VF500 F2 Rear Wheel Impossible!

Bingo. Now that the guess work is done...is the tab bottoming out on the bracket slot? If so, you need to shorten it. Is the tab too wide for the slot? If so, you need to narrow it. It seems you're at a juncture. Do you remove material or don't you. If you're worried about returning to stock then you may not want to remove any more material from the tab and stay stock. If you want to get this wheel on(and I would suggest you do) get an angle grinder and carefully remove what is needed. A file is wasted energy. Take measurements and remove only what is necessary and this wheel will be on in minutes. Way to stay with it. I know you had some rough moments and may have felt like you were being ganged up on but you were not crazy. The swingarm for whatever reason was just not cooperating. You're very close to finishing this nightmare so see it through. Keep us posted and good luck.

Dunlops are wide for some reason. How far forward on the adjusters are you?

 

oh my god! it fits :biggrin: slowbird i would have loved to seen the smile on your face but like hopit88 said now comes the choice cbr forever or stock

 

Yes

No

That shouldn't matter, the tab is uber big and removing material from the end won't even affect the engaged length in the bracket. You really need to have the parts in your hands to understand what I mean.

In fact, quite the opposite. All Dunlops that I've measured (quite a few, mostly for VF500F applications) are not as wide as the same sized tire from Michelin or Bridgestone. I haven't checked any other brands. Bridgestone's are especially wide for some reason.

Slow - What tire is on there again? It looks like it's got a really tall profile (lots of sidewall).

 

It looks to me like the tab is too long/the bracket slot is too shallow.

I guess....I don't wanna remove too much or have issues keeping the tab straight but I guess I have no choice.

Thanks....it kinda sucks i have to modify my swingarm to get this kit to fit. :frown:

Counting from the rear of the adjusters I am 3 notches in...I think cause I currently have a 44 tooth sprocket on and I originally tested it with a 42.

It's a bit too close to the swingarm now...I can barely get a piece of paper in between the tire and the arm.

The 42 tooth rear sprocket will bring the wheel further back but then the 16 tooth front may bring it forward again

I was actually kinda disappointed....I was hoping there was something wrong with the wheel and I had to change the bearings or something. I never wanted to grind the swingarm tab down.

 

Are you saying grinding down the tab will not get the kit to fit?

It's a Pirelli Sport Demon 150/70-17

I don't know why I said Dunlop... :crazy:

 

I'm sure. We're all just trying to give advice based on photos and brief descriptions.

 

Slowbird, have you tried putting a straightedge on the chain yet? I never really trusted the adjusters to be accurate, so I always check my chain alignment with a straightedge on bikes with dual sided swingarms. Well, most of the time.

Might be worth 5 minutes of your time to rule out any chance of the adjusters being off.

 

Understood, that's why I'm trying to help clear things up!

 

Not at all, in fact quite the opposite. What I was stating is that you can grind on that end for a long time before you even get to the machined surface that mates with the bracket.

 

Looking good!!!

 

Ok then...time to hit my brother up for his grinder.

I'm not sure I fully understand this method....can you explain it a little more please?

 

slowbird the brake hose is supposed to be ran under the caliper not over but if it works it works

 

I realized that also after I took the picture.....since then I have been running the hose under the caliper the proper way.

Matt, did you ever figure out what sprockets you were going with?

On the Stock Rear wheel, a 15/42 is real nice and good for cruising....80MPH and I'm barely hitting 6,500rpm :biggrin:
....but with the smaller F2 rear wheel it screams over 7,000rpm around 80mph.

I'm thinking a 16/42 or maybe even a 16/41

 

i havent really gave much though but i was thinking about 16/40??? mybe iduno how well thats going to work

 

+1 Front/ -4 rear....that's crazy

 

well the bkes alread y has a 40 tooth rear sprocket on it, i just have seen what i did i wouldn't do 16 but rather a 15 and drop down to a 38 tooth rear thats the smallest one they make for the 500

 

The stock gearing is about 8000rpm at 80mph, so you are already at a taller overall gearing than stock. I'd say that's a good thing.

The recommended gearing to keep the stock rpm/mph for the 1986 VF500F is 16/43, in case that helps.

 

So I got off work early-ish on Friday and hurried over to the storage place where my bike is being kept for the winter.

I spent about 20minutes grinding down the tab on the swingarm. It was fairly hard work cause the plug was far away and it made for awkward grinding. After a few test fits I did eventually get the F2 wheel to fit without the brake caliper bracket rubbing the rotor.

I haven't tested the fitment of the rear brake caliper yet but it looks like it'll be fine.

A problem I am having is that with the sprockets at 15/44 the 150/70-17 Perelli tire rubs the swingarm. When I install a 42 sprocket on the rear it barely clears the swingarm.

I assume I'm going to have to go with a final 16/41 Sprocket setup to allow for good clearance.





EDIT: This post just reminded me I forgot to clean up all the aluminum bits of swingarm tab off the floor before I left. Bike needs a cleaning from the grinding dust.

 

I could but I wouldn't mind going with fewer teeth on the rear for better cruising RPM's....so I don't mind.

But since the front has to go +1 I figure I may have to go -1 in the rear to make a 16/41 combination.

LOL.....as is "thing-a-ma-jig" and "what'chya call it!"