Honda-SOHC

Partslist says: BAR B, HANDLE. PN: 99005-02000. What is it for? Is that 'B' maybe a misread '8' in an older document? Width is 8mm.

My silencers look still nice from the outside, but I have no illusion on the inside. When kicked, you can hear it rattle inside, indicating not all interior material is where it is supposed to be. I had the same with my first set which lasted some 75.000 km and thereafter was happily welcomed by an other CB500 owner. I always wondered to what extend this affects the correct 'breathing' of the engine. I know an exhaust must produce some back pressure to have the combustion chambers adequately filled, but... is the form of the first half of the exhaust responsible for this or are the dampeners in the rear part, which silence the sound of more importance? To be on the safe side, I have chosen to run my bike just slightly richer than standard, meaning I've raised the needles one notch. All the rest is standard.

In another thread I have explained, I always had a problem with a wobbly kicker, ever since I acquired my bike in 1980. For pics please go to http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,27807.msg260807.html#msg260807 and the replies that followed.
I have examined the parts involved some more and maybe, maybe I have found the root cause of why I never was able to fasten that wobbly kicker well.
In the pic below you see the part that slides over the splines of the shaft. Now it's about the hole where the bolt that secures the kicker to the shaft, ends. I have two of these bodies and both have the same burred hole. I don't know if Honda has done it on purpose, but both holes are thus that it is impossible to use an even fraction of a millimeter larger bolt. That makes sense in a way, as a bolt protruding too far, would hinder a free movement of the assembly. There's not that much room for rotation when everything is assembled to the splines. So, any bolt is stopped there. It's impossible to torque them more than the narrowed bottom of that hole will allow. So if you think you have fastened the bolt real well, it could be an illusion: the bolt simply can't go any further because of the burred end of that hole. Again, I do not know if it was intentional or if it's just a burr on both parts that I have.
Sadly I may be too late with my discovery. The splines are not that good anymore. But maybe I'll have one final chance. Here's the plan. I will try to tidy the splines as much as possible - which is not much - using that special file again and then, it will be either a one mm shorter bolt, so it won't be stopped or ream that hole so it will allow the bolt's end to pass just half the mm needed. What do you think?

I've scored a sound secondhand buddyseat yesterday (PN.: 77200-374-003). Now all seat covers will end like the one on the right, presumably UV light being the main culprit. Yet I wonder, is there anything one can do, to prolong its life? Is it vinyl and does that absorb any substance that may help to keep it supple? Anyway to shield it?

Some years ago Philips had already announced, the multinational would withdraw from the consumer goods market and gradually concentrate on medical equipment. You will still find consumer goods like televisions with the name Philips on it, but they are now produced by other companies that have bought the name. We can regret Philip's departure - the company has not only been a great innovator (compact cassette, CD to mention a few) but also has, from its very beginning in the 19th century shown an exemplary social responsibility. Workers and their families have been housed, were taken care off and their children were educated in schools, which was not the habit in those years. Workers could permanently educate themselves to a higher level. The result: the city of Eindhoven which nowadays is regarded as the silicon valley of West Europe. Personally I have had the pleasure, in my student years, to show films on Philips' legendary DP70 that came with aa hundred years guarantee!, btw, the only cinema projector that has been rewarded an Oscar.
Some 30 years ago I had bought the Philips Vision Plus H4, after it had performed best in a test, offering 30% more light than the competition. A truly excellent H4 that still serves in my headlamp. Just the other day however, I could not resist a later model, the X-treme Vision Moto, when it came on offer for a reduced price. Now one can argue € 13,50 instead of € 17,50 is still a hefty price, but who knows how much longer they will be obtainable. This H4 was especially designed for motorcycles and even riders on the fiercest trembling British bikes can rest reassured: after a ride your kidneys may have switched places, your Philips will still live, as it can withstand up to 10G!

On p. 90 of the Shop Manual CB500-550 we find a coil test prescribed (see below). I don't quite understand Fig. 275 that shows three pointed electrodes. Why three and not just two?

Just watched a Youtube vid that explained well (finally) what it in essence is and what one can do with it. The vid is British and a relief after watching US vids that usually show someone with a cap in front of a monstrous pick-up truck who adresses you with a lot of 'you guys', goes hysterical about his new toy and where you usually learn... nothing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEzkoF-gAn4 I wondered if any of you have experience with an affordable handheld automotive oscilloscope and if you find them useful for our bikes.