Author Topic: Copper washers on forks (CB400f) (Read 6496 times)

jessezm · « **on:** January 10, 2012, 05:45:55 AM »

Does anyone know if the copper sealing washers--the 8mm one on the fork bottoms, and the smaller one for the drain hole--can be replaced with washers from the hardware store, or are they a special size that should be ordered from Honda? I noticed the 8mm washers are the same on all the 4's but the smaller washers have a different part number for the 400f and are discontinued...

Thanks

MoMo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2012, 05:52:31 AM »

A copper washer is a copper washer, a 6mm and an 8mm should work if you can find them...Larry

jessezm · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2012, 05:56:37 AM »

Thanks!

Ernest T · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2012, 10:01:52 AM »

Quote from: jessezm on January 10, 2012, 05:45:55 AM

Does anyone know if the copper sealing washers--the 8mm one on the fork bottoms, and the smaller one for the drain hole--can be replaced with washers from the hardware store, or are they a special size that should be ordered from Honda? I noticed the 8mm washers are the same on all the 4's but the smaller washers have a different part number for the 400f and are discontinued...

Thanks

The 8 mm one is used on gold wings with a different part number and the smaller one is used on 1973 SL125s on the fork drains.

bollingball · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2012, 10:08:42 AM »

You can get packs of assorted sizes at any auto parts store.

Ken

70CB750 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2012, 10:20:37 AM »

I made copper washers from plumbing copper tube before, they work OK.

ttr400 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2012, 11:17:33 AM »

What I have found is the 8mm copper washers if not OEM have a larger OD and would need to be filed smaller to fit with the lower cap screw on the 400F fork leg.

Kevin

jessezm · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2012, 11:22:08 AM »

Yeah I just went to the hardware store and the sizes are way off... But they did not even have metric, so I'll try somewhere else. I've got what appears to be fork fluid spattered on my left lower fork leg, but can't tell yet whether it's coming from the drain plug or the lower cap screw. Pretty sure it's the lower cap screw, though.

Tugboat · « **Reply #8 on:** January 10, 2012, 12:26:16 PM »

@bollingball - that's not true, at least not in TN. I've searched all of the auto parts places in Nashville and none had a set of METRIC copper washers... nor did harbor freight or northern tool. They're actually pretty hard to find online for cheap. But after a lot of searching I found a set on amazon for around $8.

edit: now $4!!

http://www.amazon.com/Tradespro-835799-Copper-Assortment-110-Piece/dp/B003L0RFP4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1326227058&sr=8-2

jessezm · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2012, 12:31:23 PM »

Thank you Tugboat for saving me the time and gas from going to all those places! I just ordered the set. Sucks that shipping was $7 though!!!

dave500 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2012, 12:46:32 PM »

a decent nut/bolt engineering outlet should have them.

bollingball · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2012, 12:51:05 PM »

Tugboat I have never really look for metric just kept trying what I had until one fit good enough

I keep a little plastic parts bin of them for the mower and cars. Some times you can get caught up on measuring to much. If it does not leak it is good enough for me.

Ken

crazypj · « **Reply #12 on:** January 10, 2012, 12:58:57 PM »

Usually a 3/16" will fit on 6mm bolt as they are stamped somewhat oversize.
I run a chainsaw file through them if I need to

grcamna2 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 10, 2012, 01:53:03 PM »

Quote from: jessezm on January 10, 2012, 12:31:23 PM

Thank you Tugboat for saving me the time and gas from going to all those places! I just ordered the set. Sucks that shipping was $7 though!!!

Jess,
Would you PM me and let me know if that kit you bought on Amazon fits well once you get them ?

jessezm · « **Reply #14 on:** January 10, 2012, 02:06:02 PM »

Sure. It's a 110-pc kit, so if they fit I'll send you some.

Danno · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2012, 12:03:09 AM »

go to nappa and order their assortment kit

dave500 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2012, 01:17:28 AM »

youll end up with a kit youll never use,go to a bolt place and buy two for twenty cents each.

Toxic · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2012, 04:51:04 AM »

Just read an article in a vintage bike mag saying that even these copper sealing washers should be annealed before use. Apparently just the manufacturing can work harden them.

We always do this with old Brit bikes that have a copper head gasket to soften the copper up and make sure it seal better.

toytuff · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2012, 05:04:09 AM »

Wouldn't the CB 350 F be the same? I just ordered all of them for mine.

I replace all of them anytime I rebuild forks.

tt

GASKET, FR.
90543-273-000

WASHER (8MM)
90544-283-000

grcamna2 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 12, 2012, 07:22:44 AM »

Quote from: jessezm on January 10, 2012, 02:06:02 PM

Sure. It's a 110-pc kit, so if they fit I'll send you some.

O.K. Thanks Jess

.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 12, 2012, 07:24:42 AM »

Quote from: Toxic on January 12, 2012, 04:51:04 AM

Just read an article in a vintage bike mag saying that even these copper sealing washers should be annealed before use. Apparently just the manufacturing can work harden them.

We always do this with old Brit bikes that have a copper head gasket to soften the copper up and make sure it seal better.

Toxic,
How does that process work ?

Toxic · « **Reply #21 on:** January 12, 2012, 07:49:11 AM »

Heat til red hot, quench in cold water, rub off the scale that will appear and you are done.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 12, 2012, 08:03:02 AM »

Toxic,
Will that bring them back to the good, new sealing washer quality so that they will again be "crush" washers rather than

"crushed"(compressed)washers that are to dense for allowing a proper seal ?

crazypj · « **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2012, 09:41:18 AM »

It won't increase the thickness but it will soften them for re-use.
Any copper gasket can be used multiple times before it gets 'squished' too far.
Replacing them every time is just unnecessarily wasteful (even if they are 'cheap')

Toxic · « **Reply #24 on:** January 12, 2012, 10:05:31 AM »

Quote from: crazypj on January 12, 2012, 09:41:18 AM

It won't increase the thickness but it will soften them for re-use.
Any copper gasket can be used multiple times before it gets 'squished' too far.
Replacing them every time is just unnecessarily wasteful (even if they are 'cheap')

+1 the only exception would copper sealing washers that are sometimes used for the banjo bolts on your brake system. These I only use once.

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Author Topic: Copper washers on forks (CB400f) (Read 6496 times)

bollingball

bollingball