No problems found with pattern sprockets, cables, oil seals, chains, oil filters, piston rings, seats and spoke kits.
While I may not be entirely complementary about pattern parts, they are an essential source of spares for any ageing vehicle …Please keep up the good work if you are a supplier.
If modifications are made ALWAYS keep the original Honda parts, this bikes value can be adversely affected by the use of non OEM parts.
When ordering genuine Honda spares, keep a wary eye on substitute part numbers. Quite often they differ and if replacing one of a pair they may not match.
Pattern front brake caliper, available from David Silver Spares and looks a good copy.
Pattern Side Panels, in black plastic and excellent quality are available from Low Pressure Mouldings
Pattern Fuel Tank, quality replica is available in grey primer from David Silver Spares and uses the American fuel tap also available. The tank can be obtained ready painted (for less than you could get one painted) directly from Q.R.P.S. gamble would be the quality of the paint job. They do not offer colour matched side panels so I’d stick with primer grey.
Pattern Rear Fender, Chrome plated replica of the US version is available from David Silver Spares This will also require the US rear light fittings and is much shorter than the UK version, stopping short of the bottom of the rear number plate.
Pattern exhaust Made by Motad is exclusively available from David Silver Spares and a close copy of the original. Other manufacturers also make replacements, although none follow Honda’s style for the CB400F, all are most probably single skinned and will therefore discolour near the cylider block in use.
Pattern seat from David Silver spares has a fibre glass base but it does pass as a close copy. He also has the seat cover available separately, once again a close copy of the original. Fitting the cover may require the help of an upholsterer or a lot of patience.
Pattern swinging arm bushes in nylon were a very tight fit, I had to wet & dry the outer as they seized the pivoting axle when pushed home. Use genuine Honda if possible for a first time fit or for the engineers, make your own from 1.25″ phosphor bronze stock. Buying the cored type if available with an inner diameter of 0.75″. The swing arm shaft is 27/32″ and will require a little clearance on top of this. Ideally the bearings should be made slightly undersized and then line bored to the correct diameter. This will correct any distortion from the manufacturing process. When finished these should outlast the OEM type by many years. Old bike barn can supply a quality phosphor bronze bushing if living in the USA, shipping to Europe is prohibitive.
Pattern rear light assembly is a simplified copy of the original. The genuine article has Stanley stamped on the chrome back and an internal reflector, rare because it was fitted to many 1970’s Hondas’.
Pattern indicator mountings seem to taper a little and I used a Dremel to grind them true, otherwise very good. For UK restorations try to obtain the type that has lenses marked with the European ECE markings to avoid MOT complications. The last set I got from David Silver were of this type.
Pattern pilot lamp console is available from David Silver Spares, not cheap but a very good reproduction. Asked in 2009 if more parts like this are in the pipeline, answer was negative.
Pattern cables again requiring some fettling to fit, otherwise very good. The throttle cables have the American fittings for higher handlebars and need routing in a different manner.
Pattern points & condensers made by Mitsubishi and Diachi are available and generally poor quality but cheap. Try to find genuine Nippon Denso or Toyo (T.E.C) as these are the only type Honda recommended. A well setup mechanical ignition is indistinguishable from the aftermarket electronic ignitions available and has never let me down.
Pattern gasket sets Try to obtain Genuine Honda, Athena, NP or Vesrah if possible, higher in price but you get what you pay for. The cheap NE brand super gasket set I opted for wasn’t cut very accurately and had incorrect exhaust gaskets. KP gasket set is complete like the OEM kit (except for the points cover cork gasket) but some of the papers are on the thin side. The genuine Honda head gaskets have been superceded by cylinder head gasket p/no.12251-377-306 and the bottom cylinder gasket 12191-377-306 & improved?, at around half the entire cost of a gasket set, not cheap. OEM part numbers for the bottom end set is 06110-377-010 (contains 16 o-rings, not all are found in most pattern sets) and top set 06111-377-000. Cost of the OEM item is around double that of the pattern part.
OEM bottom end gasket set contents, worth noting the extra o-rings are quite expensive if bought seperately. Finding the OEM kits may prove difficult, I think they are now discontinued.
Pattern fork stanchions Parts such as this I use Honda original, if available. I’ve heard stories of pattern parts snapping just hitting a kerbstone! Can you trust that they used the correct grade of steel in their manufacture? Why not have the originals replated & ground, about the same cost as new but usually a better finish.
