Gas tanks different for VF500

Apparently the Gas tanks for the 86 VF500 are different from the 84 and 85's.

Is this true?

What are the differences?

 

no i would think this to be true nothing about the VF500 changed except carbs are smaller on the 86's and paint schemes :thumbsup:

 

I went to go buy a Tank on Ebay and the guy said he was selling it cause it did NOT fit his 86.

This is what he told me when I asked him about it:

...and not just the carbs. The 86 has a COMPLETELY different oil pan then the 84-85
...and apparently they have a better oiling system in the 86 VF500's

 

Judging by the pics...looks like the mounting area for the Petcock might be different.

 

According to the Clymers the 86 has no fuel pump. There are some other minor differences as well. Apparently the radiator swings out of the way for removing the valve cover - instead of needing to remove the radiator completely.

I could scan the Clymers pages that list some of the differences.

The valves on the 86 adjust to .006 on both intake and exhaust, instead of I believe .004 & .005.

 

The 86 Radiator swings out of the way?

Oh yea! The 86 calls for different Spark Plugs too....colder ones.

We should compile a list of differences and make a sticky.

If you could scan that page that'd be cool.

So have we confirmed that the tanks are different for the 86?

 

i'll have to take pictures of it or something i dont have a scanner come to think of it. I can try and summarize it - but there are a decent amount of differences.

It's outside in the garage at the moment because I was just adjusting my valves.

I imagine the gas tanks are definitely different due to the 86 having a different fuel system.

 

84/86 have the same tank . it's the mounting of the petcock that's different. that's why you can't use a 86 petcock on an 84 tank.

 

OMG lets get friggin anal about it you breaking down specs between models

 

Might be some useful info to know when searching for used parts!

I have read that the petcock is different, and I think the way the petcock mounts. I would think that the tank would work just fine though, with the 86 petcock.

 

Be careful in trusting everythign in that manual! I have had a couple problems with some of the stuff in there being "not quite right". The pics in the camshaft timing area are one example, or maybe I just was not looking at the right? Some of the internal engine measurements aren't right either.

 

For people buying a lot of parts online it would be very useful. They changed a few more things than just carbs and paint bro!


Dont use a clymers manual. I did for a while and its full of mistakes. Get a Honda shop manual.

The camshaft pics arent right but if you read the TEXT ONLY you will be ok as far as the cam timing goes

 

I wish I knew the oil pans were different before i got one off ebay and it didn't fit.

 

The petcocks between the 86 and 84/85 are different, that's why the tanks are different. You have to have the petcock for the correct tank. You can however, run an 86 tank/petcock combo on 84/85 carbs and eliminate the fuel pump. I have it that way on my racebike. No problems at all with very low fuel loads and full throttle application. You just have to get a reducer for the fuel lines.
Actually there are a lot of differences between the 84/85 and the 86, so you need to be careful when buying used parts.
You can run the 86 oil pump and pick up screen to use the 86 oil pan, and vice-versa. I had to run an 85 pan on my 86 to use the exhaust I had.
The air boxes on the 84/85's are bigger too (as well as the carb diameters). They drop down around the fan more.
Cheers!
Mike.

 

I just picked up a 86 and had only minor crack (or so I thought) some one decided to paint it and it was a horrible job so I sanded it and found pinholes along the bottom edges on both sides. I was thinking about cutting out the bottom fixing it from the inside out and then having it rewelded, I checked out some vintage tank restoration sites they charge 300-500 for the process but since I have friends with tools I think I will try it myself since finding a replacement in good shape is so difficult. I used a empty oil container as a tank so I could start it and see how it rides. I am going to try and figure out another temporary tank of some kind so I can still ride it while I either fix mine or find another one

 

My tank has had pinholes along the bottom edge aswell....it's been repair'd many times...the latest involving having the hole bottom piece cut out and a new peice of metal welded in.

I've tried coating but it never reached the bottom corners of the tank and with the baffles inside it's also caused alot of issues with filling up.

 

Ok....so lets assume I buy a tank for an 84 VF500.

What would I need to make it work?

 

You would only need the 84-85 petcock to make it work.

 

...and just hook that up to my existing fuel lines and away I go?

 

Fuel lines on the 86 are bigger, so you would need a fitting to splice the two sizes together.