Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => Other Bikes => Topic started by: florence on June 28, 2016, 09:04:26 AM
-
I have discovered that Honda CB350K has an odd sized headlamp, the same size as 400/4 in fact. Does anyone know if it is also the same size as CB250N?
-
Yes, its the same. If you get the pattern 400N headlamp from M&P it will fit. Furthermore, the rim is the same profile, unlike the superdream ones. You'll have to put some bullet connectors on though, or solder the wires from the old one.
-
Yes, its the same. If you get the pattern 400N headlamp from M&P it will fit. Furthermore, the rim is the same profile, unlike the superdream ones. You'll have to put some bullet connectors on though, or solder the wires from the old one.
I thought the 400N was the Superdream Mike?
-
I thought the 400N was the Superdream Mike?
I did too. I thought the 250/400T was the Dream, then the 250/400N the Superdream.
I'm still confused on the size too. I can't disagree with what the M&P ad says but I remembered it as being 7", certainly larger than the earlier 250/360's and the 400/4.
Wemoto also say the unit they sell is 7", DS don't specify the size.
I'm also pretty sure the 250/400T and N models came with a halogen unit as standard.
Not sure exactly why Florence wants to know, but the CB250/360G5 and CJ250/360T models also used the same light unit as the 400/4 although rims and shells not all the same.
-
It is. What I'm getting at is the rim profile is different on the 250N, 400N, superdreams but the pattern ones look like the 400four ones. Phew.
The reason I changed mine is the original 35W gives such a poor light, whereas the superdream one is a H4 halogen, 55/60W
-
Thanks all, that is useful. I tried to get a replacement for my CB350K. I ordered a 5 3/4" standard light but it is a bit too small and the 7" is too big. The old cibie unit i had has corroded.
-
I have the Cibie unit in my 400/4. I thought the adaptor ring it came with was to accommodate the fact that at 5 3/4" the lamp unit was slightly smaller than the standard one.
At least I think it is 5 3/4", maybe I should measure it!
Presumably you have the adaptor ring and the larger spring clips if you already have a Cibie unit.
-
It is. What I'm getting at is the rim profile is different on the 250N, 400N, superdreams but the pattern ones look like the 400four ones. Phew.
The reason I changed mine is the original 35W gives such a poor light, whereas the superdream one is a H4 halogen, 55/60W
Good tip that Mike 'cos the standard 250/350k unit is Sh*te
-
There's one on fleabay for £35.95. It's listed as.....
REPLICA HONDA CB250N CB400N SUPERDREAM HEADLAMP COMPLETE.
Sorry, can't copy hyperlinks with this crappy works table.
Hope this helps.
-
i do indeed have the cibie adaptor ring but the cibie unit is bigger than 5 3/4 ". i'm wondering now if I should just try to get a cibie unit again. sadly the reflector was very corroded. i tried to open it but the glass broke.
-
i do indeed have the cibie adaptor ring but the cibie unit is bigger than 5 3/4 ".
Mine measures 5 3/4" across the lens, and it looks as if the aperture in the adaptor ring is the same diameter, but I guess the lamp unit itself is slightly larger - I haven't dismantled the headlight to look. Overall diameter of the original unit is about 6 3/4", but I always get confused with how lamp sizes are measured.
i'm wondering now if I should just try to get a cibie unit again.
Good luck with that! I got lucky and found one which was listed as a Honda CJ360T Head Light - obviously the seller wasn't familiar with these units. Cost me £24 inc delivery and I even got some of that back by selling the rim it was mounted in. The few I have seen listed more recently have gone for far more than that, maybe cheaper to try and find another option.
-
As far as I understand it the cibie lamp used in those conversions is a "bi Oscar" and originated as a car lamp when there were restrictions on competition cars as to how many extra light units could be used.
The Bi Oscar, unlike other car spotlights, had both a fog pattern (used for dipped beam on bikes) and wide spot pattern (used for main beam) that makes it suitable for the bike application.
They are not handed so are the same unit sold for both left and right hand use.
The nearest cibie headlight for that size would be a H160 that may possibly fit into your original adapter ring along with other car units of the same size.
I've got some H160 type lamps here if you need dimensions to check compatibility as that size is readily available for cars like triumph stag etc.
-
many thanks k2-k6. It's funny how these things used to be easy to find then suddenly they become rare.
Many thanks Chris, if the original is 5 3/4 then it won't fit the Cibie rim.
Oh well, patience and search for Cibie unit. I have to say it was an amazing lamp, the best thing I have ever had on a bike.
-
Many thanks Chris, if the original is 5 3/4 then it won't fit the Cibie rim.
Just to clarify, it's my Cibie that is 5 3/4" across the lens and is fitted using the adaptor ring it came with, not sure what the overall lamp diameter is without removing it.
It's the original Stanley unit that is 6 3/4" diameter.
Might be useful if K2-K6 could perhaps post a pic of an H160 unit with dimensions. If need be I can remove my Cibie unit and measure that, seeing as yours is no longer in one piece!
-
Having said that Cibie units are not easy to find guess what I have just spotted!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-400-4-cb400-four-Cibie-headlight-/122031235958?hash=item1c69a0e376:g:pEQAAOSwXeJXdMV6
Don't know what it will go for though ....
-
Well I've discovered that there are all sorts of sizes of Cibie units that were fitted to bikes. I see what people mean now about the adaptor rings which mine does not have. My old Cibie unit is 153mm which I think is slightly larger that the standard fitting which explains why a 5 3/4" unit just drops through the headlamp rim? The only one I have been able to find so far is French and has the wrong bias for dipped beam but is the same as my corroded one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Optique-phare-153mm-Iode-H4-CIBIE-440108-Honda-350-Suzuki-250-380-500-Yamaha-/222179184387?hash=item33bae94f03:g:oLEAAOSwx-9WuKAy
-
Here's another Cibie unit complete with adaptor ring to fit in the standard rim.
