I suspect some here, including even custodial engineers, petroleum transfer engineers (gas station attendants), and others, could tell us all about the incredible effects of wider powerbands and higher tolerance muffler bearings. Any other fine additions you've come across?
I think the Chinese made powerbands are a great bang for the buck - you get a pack of 12 for only a little $ so if one breaks, you have plenty of spares but I'm not so sure about the universal fit. I think the powerbands changed slightly from gen to gen... Aliexpress also has cheap left-handed monkey wrenches - a must for every tool kit!
What's your take on Chinese-made piston return springs? With cheaper powerbands that loosen prematurely, I get more mileage out of them by tightening them up. Kristian Comestible Movement Engineer
Local stealership assured me that I wouldn't have to worry about checking piston return spring tension for the first 50k miles. Because of that, I haven't researched the various options for replacement yet - IMO, the Chinese stuff is getting better but I'm not sure I'd be willing to trust anything but OEM for a critical part like that! For tightening powerbands, are you using the specialized Honda tool or an aftermarket or did you make your own adjuster? I hear there's a VFR enthusiast in Micronesia working on some self-adjusting powerbands! Imagine all the skinned knuckles that would save! Sam Part-time stool lodestone
I carefully removed the bearing from my car exhaust and installed it, WOW! Why doesn't Honda do this ? Even the guy at the parts store wasn't sure where they kept them at first but they were hidden behind the winter blinker fluid and it took forever to find them. We laughed.
Here is a educational video that explains most of what your looking for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLDgQg6bq7o