Another "what have I got" question

[Fyrmdk]

Thanks again for all the feedback. Sorry about the typo! I have seen Bill Silver's resto manual mentioned many times in this forum, but I couldn't find a link to purchase it. Any help?

[conbs]

Typo?

Bill Silver http://www.vintagehonda.com/

[conbs]

Fyrmdk, Hmmm. I just ran across a reference by Bill Silver that the "fuel tank//panel/knee pad" changed at "CA78-314731 (last 1963 model produced)". Clearly you and OldStan have 1963 CA78's so the change happened somewhere in the 1963 model production, not in the break between 1963 and 1964 as the parts maunals indicate. But, where?

It was at least as early as 313246 with Stan's bike.

Does anybody have or know about a 1963 "CA78" with a serial number below 13246?

I found at least one place in the 1968 parts cataolg where 1963 bike frame number 314731 is referred to as a "CA77". There are a number of references to parts changes at "CA78 100001" which should be a 1964 type (1).

It won't change the world, but you may want to know about this issue if you are trying to find parts.

[OldStan]

Is the tank change referred to from the one without the seam to the one with? Mine has the seam as does the spare tank I have. Of course that doesn't mean either one is original to the bike.

[Fyrmdk]

Wow, I didn't think this would be so difficult to pin down! My bike has an engine number that is 500 above the limit listed for 1963, and a frame number that is 200 numbers under the upper limit listed for for a 1963 CA77, but is clearly stamped CA78. I will try to post some pics ASAP. Can some one post pictures of the two different tanks and knee pads?

[conbs]

Stan, the 1968 Parts manual indicates that both the change of the tank and the change of knee pads happened between CA77-314731 (63) and CA78-100001 (64), but as your bikes prove, CA78's started a bit earlier in 1963. The early tank has no seam. Hmmmm. I wonder if that is the difference between a CA77 and a CA78? Fyrdmk, does you tank have a seam or no seam?

The highest engine serial number I have found in the in the 1968 parts books for 1963 is 318408 where the upper case and all the case studs changed - at least according to the parts manual. If your engine serial number is higher than that, it would be another instance where the parts manual is wrong. Can you post a picture of your frame and engine numbers for posterity?

[conbs]

So, I was checking out the post by chugheshc on his 250 restoration. He has a link to a group of pictures and his bike has a late tank (seam and cap on right) with early chrome and rubber on the sides. I didn't check the parts book yet to see if the Honda literature supports this combo. If I remember right, the chrome piece on the seam was a 250 only item. Hmmmm.