Topic: Oil filter bolt collar — not necessary?

[Brycelyoung]

Hello, first time changing the oil on my 1979 CB650. Just noticed that there is no bolt collar/sleeve/spacer (part 15423-333-000 if you're curious). Looking around, I've seen several posts of people mentioning that they don't have, which I find a bit odd (of course, people lose parts, but why would this particular part be lost more often?). Mine was running fine in my limited experience.

My question is—is the spacer really necessary? They don't seem to be available anywhere, so my options are to buy an overpriced part from Germany, fabricate something myself, or simply do without as I was doing before. What will the catastrophic results be if I skip it?!...

[HondaMan]

If it is missing altogether, and the spring is still there, then the oil would be bypassing the filter and never get filtered.
Is it maybe stuck to the front of the engine, behind the filter?

[bryanj]

Its actually a 350 four part as is the bolt so i can only assume the crankcase is macined differently to the other fours so yes it would be needed

[pekingduck]

As Hondaman said, the oil filter would be just sliding along the length of the oil filter bolt ineffectively.
That's assuming you have the correct longer oil filter housing and 110mm bolt, also used on 350 and 400 fours. The spacer is 30mm long,  and slips over the bolt to hold the filter over the drain holes on the bolt.

If for some reason you have the 80mm long bolt and its corresponding case, that spacer couldn't be used/isn't needed, but you've lost a little oil capacity.

[carnivorous chicken]

As Hondaman said, the oil filter would be just sliding along the length of the oil filter bolt ineffectively.
That's assuming you have the correct longer oil filter housing and 110mm bolt, also used on 350 and 400 fours. The spacer is 30mm long,  and slips over the bolt to hold the filter over the drain holes on the bolt.

If for some reason you have the 80mm long bolt and its corresponding case, that spacer couldn't be used/isn't needed, but you've lost a little oil capacity.

The 400F oil filter housings are shorter, with a spring but not the spacer: compare  https://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists/honda-cb400f-super-sport-400-four-1975-cb400fk0-usa-oil-filteroil-pan_bighu0235e7006_7270.gif to https://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists/honda-cb350f-four-1972-usa-oil-filteroil-pan_bighu0066e0506_2bc5.gif -- the spacer sits behind the filter in the 350F but not the 400F.

There's been a little discussion here as to why, but I don't think any strong conclusion as to why the difference. Increased oil volume? Better cooling being farther away from the engine? Who knows. But the shorter 400F filter housing can be used on a 350F -- they're identical except for the length -- so maybe for a 650 as well (admitting I don't know the 650s very well...).

[pekingduck]

You are correct about 400F being shorter.  I wonder if it's because it would look odd sticking past those lovely swoopy headers.

[scottly]

The 400 uses the same housing and bolt as the 550, 750, and a lot of other models, while the 350 and 650 use the longer housing and bolt.

[Tracksnblades1]

Hello, first time changing the oil on my 1979 CB650. Just noticed that there is no bolt collar/sleeve/spacer (part 15423-333-000 if you're curious). Looking around, I've seen several posts of people mentioning that they don't have, which I find a bit odd (of course, people lose parts, but why would this particular part be lost more often?). Mine was running fine in my limited experience.

My question is—is the spacer really necessary? They don't seem to be available anywhere, so my options are to buy an overpriced part from Germany, fabricate something myself, or simply do without as I was doing before. What will the catastrophic results be if I skip it?!...

You may see if you can source the spacer and oil filter bolt/relief from a 77F-78F 750.  They use the same part numbers as the 650 too.

[pekingduck]

If you absolutely can't find a spacer, the dimensions are 20mm inside, 30mm outside (can be a little wider(32mm) on the end that faces the filter.  The other end that butts against the engine case can be wider or narrower. 

For example, the rear wheel spacers on the CB500-550-650-750 are 20mm id, as is the spacer that fits between the sprocket carrier and wheel. And it can be steel or aluminum.   

Here's a pic showing the stock spacer and the spacer between sprocket carrier and wheel - just need to file/grind/machine 3mm off the small end.

[bryanj]

Easy answer is fit the 500 or nonF 750 housing and bolt

[pekingduck]

The US model '75-'78 CB750F uses the same shorter housing as the K models, but the '77-'78 F models use the longer bolt along with a large diameter finned spacer, kind of like an oil cooler adapter, but no place for fittings.

[Brycelyoung]

Thank you all, great discussion and useful responses.

Trying to decipher my Clymer, since apparently the previously assembly was incorrect (there simply was no spacer):
Is it (from front of bike to back/engine).... oil filter housing/case, spring, filter, spacer, with the oil filter bolt running through it all from front to back? Or does the spacer go in the back?

[carnivorous chicken]

If you have a look at the parts diagram for the 350F filter, you'll see that it goes at the rear, against the engine, so the filter is around the holes in the filter bolt.