Pattern fork oil seals My NuVo seals lasted only 500 miles? The replacement genuine Honda seals now have a new part number 91255-413-881, are only pennies more to buy and seem to be an improved design, with two sealing rings rather than the one … no contest when you now have oil tight stanchions. I’ve now covered 15,000 miles without the slightest leak.
Pattern rear shock absorber by Rising Sun Racing Parts and an exact replica is stocked by David Silver Spares. For a ridden bike, word on the street is to use Hagon.
Pattern Oil filters Try to obtain Vesrah, Hiflo filtro HF401 (Made in Thailand) or MEIWA 15412-300-325 (Made in Japan) as these come with the 2 o-rings as standard. Worth noting that the smaller of the o-rings is the same size as one fitted to the oil pump assembly so keep any that you don’t use. MEIWA 15412-300-024 is the filter ONLY. Champion also supply a quality filter, but I don’t know if it includes the 2 o-rings. Genuine filter is not much more cost wise, but the o-rings are if you need them. NOTE: I have re-used o-rings for 12,000 miles without an oil leak.
Pattern air filters The MEIWA type are excellent. Genuine part is about 50% more to buy and has a fine wire mesh fitted, again a slight edge over the pattern equivalents.
Pattern brake pads The EBC Kevlar pads (FA13) are the best available for this machine. One problem is the outer lacquered edge fouls the caliper cylinder, with the lacquer removed the clearance is perfect. EBC list a replacement disc in carbon steel (I understand listed but never actually manufactured).
Pattern brake shoes Some pattern parts have been known to warp and crack due to poor quality alloys. Stick to well known brands, OEM or have the originals re-lined.
Pattern carburetor kits to be avoided. I spent untold hours on a poor running engine only to find that the quality control on jet sizing is very poor, the needle has an incorrect taper and the o-rings swell when exposed to fuel. While you may get lucky with the kit you buy I personally wouldn’t chance it EVER AGAIN. Genuine Honda (Kehin) is the only answer.
Kit contents:
16012-377-004 Needle set, Jet
99124-076-040 Jet, Slow (#40)
99202-601-0750 Jet set, main (#75)
16016-377-004 Screw set A (Doesn’t come with the small plastic cap, unlike the discontinued OEM part)
16011-329-004 Valve set, float
16010-333-004 Gasket set (1 gasket and 4 o-rings)
Pattern stainless parts My preferred choice for once is stainless rather than Genuine Honda, it resists corrosion, looks better (especially if polished) and is reasonably priced. You can also cut to size, grind off the manufacturers markings and polish it without the need to re-plate. I polished all the hex bolts to a bright mirror like finish on my bike and I think the time was well spent. Process was:-
1 File off the manufacturers markings.
2 Use wet or dry to 1000 grit.
3 Polish with brown then white compound (using mop attached to my bench grinder).
have fastener kits, including long nuts for under clocks, M7 raised head polished bolt 11mm AF for top yokes fork pinch plus choice of nuts type, dome nuts to match the original Honda specification on the dampers and raised head bolts (match the originals) for lower damper if required, the strange reflector holder/headlight fixing, castle nut for rear axle, machined stainless bar for lower engine, footrest fixings. They can even supply the correct bolts for the indicator stems 28mm with polished raised heads and a bleed nipple for the caliper. All fasteners can be supplied either electro polished or dual polished for a small fee. Two examples can be seen below.
Gearshift tie rod including lh/rh nuts
Brake trunion adjuster assy;
Examples of replacement parts I made myself from stainless steel include the following:-
The rear wheel spacers made from 30mm diameter bar. The one with the groove fits on the right hand side of the axle and measures approx. 33.7mm. The sprocket side measures approx. 29.6mm. Both have an internal bore of 17mm.
Final picture is a modified bolt for the shock absorber mountings, it allows somewhere to hook a bungee or the like.
Replacement brake piston in stainless steel by Phil Denton a CB400F specialist, quality is first rate.
Final Note:
If like me you like to use stainless steel to fabricate brackets, spacers etc. I thoroughly recommend buying a set of quality HSS drill bits that contain around 5% cobalt. Practical classics magazine found Franklin HSS-Co of Sheffield to be the best in their test.