Mega looks good plus they do Black Ceramic for a bit extra not sure what it will look like in a couple of years.........but.

When these bikes were new in the 1970's I thought the exhaust system was very dated across the range compared to other bikes of the period (the word bulbous comes to mind) - I thought Goldstar silencers looked great on my Triumph 21 - now I think the original Honda four pipe system looks right on a 1972/3 era bike. Such a pity that Dekelvic do not make a four pipe system.

Are there other new options on the new market that I am missing?