Topic: Which Plastigauge do I purchase? and a CB400 Bearing question.

[neilma]

Hi,

I am looking to measure the Crankshaft bearings on my 400 soon and it seems that Plastigauge is the way to do it.

I have searched (honest  ) and found a thread where Hondaman quoted the limits are  " .0008" to .0012" for new (.001" nominal), with a service limit at .0032". This was on a thread for the 500/550 however are the limits the same for the 400?

Not knowing too much about this I am guessing that if my size falls between 0.0008" and 0.0032" then I am ok and I only need to look at getting thicker shells if I measure over 0.0032" ?

As to the Plastiguage - I see they do numerous sizes - Am I right in thinking I need the PL-A set (measures between 0.001" and 0.007") ?

Thanks
Neil

[kslrr]

For futher info on your CB400, go here forl the shop manual http://www.mediafire.com/?mnglmnn1qmd

With regards to the Plastiguage, your thinking is correct.  Get yourself enough sets to cover the 0.001 to 0.0032 range.

[neilma]

Thanks

I have the manual and the Haynes manual and the Clymer but couldnt get my head around the tables listed with the bearing codes in.

DSS only sell the brown and black shells anyway so my logic was if its on spec, leave it, if loose, get the black shells however I just wanted to know what the specs were for this engine as all the other threads seemed to relate to the 750 or 500/550 etc.

So servicable limits for the crankshaft bearings for this engine are .0008" to 0.0032" ?

Thanks again for your assistance - it is appreciated!
Neil

[kslrr]

So servicable limits for the crankshaft bearings for this engine are .0008" to 0.0032" ?

I'm not sure, it's been awhile since I've worked on my CB350.  Your manuals do not mention the limits?

[mark]

The green plastigage will do just fine.

[neilma]

I think I have seen where my confusion came from.

Plastigage (US) and Plastigauge (UK) are two different items. In the US, the "Green" version measures between 0.025mm and 0.076mm wherease the Green version in the UK measures between 0.175 mm to 0.500 mm which is too big for what we are trying to measure.
The correct size in the UK version is the PL-A set (which is red) which measure between 0.025 mm 0.175 mm

Anyway, according to Clymer, the bearing should be replaced if the clearance is greater than 0.08mm / 0.003" (no minimum specs are given but I will guess as long as it is above 0.0008" then I will be ok.)

Cheers