Honda SOHC pillar

Honda CB400F Restoration Guide

Honda SOHC inline-four restoration — 408cc Super Sport four "400/1 + 400/2" family: 400/1 (1975), 400/2 (1976), 400/2 (1977). Covers the manual cam-chain tensioner that Honda used across the 400F 1975-1977 run, the shim-under-bucket valve clearance (intake 0.05 mm / exhaust 0.08 mm cold), the F-mark ignition timing dot (10-14 deg BTDC static), the contact-breaker points gap 0.30-0.40 mm / dwell 53-57 deg, the 400/1 (1975) launch-year chassis with twin-leading-shoe front drum vs the 400/2 (1976-1977) frame webbing update and thicker-gauge seat rail, the Honda 6-speed gearbox that Honda introduced on the 400F — the first 6-speed in the SOHC-4 line — with ratios 2.307 / 1.667 / 1.333 / 1.111 / 0.961 / 0.852, the Keihin CV 30 mm quad-carb stack jetting main 98 / pilot 38 with vacuum-sync +/-1.5 cmHg idle, the charging + points + lighting wiring schematics that carry cross-era unchanged across the 400F production run, and a printable PDF.

Factory geometry (SOHC shim-under-bucket + manual chain tensioner + Keihin CV 30 mm)
Valve-train service (shim-under-bucket procedure + pitfalls)
Diagnostics flow (cold tick / hot tick / F-mark timing / points dwell / charging / oil pressure)
Year-by-year differences (400/1 1975 vs 400/2 1976-1977)
Wiring (charging / points & condenser / lighting & signal)
Parts and tools checklist
6-speed gearbox ratio chart
Keihin CV jetting + sync tables

Introduction

Why this pillar covers the 1975-1977 CB400F SOHC family

The 1975-1977 CB400F (408cc SOHC, "Super Sport") plus the 400/1 (1975) launch-year chassis vs 400/2 (1976-1977) frame webbing update deltas, the manual cam-chain tensioner (different from the CB550 / CB750 blade-style auto-tensioner — the 400F runs a manually adjusted slipper that takes service every 6,000 mi), the shim-under-bucket valve clearance 0.05 mm intake / 0.08 mm exhaust cold, the F-mark ignition timing dot 10-14 deg BTDC at idle (the 400F idle range band is slightly wider than the CB550 at 10-14 deg), the contact-breaker points gap 0.30-0.40 mm / dwell 53-57 deg, the Honda 6-speed gearbox that was introduced on the 400F — the first 6-speed in the SOHC-4 line, with ratios 2.307 / 1.667 / 1.333 / 1.111 / 0.961 / 0.852, the Keihin CV 30 mm quad-carb stack with factory main jet 98 / pilot 38 / vacuum-sync band +/-1.5 cmHg idle, the bench-side cover that follows the failures of the last 400F rebuild cycle that the shop ran, the wiring-diagram architecture for the charging + points + lighting subsystems that carries cross-era unchanged across the 400/1 and 400/2 production years, and the year-by-year differences across the three production years from 1975 through 1977.

The CB400F was Honda's mid-century SOHC inline-four — the same SOHC architecture as the CB550 and the CB750 K-series but in a shorter-stroke 408cc bore / stroke that paired the four with Honda's first 6-speed gearbox in the SOHC-4 line. From the 1975 400/1 launch through the 1977 400/2 close-of-run, the family carried the same cast-iron four-cylinder architecture with the same Keihin CV 30 mm carburetor stack, the same points-driven ignition (contact-breaker + condenser + twin ignition coils) that ran unchanged across all three production years, the same F-mark ignition timing dot stamped on the alternator rotor, and the same charging rail architecture with a half-wave Reg-Rec. The 400/2 (1976) frame webbing update is the year-band line the bench cannot miss: the 400/1 (1975) ear-mounted points plate mates to the older frame and cannot transfer to the 400/2 frame lug bracket changes.

