VF500F Valves

I never did hear back from them, and I'm not at a point to commit the $$$ to buying them right now, so I just kinda left that one hanging for now. I'm considering a second job, or at least changing jobs to make ends meet right now, unless something changes where I am now.

 

Thanks for the post.

I hope all goes well with your cam reinstall. I'm sure this is a bit frustrating but you'll get it dialed in!

On a valve note – I agree, I would think the Ferrea valves will be up there in cost.

I did read that the VTR250 valves are designed with waisted stems. I wonder if - when considering rebuilding a VF500F head - using VTR valves, as an upgrade, would be a good option.

This is more a passing thought as the VTR250 valves are also NLA but as noted the Honda VTR250 and '84/'85 VF500F share the same inner and outer valve springs so making a switch to the VTR’s valves, with waisted stems, could be a possibility.

 

If only someone made the VF parts still.

The way I was thinking....if my bike has lasted THIS long with the stock top end....if I replaced the bad parts, it could keep on going.

But finding parts that are SPECIFICALLY for the 86 is such a PITA.

....and I don't know what problem there would be to swap parts from another year.

 

That's the spirit!

 

LOL..... :crazy:

 

Bike is running right again. I started with a compression test, and the front 2 cylinders were at 0. I pulled the front valve cover and found I had the exhaust cam out 180 degrees out! Oops! Fixed it, and the bike started right up! Sounds better than it ever did, on 6 month old gas! I will finish putting the rest of the way together when I get the coolant o-rings and seals from bikebandit that I had ordered last night. After getting the cam back where it belongs I ran the compression test again, and the numbers are all over the place, from 110, to 155. I need to warm it up a little and try again to see where it is, I bet it's closer than that after I run it for a while, since it has been sitting, and I had so much apart on it. If not, it's not misfiring, so I'll be ok with it for now.

Now, on to finding suitable replacements for the valves, and springs, and coming up with some money to get them, and reground cams, if they're still available from megacycle.

 

Great news! & congrats on getting the engine running! Hope the compression tests level out for you.

Re. the NLA engine components: I have been working on another source for the valves. Tony, the owner of Oregon Motorcycle Parts (he makes R/R's for vintage bikes incl. the VF500F) may be able to supply full sets (a set of 16 for btwn $425 & $450) through his source.

If this is a go then potentially the line-up could be: R/D for the springs (to be confirmed), Megacycle for hardfaced cams and rockers (using owner supplied cores) and OMP for valves...

 

That's getting expensive! A low-budget approach may be to keep looking out for used heads of decent condition and swap out parts for better ones on a regular basis.

 

JPorter....keep us posted on what you find.

My compression test got the same results. 1 @ 110 and 3 @ 150-160

I'm assuming it's a bad valve....I hope it's not bad rings.

 

Sage advice!

 

Yea....unless you have an 86

 

Well,,,you can graft an '84/'85 head onto an '86 - at least this is the word on the street - so this should open up more options for '86 owners.

Also the '84/'85 carburetors are an upgrade and this mated with the '84/'85 cam profile should give you a few extra HP on the top end as a side benefit.

 

5x5. I have read that installing a set of 'early' carbs on the '86 is a quick and easy way to add HP but I tend to agree with you - in the sense that if you are going for it why not mate the larger bore carb's with the factory spec'd cam profile...

 

I was thinking about getting a set of 85 heads for my 86.....but since the 1986 Crankcase has a different part# than the 84-85....and the head gaskets are different too.

So I'd hate to go through the trouble of getting a nice set of 85 heads together.....and then it doesn't fit my 86 block.

Also....I'm not really looking for extra power. I'd just like the bike to be running as efficiently as possible.

 

Woah woah.....I need some help here.

Just doing some cross-referencing on part numbers:

All of these bikes share the same Exhaust Valves:

1984 Honda VF500C V30 MAGNA
1984 Honda VF500F INTERCEPTOR
1985 Honda VF500C V30 MAGNA
1985 Honda VF500F INTERCEPTOR
1986 Honda VF500F
1988 Honda VTR250 INTERCEPTOR
1989 Honda VTR250 INTERCEPTOR
1990 Honda VTR250 INTERCEPTOR

and these bikes share the same Intake Valves:

1986 Honda VF500F
1988 Honda VTR250 INTERCEPTOR
1989 Honda VTR250 INTERCEPTOR
1990 Honda VTR250 INTERCEPTOR


Is this correct?
Since when did the 86 VF500 have the same valves as the other bikes?

 

Looks right,

VF500F
'84/'85 intake 14711-KE8-000 and exhaust 14721-KM3-000
'86 intake 14711-KV0-700 and exhaust 14721-KM3-000
VTR250
'88/'89/'90 intake 14711-KV0-700 and exhaust 14721-KM3-000

 

I just found another company that might be a good source to contact about valves and springs. It's called Kibblewhite mfg. Website here: Kibblewhite Precision Machining, Inc. ( KPMI)

I see they make quite a bit of stuff for vintage (old) bikes. They do everthing from the valves, guides, springs, and even seats!

 

Great find - Thx for the post!

I'm particularly smitten with this drawing:



Have you contacted them about supplying valves/springs for the VF500F?