Instrument brackets UK v USA on a 500?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I'm behaving myself fiddling indoors admiring my nicely restored clocks (Kent400) ready for eventually mounting them on the flat plate.

First observation is that the clocks do not sit deep in a bowl like on the 400 but in a shallower SS surround that looking underneath is quite open to the elements.

My clocks have one bulb to the Tacho & one bulb to the Spedo being a UK model in original form. Mounting plate is 37211-323-000 in the parts book the US model uses 37211-323-671 presumably this is to angle the clocks for the US larger dials?

Is it possible to fit the US mounting plate using the UK clocks, is this likely to result in easier water ingress to the rear of the clocks?

[Bryanj]

Ted, the US K1 had small clocks with full chrome backs and angled input bosses (instead of straight) so using the US bracket may well cause problems with cable angles unless US clocks are used as well.
Those open backs are still chromed steel as far as i know.

I do have some US clocks complete and nos speedo plus tacho to go with them, could probably work out a px if you are interested

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Thanks Ken I'll stick with what I have then.

Might look at improving the underside protection as it looks so open somehow. Then again there is a danger of trapping rain water.. making it worse.

[Oddjob]

I get mentioned without even saying anything 

Bowls are chromed steel Ted, they do rust I'm afraid. You can however paint the inside of the bowl with zinc paint or any anti rust alternative, you can't see it so why not, make sure the mounting rubber is fitted correctly as well, if it's in the wrong place it can block the drain hole in the bottom edge.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

You are right Ken they are very magnetic so steel based with an odd almost Matt Chrome finish.  Mine are in excellent rust free condition so have just given them a quick polish to an acceptable finish. Regarding the rubber mounting either way up the drain hole is blocked by the rubber. I have fitted them so that the cut out sections that are less than 180 degrees match the rear cut out angle.

Hope this is correct - the thicker profile sits near the single plate mounting bolt. Is it worth a hot needle through the drain hole?

[Oddjob]

Have you tried slowly rotating the rubber doughnut, I say that because the 550F I'm currently fitting those into. will fit in more places than it first appears, you think it's right and it looks right but go a little further round and it looks and fits better.

Been a while since I did some genuine 500 clocks as I got rid of mine on both my 500s, much prefer the larger clocks like the 500K2 got.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Unlike my 400 rubbers Ken that had various cut outs these just have one section where an angle of around 100 deg has a reduced width/depth corresponding to the missing metal  it makes sense in that where there is narrow metal there is narrower rubber section still enough to give a full cushion.
DS genuine part in Honda Packaging 37412-319-000 at great expense as the old ones were reduced to crumbling sponges.

Is it worth burning a hole in the cushion to correspond with the drain hole?

[Oddjob]

Should be 37242 not 31412 Ted, did you just write the number down wrong?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

My eye sight is still distorted Ken, yes it's 37242-319-000 well spotted.
Follow up appointment tomorrow - am thinking I might need my eye testing again - could just be the swelling it's still as sore as a badgers bum.