Restoring a CB400F walks three live procedures: the shim-under-bucket valve service (Honda 14902-310-003 shim kit + 0.05 / 0.08 mm cold band, the same spec as the CB550), the manual cam-chain tensioner service (Honda 14550-422-006 adjuster + 5-7 mm slack spec, NOT the CB750 blade-style auto-tensioner), and the contact-breaker points gap + dwell verification on the 400/1 (1975) ear-mount vs the 400/2 (1976-1977) bracket-mount plate (the mount style changes but the contact-breaker gap spec is unchanged across the run at 0.30-0.40 mm). The bench-side cover written for this pillar reflects the last CB400F rebuild cycle that left the shop: a 400/2 (1976) with timing walk above 3500 rpm from a 0.02 mm-tight exhaust shim, a 400/1 (1975) with a flattened points cam-ring bush (the first year for the bush-style cam-ring), and a 400/2 (1977) with a fatigued manual cam-chain tensioner that read OK cold but walked the chain slack up over 4,000 mi.

This pillar covers the full 1975-1977 CB400F family — the 1975 400/1 launch year with twin-leading-shoe front drum / single drum spindle 50-60 N.m, the 1976 400/2 frame webbing update + finned rear brake drum, the 1977 400/2 final-year with thicker gauge seat rail bracket + dialed-in spec band. The full 400F tolerance table (5-7 mm chain manual tensioner slack, 0.05 / 0.08 mm valve clearance, F-mark 10-14 deg BTDC static, contact-breaker dwell 53-57 deg, bore wear <= 0.05 mm, piston-to-wall 0.025-0.045 mm, cylinder-head torque 26 N.m three-stage, cam sprocket 38 N.m, engine sprocket 54 N.m, alternator 14.0 +/- 0.5 V, oil pressure 2.5-3.5 bar), the 400F-specific tool checklist anchored to Honda 14550-422-006 manual cam-chain tensioner / Honda 07908-4220203 cam timing gauge (shared with CB750 K-series) / Motion Pro M-211 manual tensioner aftermarket / Honda 07910-4150101 contact-breaker service tool, the wiring diagrams for the charging + points + lighting subsystems carried unchanged across the 400/1 and 400/2 run, the year-by-year differences across the three production years from 1975 through 1977, the Honda 6-speed gearbox ratio chart (2.307 / 1.667 / 1.333 / 1.111 / 0.961 / 0.852), the Keihin CV 30 mm quad-carb jetting + sync tables (factory main 98 / pilot 38 / idle 1100-1200 rpm / vacuum-sync band +/-1.5 cmHg), and the model history timeline anchored to the 1975 400/1 launch and the 1977 400/2 close-of-run are all here. The CB400F is the mid-century SOHC inline-four that paired the four-cylinder architecture with Honda's first 6-speed gearbox, sitting between the CB350 / CB450 twins and the CB550 / CB750 fours in the SOHC lineup.

Methodology

How the data was assembled

Bench-side approach: every factory torque, clearance, and sequenced procedure in this pillar is cross-referenced against Honda workshop data for the 400F "Super Sport" (1975-1977) plus reproduction Honda service sheets for the SOHC-4 era, plus current aftermarket cross-reference for the Honda 14550-422-006 manual cam-chain tensioner / Honda 07908-4220203 cam timing gauge (shared with CB750 K-series) / Motion Pro M-211 manual tensioner aftermarket / Honda 07910-4150101 contact-breaker service tool. The factory valve clearance 0.05 mm intake / 0.08 mm exhaust cold and the cam-chain manual-tension 5-7 mm slack spec are the two measurements that diagnose the 400F four — wrong on either and the four ships a tight exhaust valve within the first heat cycle. The 400/2 (1976) frame webbing update and the 400/2 (1977) dialed-in spec band bear on the bench-side cover; a 1976-1977 400/2 measured against the looser 400/1 (1975) spec bands will run fine cold and fail under load.

Sources used: Honda publication #A-43 (CB400F service sheet) reproduction for the 400F SOHC service spec; Tedd Smith reproduction for the CB400F SOHC workshop manual; Clymer M-317 (Honda CB400F / CB550 / CB750 four-cylinder service manual) for the umbrella SOHC-4 tolerance table; aftermarket cross-reference for the Honda 14550-422-006 manual cam-chain tensioner assembly / Honda 07908-4220203 cam timing gauge (shared with CB750 K-series) / Motion Pro M-211 manual tensioner aftermarket / Honda 07910-4150101 contact-breaker service tool; NGK cross-reference BP-7ES for the CB400F plug gap spec; aftermarket reproduction Keihin CV 30 mm carburetor rebuild kit (Keihin CV30-rebuild cross-ref); aftermarket reproduction 14 mm spark plug thread repair kit; and the Honda Owners Group period bulletin archive for the 400/2 (1976) frame webbing update bulletin. The bench-side cover section triangulates against three recent 400F bench failures: a 400/2 (1976) with timing walk above 3500 rpm from a 0.02 mm-tight exhaust shim, a 400/1 (1975) with a flattened points cam-ring bush (the first year for the bush-style cam-ring), and a 400/2 (1977) with a fatigued manual cam-chain tensioner that read OK cold but walked the chain slack up over 4,000 mi.

