Topic: 500/550 Tank Emblems: (71-76 550K) vs (77-78 550K/75-77 50F)

[GreaseMonkey]

So my bike didn't come with tank emblems, after much deliberation I've decided not to shave the emblem mounting points when I give it a much needed re-spray.

I know the 77-78 550K and 75-77 550F share the same tanks, emblems, and "emlem nut clamps" as Honda calls them. Let's get that out of the way, they have the same part numbers for the emblems and emblem "nut clamps".

Parts fiches have updated the "emblem nut clamps" from the early 500s to match the same part number as the later 550Fs, but the emblems themselves have different part numbers. Not sure if this is just due to color design and perhaps font, or actually a difference in shape of the emblems to match the possibly different curvatures of the two different tanks. I know the later model ones have gold font.

I'm not a fan of these aftermarket double sided tape universal Taiwanese options. My tank has the factory mounting positions in tact, the mounting nut clamps are still available from Honda, and I don't mind re-finishing a pair of used metal emblems in the colour scheme I prefer.

Few questions:

-Is it true these emblems are 100% metal? Not just plated plastic? (So I can not worry about buying used ones and re-painting them?)

-Are the 71-76 500/550K emblems compatible with the 77-78 550K/75-77 550F tanks using the OEM mounting method with the factory "emblem nut clamps"?

-Do they properly align when doing so?

Reason I ask is two fold. I don't like the gold font on the later emblems,much prefer the white. And also it seems early emblems pop up for sale more often both new and used rather than the later emblems

[bryanj]

The K and F tanks cant be the same part number as the colours are different so it is possible the holes for emblem pins are at different centres, you would have to put the badges side by side to compare. Part numbers are different side to side as the curve is different but they are soft enough to re shape

[GreaseMonkey]

Sorry, worded that badly. I meant to just say the later tanks are the "same"  for 77-78 550K and 75-77 550F, and the part numbers for emblems and emblem "nut clamps" are the same.

So the curvature of the emblems are different between the 71-76 500/550K and 77-78550K/75-77 550F. Which means if I want an OEM solution I have to get the later emblems...

I may be open to bending the earlier ones for my later tank, do the pins still line up for the "nut clamps"? Do you know if they are solid metal or plated plastic?

[Kevnz]

These are the ones on my 500; they are metal.

[GreaseMonkey]

Damn, I really like pattern and colour of the early white emblems.

If someone has one off their bike, can they measure the pin to pin distance for me in millimeters? Or, if you have an early tank laying around, measure the hole to hole distance (for the pins)?

[Kevnz]

323 tank ( 500, '74-'76 550K) 102mm between pins