Part: Micrometer for Honda CB175, CL175, SL175 / CB200, CL200 / CB350, CL350, SL350 / CB360, CL360, CJ360 / CB450, CL450, CB500T / CB500K, CB550K CB550F / CB750 motorcycles.
Why You Need This: Any engine builder who really knows what they are doing has their own set of micrometers. The micrometer is the foundation precision measurement tool needed to inspect key engine parts such as, pistons, cylinders, valves, guides, and camshafts when overhauling an engine. The good news is you can learn to do this level of work yourself and having just these two different micrometers will handle the measurements needed to rebuild the Honda CB350 / CB360 / CB450 / CB550 engines.
Each Honda CB350 / CB360 / CB450 / CB550 has its own set of service limits (how much an engine part can wear before it must be replaced or machined true) and the only way to know the wear factor of any engine is to measure the internal parts. This give us the information needed to make the decision about how to approach an engine rebuild and ensure the parts are all going to work together nicely. Will you need to bore the cylinder over sized? Are your valve guides still good? Only by measuring the parts and comparing them to the service limit in the factory service manuals that you can know for sure what to do next.
Micrometers are available in a 0 - 1" (for small things like rocker shafts, & valve guides) and a 2 - 3" (for pistons & cylinders). Yes these micrometers are in SAE aka INCHES not MM. Due to the fact that the US market has been saturated by SAE tools for decades, Honda knew that most shops back in the day were using SAE for precision measuring tools. Therefore, each factory service manual for the Honda CB350 / CB360 / CB450 / CB550 have the service limits published in both Metric and SAE for easy reference.
Micrometers will measure down to the 4th decimal place (0.0001"), which is the accuracy needed to determine the condition of an engine. We recommenced picking up both sizes of micrometers along with the small hole gauge & telescoping gauges, and dial bore gauge; then you will have the ability to measure inner diameters from zero up to 3 inches in diameter with precision accuracy.
Installation Tip: Micrometers are very precision measuring tools, so make sure to handle them with the utmost care as they are delicate. Always use the ratcheting thimble when making precision measurements, as the micrometer is NOT a clamp! Always take multiple measurements of a given part as you need to check for consistency in your measurements. Make sure to zero the micrometers out before taking any series of precision measurements