Factory geometry

SOHC head + manual cam-chain tensioner + 6-speed gearbox

SOHC shim-under-bucket valve clearance (cold): intake 0.05 mm, exhaust 0.08 mm — measured with a 9 mm offset tappet feeler blade (Motion Pro 08-0169 offset or equivalent that leaves clearance for the cam profile). Shim-under-bucket thickness range: 1.80 mm, 1.85 mm, 1.90 mm, 1.95 mm, 2.00 mm, 2.05 mm, 2.10 mm, 2.15 mm, 2.20 mm, 2.25 mm, 2.30 mm, 2.35 mm, 2.40 mm, 2.45 mm, 2.50 mm, 2.55 mm, 2.60 mm, 2.65 mm, 2.70 mm, 2.75 mm, 2.80 mm, 2.85 mm, 2.90 mm — in 0.05 mm increments (Honda 14902-310-003 series). Manual cam-chain tensioner slack at midpoint with cold engine and tensioner fully retracted: 5-7 mm (the manual tensioner spec is narrower than the CB550 / CB750 blade-style 6-8 mm). Bore 51.0 mm standard, bore wear limit <= 0.05 mm difference between any two cylinders (measured at top / mid / skirt), piston-to-wall 0.025-0.045 mm at skirt perpendicular to wrist pin. Ignition timing F-mark on alternator rotor — static F-mark 10-14 deg BTDC at idle (the wider 400F idle band is intentional, do not over-tighten the timing into the 4001-12 deg CB550 range), points gap 0.30-0.40 mm, dwell 53-57 deg across all four lobes. Four Keihin CV 30 mm carburetor stack synced to +/-1.5 cmHg at idle with vacuum lines blanked, factory main jet 98 / pilot 38 / slide cut-away optional per altitude spec.

Honda CB400F SOHC geometry — shim-under-bucket + manual cam-chain tensioner + 6-speed gearbox + charging railCROSS-SECTION — SOHC HEAD + MANUAL CHAIN TENSIONER + 6-SPEEDCB400F cast-iron head (408cc SOHC inline-four)SOHC camshaft (single, centered)I 0.05 mm coldE 0.08 mm coldMANUAL CAM-CHAIN TENSIONER (Honda 14550-422-006)5-7 mm(manual, narrower than CB550/CB750 blade 6-8 mm)6-SPEED GEARBOX (2.307 / 1.667 / 1.333 / 1.111 / 0.961 / 0.852)CHARGING SCHEMATIC — ALTERNATOR + REG-REC + F-MARKhalf-wave alternatorReg-Rec(Half-Wave)12VF-mark timing dot10-14 deg BTDC static(wider vs CB550 10-12)14.0 +/- 0.5 Vat 3000 rpm halogenAC 50-70 V statorKEIHIN CV 30 mm QUAD-CARB STACK (main 98 / pilot 38, +/-1.5 cmHg sync)#1#2#3#4
CB400F SOHC head cross-section with shim-under-bucket intake (0.05 mm cold) and exhaust (0.08 mm cold) valves, plus the manual cam-chain tensioner body (Honda 14550-422-006 service spec, 5-7 mm slack -- narrower than the CB550/CB750 blade-style 6-8 mm). The right panel diagrams the half-wave alternator + Reg-Rec + F-mark rotor charging schematic (14.0 +/- 0.5 V at 3000 rpm halogen load) with the wider 400F timing dot 10-14 deg BTDC static band. The bottom rail shows the Keihin CV 30 mm quad-carb stack numbered 1 through 4 from the rider seat -- factory main 98 / pilot 38, vacuum-sync band +/-1.5 cmHg idle.

