what have you done in the shed today

Thanks John, that's interesting. The GB forks are 33mm, same as the SD. The overall length of the SD forks is about 1cm longer than the GB. Another bike I looked at is the Rebel CMX250 - Gill's had a couple & I still have the manual, which gives the oil capacity as 234cc. It also gives the level, 129mm. Haven't got one to measure anymore, but as more of a cruiser I guess the forks are a bit longer. Stanchions, cases & springs are all different part numbers to the GB, but rebound spring, bush, both seals & the cap bolt are all the same. I think the later SD's 190cc is a good compromise

quick delivery from DS the oil filter spring and washer.I would never have known if it was not for bigginger thread that i have been running around without them nevermind no harm done.the felt washer is not superdream that's earlier tech .

Yep, I thought sharing the engine with the UK market CBX250RS meant at least engine spares would be easy to get - the lack of gaskets shattered that illusion, I didn't know they only sold about 300 here, so not much demand for spares. I don't know if the CMS parts diagrams are factory derived, but they don't always paint the full picture. An example is the damper pipe in the GB forks; the parts diagram says it's used in 4 models, all GB250s





but looking for compatible parts in other models, I found it was replacement part for the CB250RSD



So I reckon the earlier RS part number should fit the GB - managed to get one from Silvers for a tenner, it'll be a handy spare if I ever overhaul the forks & knacker the pipe drilling that bolt out.

Components like that are why assembled most of my fork sets, I think they are best kept assembled with the fork oil preserving them...

Can't complain at a tenner & the oos damper tube cleaned up ok with a bit of ACF50. With any luck I won't need it, I should be able to drill the bolt head off without damaging the damper if I end up stripping the forks in the future, and with enough of the bolt left to weld a nut on to extract it. Might be wrong here, but iirc it was Silvers who had the replica muddy manufactured, but I'm sure they'll come back in stock.

Thanks John, that's helpful to know. It is 8mm, same as the SD, but looks to have a shallower socket (that's how I knackered it - my excuse & I'm sticking to it ). The SD part number is 90116283010, superseded by 90116383721, which is the GB part number. I put some oil in the forks today. I settled on 200cc per leg, slightly less than drained out. On checking the level, it was just over 150mm. I checked through various manuals I have lying around & apart from off road models, the highest was 150mm for my old CB500, so I removed a few cc to bring the level to that - about 190cc now, same as the SDs. The SD dust seals fitted - just. Would've been perfect if I removed the existing seals, but I only want them for cosmetics to cover the groove round the fork leg, which they do ok & I prefer the look to gaiters. Anyway all back together now. A test run this morning on one up the hill from ours on one of the bumpiest roads on the island & the suspension seems fine, so I'm happy with the fork oil quantity



We went on a longer ride to Peel this afternoon & the GB performed ok, plus the speedo squeal has gone, so it's out the workshop now & my 400NA is in for it's service....

That looks heavy! Last time I took a car engine out was my 2L Capri many years ago, got every thing disconnected & ready to go & was scratching my head wondering how to lift it when my next door neighbour looked in & just lifted it out & stuck it on my bench