Honda-SOHC

Odd, looks to have a 550k3 tank on it but it's clearly an F model.

Isn't verdigris that blue muck associated with copper? like on copper pipes that are old?

That's just off memory, I didn't look it up.

Yeah but on that there was loads of stuff that caught the gasket as you were trying to refit the box, plus it was bloody tight getting it back in place, not a great deal at the back of a 500/550 head to do that especially if there are no studs anymore. There's only the top bolt for the tensioner that can catch it I reckon.

I seem to recall the manifolds have small restrictions in the groove which grip the o-ring Bryan so they don't come out. Could be wrong but for some reason it sounds right.

I'll try the method and report back on whether it works or not, when I eventually build this bike that is.

I've found that the easiest way to get carbs on and off is to drop the engine forward, that's assuming you've got the engine loose in the frame. So after fitting the engine just fit the back lower bolt and the back upper bolt, fit some frame protection around the frame tubes, like copper pipe insulation for instance or rags etc. Fit a small jack under the engine just to take the weight, remove the upper rear bolt and the engine will tilt forward, fit the carbs now and you'll find they go in easily and with all the rubbers in place. You can also remove the airbox mounting bolts and pull that back a little if you want some extra room.

Don't get the comment about bolts being too visible, I intend to replace my studs with bolts this time round, I'll be using the later 8mm headed bolts that Honda are still using. TBH they should be less obvious than the larger 10mm nuts it currently uses. Without the studs the carbs should slide in no problem. It's whether the bolts are easy to get at that may be a problem.

The washer and tube look like an attempt to get more spring preload Ted. I'd remove them and measure the springs free length as they are known not to be the best springs in the world, a little too bouncy was the general opinion at the time.

I'm not 100% sure but I seem to recall the tight end of the spring goes to the bottom not the top.

You can drive the new fork seals in with a large socket Ted, saves buying a seal driver. The clips can also be replaced with stainless ones to avoid them rusting. I'd also advise filling the underside of the seal with silicon grease, it helps to stop the spring getting rusty and failing, which is surprising as it should get covered in oil but it doesn't seem to as I've found the bottom of the seals just covered in rust off the spring. Same with the upper spring if it's exposed to the elements.

Myself and Roo bought some fork caps that you can adjust the preload on along with an air valve so you can have air assisted forks, they reckon a bit of air (around 5-10psi) in the forks helps to stop the fork oil foaming.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362877892416

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314092799547?hash=item492163c63b:g:-sIAAOSwg81i6JUh Those are for the CB450/500T but it's the same seller, if interested just send them a message. Roo has fitted his and found they are too high and hit the bars unless you wind down the preload till it's got 10mm of preload or 2 rings left showing. If your springs are tired that may be just what you need anyway.

What annoys me most about him is his insincerity, raves about stuff he's clearly too young to have ridden, some of the stuff he says is brilliant I haven't even heard of. There was one where he's riding around Dover and the South coast, stops at this museum where they have the biggest range of some old bike make I've never heard of, raves about them but to me they look bloody awful, ok if you like manually advancing the timing etc I suppose but they look uncomfortable and more trouble than they are worth. I can admire old bikes without going over the top, they are what they are, everyone in his eyes is the best thing since sliced bread.

His road tests are frankly bloody poor, never really criticises anything, just in case they don't offer him another, if it handles bad, say so, if the engines poor, say so. Bikers rely on good reviews to avoid wasting money on a bike they then find is not what it says on the tin.

In short Henry, be more honest, be more of a biker, if it's a bag of nails say so, stop the clowning about, stop grinning at the camera inanely, stop trying to be funny. The show would be miles better if Alan Millyard presented it and rode the bikes.

Glad to know the mystery of the camera shots, never even occurred to me that, not a technophobe.