Valve train service

SOHC shim-under-bucket procedure + pitfalls

The CB400F runs the same SOHC shim-under-bucket layout as the CB550 K-series and the CB750 K-series, with a 0.05 mm intake / 0.08 mm exhaust cold-clearance band identical to the CB550/CB750 spec. The procedure below uses Honda 14902-310-003 shim (1.80-2.90 mm in 0.05 mm steps) and reads shim thickness on the thinner stamped face, the same convention the CB550/CB750 shim uses. Re-tension the manual cam-chain tensioner to 5-7 mm slack at the end of the procedure -- the manual tensioner spec is narrower than the CB550/CB750 blade-style 6-8 mm at the cold midpoint.

  1. Confirm the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke for the cylinder being serviced — the manual cam-chain tensioner is fully retracted at this position and the cam lobes sit on the bucket base circle. Mark the cam chain orientation relative to the crankshaft sprocket with a paint pen across the chain link and the sprocket tooth for the reassembly reference.
  2. Remove the cam cover (8 mm cap screws, 10 N.m three-stage reverse sequence), expose the shim-under-bucket line. Press each valve spring with a magnetic pickup tool — do NOT pry the shim past the bucket; a single dropped shim drops into a cylinder and costs an hour of fishing through the spark-plug hole.
  3. Lift the shim out with a small magnetic pickup; read the shim thickness stamp on the FACE side of the shim (the stamp appears on both faces, but the stamped thickness is the thinner face — same convention as the CB550 / CB750 shim). Record the stamped thickness against the measured clearance.
  4. Compute the replacement shim thickness: target_midpoint - (measured_clearance - stamped_shim_thickness). For intake (target 0.05 mm), subtract the measured over-target from the stamped shim. For exhaust (target 0.08 mm), subtract the measured under-target. Pick the next step UP if the new shim falls between catalog thicknesses.
  5. Press-fit the replacement shim into the bucket recess with the magnetic pickup. Confirm the shim sits flat on the bucket top before the cam cover torques down. Pulling the bucket with a non-magnetic tool drops the shim — the slot catches oil.
  6. Re-tension the manual cam-chain tensioner (Honda 14550-422-006 spec) to 5-7 mm slack — the manual tensioner spec is narrower than the CB550 / CB750 blade-style 6-8 mm at the cold midpoint. Loosen the locknut first, push the slipper into contact with the chain, then back off 0.5 turn before re-tightening the locknut.
  7. Reassemble in reverse: cam cover to spec (10 N.m three-stage), verify shim under each bucket before the cam cover torques down. Reset the manual cam-chain tensioner to 5-7 mm slack spec cold before loading the engine.

Pitfalls

  • Reading the shim thickness stamp on the wrong face — the stamp appears on both faces of the 400F shim, but the stamped thickness is the thinner face. A 2.20 mm shim with the wrong-face stamp read becomes a 2.25 mm install and walks the bucket clearances 0.05 mm tight. The 0.05 mm intake / 0.08 mm exhaust band is tighter than the KZ750 band; a 0.05 mm walk on the shim direction is a 0.05 mm walk on the bench spec.
  • Setting valve clearance with the engine warm — the cold-spec intake 0.05 mm and exhaust 0.08 mm bands drift +0.02 mm at 50 deg C, locking the engine inside the hot-spec band when cold. Always set valve clearance cold after a minimum 4-hour bench cool. The CB400F spec band is identical to the CB550 at 0.05 / 0.08 and the cold-only requirement is identical.
  • Reusing the manual cam-chain tensioner past the 5-7 mm slack limit — the worn tensioner reads OK cold, then walks the chain slack up over 6,000 mi and throws the chain against the inside of the timing cover. Honda 14550-422-006 service spec; replace the body + push-rod + locknut as a matched set, do not reuse the body alone with a fresh push-rod. The 400F manual tensioner spec is narrower than the CB550 / CB750 blade-style 6-8 mm at the cold midpoint, so the spec must be reset to 5-7 mm at every service.
  • Cross-threading the 14 mm spark plug thread on reinstall — the 400F head is a known weak spot for plug thread damage (a shared weakness with the CB550 / CB750 K-series). A cross-threaded plug on the first install pulls aluminium up the thread and the next plug seats crooked. Hand-thread every plug the first three turns before applying the spark-plug wrench.
  • Over-tightening the manual cam-chain tensioner locknut — the 400F locknut threads are M6 fine-pitch; over-torque will snap the adjuster rod before the slipper has fully retracted. Use Motion Pro M-211 aftermarket tool with the torque-limiter adapter, NOT the Honda 07908-4220203 cam timing gauge which is sized for the CB750 blade-style tensioner.

