Early 1968 Honda CL450A

[SPOOKY#1]

Anyone know of an authority that might be able to answer questions that the parts list doesn't on this bike. Mine being an early VIN has several parts that were changed mid production with some reflected in the on-line fiche or first parts manual and some not mentioned. For instance the front wheel, tire and fender change from 19" to 18" and the gauge mounting studs location from below the cable lug center line to in line with the cable lug. It might be an impossible task to find which frame number the changes occurred with but I intend to try. The front fender size change is indicated in the parts fiche (61100-294-670XW (19") to VIN #1010956 and 61100-294-671XW (18") from Frame SN 1010957) but the gauge mounting studs isn't so I am on the hunt. The gauges on mine have the lower mounts and the bracket is of a different design than the one in the parts fiche. Below are three parts from the "SPEEDOMETER + TACHOMETER" parts page with the earliest part number listed in the parts list followed by the later parts fiche number.

SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY
Early: 37230-292-671 Later: 37230-292-672

TACHOMETER ASSEMBLY
Early: 37240-292-018 Later: 37240-292-028

SPEEDOMETER SETTING PLATE
Early: 37211-292-000B Later: 37211-292-010B

If this stuff seems inconsequential to the casual restorer keep in mind that some day when this bike is sold a nit picker like me will appreciate the trouble I am going through and the bike will have a bit higher value also.

 

[mark13018]

I know there are a couple solid 450 guys on here but you may have better luck on the Honda twins .net forum. There are a lot of 450 guys there and a lot of them "stockers"... I had a similar problem with my '64 dream that was in the middle of several production changes. Luckily there is a specific honda 305 forum for that but unfortunately parts are more scarce.. May be the case for you as well, hopefully not thought. Good luck.

 

[SPOOKY#1]

Thanks, I will check them out.

 

[teddpage]

I might still have the speedo/tach off of my '72 450...i'll have to check next time im at my dads shop.

 

[mark13018]

If I remember correctly the early cl450 had the speedo on the right which is less common. Like below in the center, still completely assembled?. I may have a couple around also but I'll have to check. I think I seen a couple on eBay as well. They were a lot harder to find before. More are popping up.

 

[SPOOKY#1]

My bike with the very early gauges differing from the later ones by having the speedo on the right rather than the left side like most bikes. As ratty as the bike looked when I picked it up, had someone with too much time on their hands not broken the lenses out they might have been usable. I have both nos gauges in Honda bags waiting to go on.

EARLIEST 68 CL450 DESIGN
This is the only new original set I have ever seen for sale that fits the earliest 68 CL450. Note in this picture the mounting studs along with the center cable lug creates a triangle however on the later design in the next picture the studs are in line with the cable lug.

LATER 68 CL450 DESIGN
Note in the previous picture the mounting studs along with the center cable lug creates a triangle however on this design the studs are in line with the cable lug.

New tachometer.

New speedometer.

 

[SPOOKY#1]

No more responders........how disappointing. There must be at least one more obsessive compulsive restorer here besides me.
.....................I have another bike item that I forgot to mention.
33741-077-671 FRONT REFLEX REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY
My 68 CL450 doesn't have this because it wasn't added until VIN 1010957. It was also on the first 69 CL450's but ended before production ended. I haven't found any information about when it was deleted but it most likely coincides with it's removal from the other Honda models like the CL350 and CL175A. I think it looks pretty cool actually and was a little disappointed to find out mine left the factory before they came into being.