Topic: Strange CB500 engine number ?

[cb500cb750]

I have bought an old CB500 racing bike in which have engine serial number beginning with zero, full number is:
CB500E-0460051. This is a very fresh find to me i only know that engine was ordered from factory by the importer and the engine have fit to Seeley "look a like" frame (tailor made). That's happened in circa 1972.  What is the actual year of the engine?
Thanks, Raimo
 

[cb500cb750]

Is this 0-series reserved for spare engines?

Raimo

[bryanj]

Does the number look like a factory stamping or not. never seen or heard of anything starting with a 0 and Honda never supplied complete replacement engines in the 70's An interesting dilema any chance of a pic of the number?

[cb500cb750]

Hi!
Thank you for your answer Bryanj. Here are some pictures of an engine number area and others. The number looks like an original stamping to me, but i have now no other CB500F here to look. However the type of numbers looks same than my K2 CB750F (1972).

Today i have more information from the importer there is a man who knew the bike after 33 years!. It was ordered an complete engine without carburettors including tuning packet, at least it includes high compression pistons and something. It was told there also should be Yoshimura's cams and oilcoolers orderded from Japan in 1971/72.

0-series engine number is also unknown for the importer.

Regards, Raimo

[bryanj]

Looks like an original stamping to me as well! That frame is nothing like a standard 500 though. Over here i could write to Honda UK and they will email Japan--for a price of course-- perhaps Honda USA would do the same? The other possibility is it is a Yoshimura supplied engine and maybe he had "proper" stamps and used new casings, dont know as i only ever bought odd parts for customers who never wanted it all and whinged when what was fitted didnt work properly! There was a "tuner" in the new york area, Mark Mcgrew i think, who reputedly worked as a tech rep for Honda US back then perhaps he can help, unfortunately i no longer have his email address due to several Bill Gates inspired failures!!!

[Sam Green Racing]

If you need to contact Mark log onto www.m3racing.com.

[cb500cb750]

Thanks for you all. Especially "Tintin" you always can use Bill's copypaste or whatever to retrieve your bike to your garage 
I forgot to say the engine imported to Helsinki, Finland, where was the first official Honda bike dealer in Europe 1960. This company, Brandt Ldt celebrating this years their 100. years in the business. Ordering a spare engine+some speciality from Japan probably have been no problem with their good contact.
-Raimo