Diagnostics flow

Symptom to cause to spec

Seven bench-side failure modes walking the CB400F 400-Series -- the manual cam-chain tensioner tick, mistimed F-mark idle (the wider 10-14 deg BTDC band), misfire under load from a shorted condenser (the 400/1 (1975) condenser is a known weak spot), under-spec charging rail, the oil-pressure relief fatigue, the 400/2 (1976) ear-mount vs bracket-mount points plate swap, and the 400/2 (1977) timing walk below the dialed-in spec band. Each row reads symptom, cause, and the factory spec that diagnoses it.

Decision checklist

  • Cold-start tick? -> Check oil level first; chain slack 5-7 mm within spec.
  • Hot-idle tick that increases with rpm? -> Replace manual cam-chain tensioner body + push-rod + locknut as a matched set (Honda 14550-422-006 spec).
  • Mistimed idle / abrupt curve? -> Re-time static F-mark to 10-14 deg BTDC, verify dynamic advance with strobe at 3000 rpm. DO NOT over-tighten into the tighter CB550 10-12 deg range.
  • Misfire under load all four cylinders? -> Bench-test condenser first; set points gap 0.30-0.40 mm; verify dwell 53-57 deg.
  • 400/2 (1976) frame webbing update chassis? -> Inspect ear-mount-to-bracket-mount points plate swap during every teardown; the 400/1 (1975) ear-mount points plate does NOT interchange with the 400/2 bracket-mount plate.
  • 400/2 (1977) timing walk above 3500 rpm? -> Remove the bucket on the tight cylinder, measure the original shim, replace with one size thicker; inspect cam lobe for pitting at the heel. The 400/2 (1977) dialed-in spec band is the year to bench against.
  • Charging rail under 13.5 V at 3000 rpm? -> Check reg/rectifier first; AC voltage at stator lead 50-70 V open circuit.
  • Oil-pressure under 2.5 bar at hot idle? -> Rebuild oil pump relief valve; do not run the engine past spec.
  • 6-speed gearbox noise / false neutral on 6th? -> Inspect the 4-plate anti-hopping clutch (Honda 22200-422-008); replace spring kit before re-shimming any dog-ring engagement.

Year-by-year differences

The 1975-1977 CB400F 400-Series production run (400/1 + 400/2)

Three production years across one bore class (51.0 mm) and two model variants (400/1 + 400/2). The 400/1 (1975) ear-mount points plate vs the 400/2 (1976-1977) bracket-mount plate is the cross-era line in the timeline -- the 400/1 ear-mount does NOT interchange with the 400/2 bracket-mount plate. Pair with the wider 400F timing band (10-14 deg BTDC) and the narrower 400F cam-chain tensioner spec (5-7 mm slack, vs the CB550/CB750 blade-style 6-8 mm) to triangulate the year.

Wiring diagrams

Charging / points + condenser / lighting & signal

The three schematics below cover the 400/1 + 400/2 cross-era: the half-wave charging rail, the contact-breaker points + condenser subsystem (with the 400/2 frame-webbing bracket-mount plate as a 1976 mount-style swap node), and the lighting & signal bus carried unchanged across all three production years. The 400/1 (1975) condenser is the known weak spot -- inspect the condenser at every teardown.

1975-1977 -- Charging + points-driven ignition (400/1 + 400/2 unchanged)

Half-wave alternator stator with single-diode Reg-Rec feeds battery 12 V through a single 15 A main fuse. Charging rail 14.0 +/- 0.5 V at 3000 rpm halogen load. Negative-earth convention carries forward unchanged from the 1975 400/1 launch through the 1977 400/2 close-of-run. The same charging system backs every CB400F 400-Series — the 400/2 (1976) frame webbing update is chassis-side, not charging-rail changes. Points gap 0.30-0.40 mm / dwell 53-57 deg (the 400F dwell band is narrower than the CB550 dwell band of 50-60 deg); the points-driven ignition is unchanged across the 400/1 + 400/2 run, only the points plate mount shifts at the 1976 year-band line (ear-mount on the 400/1, bracket-mount on the 400/2).