I'd like to see a picture of the back of it though - one he listed a while back had completely different lugs from what I would expect on the back of the lamp.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB400-Four-CB400F-400-4-superb-Cibie-headlight-/391520771187?hash=item5b2874dc73:g:0BIAAOSwtnpXngOK
-
thanks for that but I reckon that one won't fit in the cibie rim I have which is larger than the standard one. I'll ask him to measure it I think.
-
I can measure my standard rim and the adaptor ring for you if that would help, but not until tomorrow.
-
Thanks, I'll ask the ebay vendor. It should be 153mm in diameter to be the same as the one I had.
-
Without dismantling the light to measure accurately 153mm looks about the ID of my standard rim so that Cibie unit should drop straight in with the adaptor ring.
I'd still like to see a picture of the back of the lamp to check it has the single lug at the top to fit in the cutout in the rim - one he listed looked different.
Normally he posts several pictures of items from different angles; don't know why he hasn't this time.
-
I have a Cibie unit without the adaptor ring, the person before me had used bathroom mastic to fit it into the rim :-\
There was a rough s/h unit on e-bay last week with the reflector chrome going rusty, I only wanted the adaptor ring and even that was rusty!, I was outbid, it sold for about 15 pounds :-[.
The one on e-bay at the moment is being sold by bike pusher, he sold one similar a few weeks ago, I gave up when the bidding reached 40 pounds on that one and this one is likely to go the same way. I have today ordered a DS unit for 29 pounds, it has an H4 bulb so good enough. I'll keep the Cibie in case an adaptor ring turns up at a good price.
-
The weird thing is mine has a Cibie outer rim, the original Honda headlamp rim has been replaced. On the top part it says 'Cibie Halte'
-
Just as a matter of interest is the rim fitted to an original Honda headlight bowl or was the whole unit replaced?
I remember the adaptor kits being advertised and used 'back in the day' but don't remember replacement headlight units being available, although the brain cells are fading ....
-
I haven't seen one like this before, it is a Cibie rim fitted onto the original Honda headlamp shell. The holes are in the right place so it looks as though designed for the job.
Looking at the scarring on the top of the front of the front mudguard I suspect this bike has been for an unplanned upside down excursion down the road and the original headlamp smashed.
I will attempt to take a photograph, but it's not my strong point.
-
I feel you pain on this one, took me an age to get a spare for my cb500, and I still have a large box of adapter rings and headlamp units that I intend at some point to sort through and ebay as a result of my erronius purchases. I am pretty sure I also have at least 1 of these cibie units that fit the standard headlight shell but have a wierd cibie adapter. Every so often they turn up cheap on ebay, normally as a result of bad listings.
-
thing is though, this didn't have an adaptor.
-
So the chrome rim was part of the unit? I' ve had ones with a second chrome ring with springs and catches, and I think one had the chrome more directly holding the light unit, but the chrome ring had had its tangs to meet the shell rotted off which was frustrating as I had a set of sealed beam units that could use the same ring. I wonder if it would be possible to spin up aluminium rims on a lathe... mighr be something I shall look into to try given I'm trying to set up self employed.
-
So the chrome rim was part of the unit? I' ve had ones with a second chrome ring with springs and catches, and I think one had the chrome more directly holding the light unit, but the chrome ring had had its tangs to meet the shell rotted off which was frustrating as I had a set of sealed beam units that could use the same ring. I wonder if it would be possible to spin up aluminium rims on a lathe... mighr be something I shall look into to try given I'm trying to set up self employed.
With your skills & ingenuity Matt I reckon there are loads of repro parts you could make and sell. We ought to start a list on here for you, in order to get you 'rolling'. My starter would be the little top hat sleeves used to mount Honda mudguards. Phil Denton Engineering seems to have loads of business making repro parts from polished 303 stainless steel, so well worth a shot.
-
..... Every so often they turn up cheap on ebay, normally as a result of bad listings.
The trick is to find them!
Mine was just listed as a CJ360 headlamp but I recognised it for what it was and the seller did me a BIN.
Sounds like Florence's Cibie rim is pretty close to the same size as a standard rim so a Cibie lamp with adaptor ring may fit in that.
Or you could get hold of a standard rim and fit a Cibie lamp with adaptor ring.
Or you go down the modern route and fit the Superdream headlight that has been mentioned elsewhere.
So many choices!
-
I can make most bits to satisfy my own standards, reacon I have a wee bit of a way to go on cosmetic finish before I can sell stuff, that and speed of production. Near the top of my wish list for the workshop is an english wheel to have a wee go at mudguards, trying to get a set for my 1960 trailer other than plastic is inpossible with the original 16 inch wheels.
Spun alloy headlamp rims might be a good little idea for me if I can master it, I know of several classic vehicles where original chrome rims are hard to get, to do them in chromed steel might be a challenge, I've seen alloy spinning being demonstrated, think that is fairly steightforeward once the tooling is covered. Copper might be easier to start on than steel and take chrome. Trouble might be that the first one done well enough to sell might represent many hours setup and practice runs then a load might hit the market from the east at a fraction of what I would need to charge, makes me nervous of the classic repro market. I'm going through the bussiness planning stage to get a new enterprise startup as self employed but playing safe and offering groundskeeping services as my bread and butter, with workshop based stuff being a fallback for winter.