Oil sump protection

[Eric500]

Hello!
 
Would anyone know what that little knob is on the front side of the oil sump of CB500x? The bike is 2017 model. I'm going to make a light belly pan from an aluminum plate and that would be one the fixing points. I am interested in the original purpose of that knob. Do you think I can use it for the aforementioned purpose?



It's a shame that Honda took the belly pan away from the 2017 model.

BR,
Eric

[SnowOwl]

Just remember, all energy from any impacts are transferred to the mounting points of the guard plate.  Do you really want to be concentrating impact energy directly onto the oil sump that you are trying to protect?  It is best to use the frame for mounting points.

[SnowOwl]

I looked on my 2016 with the plastic belly pan.  There is nothing mounted on that point.  I suspect it is something used in manufacturing or on one of the other CB500 models.

[SnowOwl]

Reviewed the Helm manual, doesn’t look like it is used in the other models either.

[HerrDeacon]

I believe that part of the oil pan is used on the F model to secure the left side lower engine cowl. However, like SnowOwl stated I wouldn't use it as a mounting point for sump protection.

[ThirtyOne]

Welcome to the forum. Going to have to agree with the gents above. I wouldn't mount a bashplate to that.

[303]

One of the members here, Captain Cranky recently "utilised" his bash plate which was mounted to those points IIRC.

Result: no hole to sump which meant getting home under power but new sump required. Well to get those mount points back at least new sump deployed..

[Eric500]

Thanks for the answers :) That was a good video. I mainly run on paved roads, but the front wheel still flies small stone chips directly into the oil sump and that consumes the paint out of it. Really annoying. It needs some protection.

SW Motech skid plate looks quite good so maybe I should spend some money...

[EscCtrl]

I wouldn't use that tab to mount anything. If it breaks, it could lead to bad things leaking out of the engine or road crap getting into the engine. The '13-'15 lower cowl had its drawbacks. There is a bolt that is notorious for going into the oil pan and leaving a nice 10mm, or so, hole for the oil to leak out of very quickly. It was remedied by replacing the bolt with a zip tie.

Rally Raid makes the only true bash plate. The others are mostly gravel guards and have been proven to protect the engine once and then they are usually trashed.

[gregjet]

Bash plate mount can be from of the front engine mounts. It's got strong ( overengineered harley sized) lugs and would allow longish tabs that could bend, without putting too much stress on the engine and frame, but still hold a bash plate firm.  Rear mount to the outside of centrestand mount ( even with a CS mounted). Put a layer of closed cell foam on the inside and it will stop any real load being transferred to the cases if the plate gets smashed into them.