1975-1977 -- Points & condenser subsystem (400-Series era)

The 400-Series contact-breaker points + condenser subsystem is unchanged across the 400/1 (1975) and 400/2 (1976-1977) production run. Points gap 0.30-0.40 mm is the field-adjustable parameter; dwell 53-57 deg across all four lobes is the verification spec (the narrower 400F dwell band versus the CB550 50-60 deg band is the year-band call-out on the bench). The 400/1 (1975) condenser is a known weak spot — a shorted condenser mimics a points gap fault. The 400/2 (1976) frame webbing update is a chassis-side swap, the bracket-mount points plate replaces the 400/1 ear-mount plate at the 1976 year-band.

1975-1977 -- Lighting & signal bus (cross-era unchanged)

The 400-Series lighting & signal bus carries the same negative-earth convention across every production year. Battery -> main fuse -> headlamp / tail+brake / turn signals / horn. The 15 A main fuse is shared with the charging rail. The bus is unchanged between the 400/1 (1975) drum-brake era and the 400/2 (1976-1977) chassis; only the points plate mount style shifts at the 1976 year-band line (ear-mount on the 400/1, bracket-mount on the 400/2).

Tool checklist

Specialty kit anchored to the Honda factory service tools

15specialty tools anchored to Honda 14550-422-006 manual cam-chain tensioner, the Honda 07908-4220203 cam timing gauge (shared with the CB750 K-series), the Motion Pro M-211 aftermarket manual tensioner, the Honda 07910-4150101 contact-breaker service tool, the engine-sprocket drive-side staking tool, the points cam-lifter tool (bush-style cam-ring, 400/1 first-year), and the 400-Series main harness rebuild kit. Pair with the bench kit (DMM, dwell meter, strobe timing light, telescoping gauge, bore gauge, torque wrenches 1/2" and 3/8").

Parts checklist

The CB400F parts sheet

16 parts anchored to the Honda 14550-422-006 manual cam-chain tensioner assembly, the Honda 14902-310-003 shim kit (1.80-2.90 mm in 0.05 increments), the 400/1 (1975) ear-mount vs the 400/2 (1976-1977) bracket-mount points plate, the Keihin CV 30 mm carb rebuild kit, the NGK BP-7ES plug, the 400-Series front drum shoe set, and the Honda 22200-422-008 4-plate anti-hopping clutch kit for the 6-speed gearbox.

Printable PDF

Take this pillar to the bench

The full Honda CB400F pillar guide as a printable PDF -- 12-pt sans-serif body, real H1 / H2 / H3 hierarchy (### markers treated as level-2 headings at render time), header on every page, footer with the IronHead CB400F tagline, the factory geometry spec + valve-train service procedure + diagnostics flow + 400/1 vs 400/2 model history timeline + wiring diagrams + tool + parts checklist in one bound document.

Next up

Read next in the Honda SOHC pillars

Each of the pillars below is a stand-alone restoration doc -- wiring diagram, factory tolerances, year-by-year deltas, and a printable PDF. Pick the engine family that matches the machine on your bench; the rest of the catalogue is there when your bench needs a comparison page.

Next up

Honda SOHC inline-four K-series (K0-K8, 1969-1983). Disc-brake transition, factory tolerances, and the full teardown / reassembly for the engine, gearbox, carbs, and electrical harness. The 736cc big-bore sibling of the 408cc CB400F.

Open the CB750 Restoration Guide

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Honda SOHC inline-four K-series (K0-K4, 1974-1978). The 572cc mid-displacement sibling of the CB400F. K0-K4 model history timeline, blade-style cam-chain tensioner (different from the 400F manual), and K3 (1977) frame-lug harness chafe known fault.

Open the CB550 Restoration Guide

Next up

Side-by-side comparison of the six Honda SOHC family guides -- CB350, CB450, CB400F, CB550, CB650, CB750, CB900F -- with bore / stroke / production-year / valve-spec spec sheet per row.

Open the Honda SOHC hub

Next up

A workshop-grounded walkthrough of scope, tools, time, model choice, and pitfalls for first-time vintage motorcycle restorers.

Open the getting-started pillar