"Pipe, oil defense, P/N 1825702 HP# 12385-ZE6-000". Thanks for posting that picture, Rob. The crankshaft and camshaft obviously rotate in opposite directions in engines that have timing gears, and viewed from that end (the PTO end) the crankshaft rotates anticlockwise and the camshaft clockwise. However the defense pipe projects into the crankcase cover, not far from the oil slinger, which will have much more important effects on the amount of oil thrown at it. Incidentally I do not see that pipe as a masterstroke of Honda engineering - it looks like something they invented during the engine development process, after they found they had a problem.
Note that I don't know which chondas have plastic timing gears like yours. Honda has cast iron timing gears and camshafts in the GXV120 and GXV160 - of the GXV engines, they only have the plastic gear and cams in the GXV140. Of course the GCV engines have a plastic moulding that is timing sprocket and cam lobe all in one flat piece. It pivots on a loose steel shaft that slides through the center of it, so the timing gear/cam can be retimed, or completely replaced, in the blink of an eye. Just as well, too, since it is a bit prone to losing its timing.
