Honda-SOHC

Sounds like a positive step towards optimum.

Longer running and more through heat range may see the plugs a bit better colour as it's used more.

Maybe it'll respond to airscrew tweak if not.

With a simple/static strobe gun you should see the timing moving as you rev it.  The advance mech should bring the timing mark earlier on the scale as you rev it. So you won't see it stay in the same place.

Non static guns have facility in which you can set the advance you expect to get at maximum,  then when you rev it it should show still at same F point.
The gun runs an offset to compensate for the desired advance,  if that makes sense.

I'm not familiar enough with the 400 engine to say that it's normal just from that picture,  you need another to compare as Julie says.

But my read of it is that it's the manufacturing process that needs to go through there to connect an internal gallery to the filter output route into the engine.

Looks like they've machined then plugged it to get in there that way. 

If left open,  it would just allow the oil to bypass the filter route on it way to the internal galleries. 

Without seeing the engine end of the cartridge filter it's difficult to be specific.

They work in the same way,  at least the filters I've seen, both original and cartridges flood the casing with oil,  force it through the filter material,  then exit via central port (screw thread or bolt)  into oil gallery of engines.

I thought the conversion just had a hollow male-to-male threaded stub to screw in place of Honda bolt that allowed the cartridges to be mounted to engine.  Sealing flange should be in same place.

Be interesting to see the photos when they arrive with you.

Yeh, I made a bit of a dog's dinner of that Steve.

Used the quote button on Julie's post and then deleted the text above the bit I wanted,  checked it with preview and it showed like it's now displayed,  but thought it would post correctly a bit like it doesn't show photos in preview.

Where have I gone wrong 

For the Velocette, it's great to have the bike you want and be able to ride out on it just when you feel like it.  I like seeing all the different bikes out at meets etc and be able to talk to the owners to find out more about them. A very nice bike.

On the book, I thought ultimately it was asking the question of should people be trained to pass the exams set for the subject ( purely theoretical)  or trained to do the job in a practical way that would enable the trainee to complete the tasks in real life situation.

The purely academic versus the vocational, or some mix of the two,  using the motorcycle, and running it correctly, as metaphor.

I thought the same before Julie said it,  they look pretty good just there.  If raised too much they get a bit too "Dunstall" I think.

I think the bike is an unusual blend of design,  it looks very classic with fork shrouds, overall colour and graphics etc,  but at the time of issue so advanced to have a four cylinder of that capacity.

Looking back at old bike magazines,  British and other manufacturers were always proposing production four cylinder engines. Honda just went ahead and built it almost as an aside to other bikes.

I do think the original four pipes on the 350 are one of the best looking of all those from that era though. Surprises me that they are not a more numerous model bike though. I'd choose one over the contemporary twins without hesitation.

Very nice bike.