Honda-SOHC

When I worked as a freelancer in the TV business I would get to demonstrate post production kit for a Japanese manufacturer at trade shows.
This company developed a really useful solid state disc recorder/player that was revolutionary at the time.
I demoed it at a couple of shows and around London.
Then they let us have to use at the place I worked at most of the time to beta test it.
Sadly they decided they couldn't sell it for the price they wanted to and cancelled the product.
We wanted to keep the one on beta test as it was so useful and offered to buy it.
Nope, it went back to them and was crushed.

When I questioned this I was told the following story.

When this manufacturer imported kit into the UK, it went into a bonded warehouse so they only paid import duties and vat when it left the warehouse to go to the retail wholesaler.
If there was left over stock in the bonded warehouse when a new model came out the old stock was crushed under the watchful eye of a HMCR official so no vat or import duties were liable on the old stock.
ie perfectly good brand new kit is crushed to avoid competing with new models and paying the import duties.
I'm sure it still happens today.

I've put 3000 miles on my Dunlop K82s last year and you wouldn't know to look at them, but they're on a 400/4 so not that heavy, not very powerful and I don't wear trousers with knee sliders. Yet.
Got lots of friends with classic bikes on Roadriders who are very happy with them.

Avon Tyres produced their last tyre in the UK Melksham factory in December.
Production of bike tyres will continue in France at the same factory that makes Dunlops, both being owned by Goodyear.
More info https://www.speedweek.com/amp/katalog/news/206278/Avon-Zusammenlegung-mit-Dunlop-in-Frankreich.html?lang=en#

There's a very good book on the Lancaster by Leo McKinstry "Lancaster: The Second World War's Greatest Bomber" for those interested.

I've also recently read "The Merlin:The Engine that won the Second World War", bit of a dry read but some fascinating  facts about not only the Merlin but the history of Rolls Royce and how they got into aero engines starting with the "Eagle" in WW1. Most if not all of their aero engines were SOHC and named after raptors not magicians...

No probs mate.
I too messed about trying to solder bits back in whilst the switch was hanging from the bars.
The next time I removed the whole lot and it was so much easier.
Just left some thick strimmer line in place to pull back.
It’s one of those jobs that looks worse than it actually is.

After a quick search inevitably there are several YouTube videos on doing a conversion.
Cursory look suggests they buy an air operated ram and replace the existing. Some welding required.

The floor is concrete but not that smooth so the larger the wheel the better.
I've adapted my bike ramp so it can go sideways both ends, front was on casters and the rear a solid axle.
I made two brackets up to carry casters and bolted them to the rear.
Works quite well now.

Found it. Bryan pointed out its the same as the 500/4 spring part number 35318259000

https://www.fowlersparts.co.uk/search/part/35318259000

If it turns out you need one

Just caught up with this.
Very interesting to read of T150V.
Lovely bike you've got there and sounds like its pretty sorted now.
Having a light clutch points to it being well renovated as they are notoriously heavy if not put together correctly, all possible but knowledge required.
As Roo has said I've got a pretty tatty T160 which is an American re-import that I hope to do a full restore on as time and dosh allows.
The good news is it has less than 6000 miles on the clock, the less good is that some of the work done hasn't been done well which is a concern.
As far as I can tell the engine has never been apart, we shall see.
Whatever it should be fun to do.
The good folk of this forum often describe their latest projects as money pits, I think I shall be skirting round the edge of a nearby financial black hole!