VF500F - setting the float height after removing the fuel pump

I believe that the 84-85 line is the same size as the first line on the 86 from the petcock to the y-split.

 

The is a filter in the pump circuit. When I tried the gravity feed, the line went directly from the tank to the carb inlet, no filter.

 

There goes that potential theory...have you cleaned the petcock screen? I am assuming that a restriction in the line is being overcome by the pump.

 

The screen is clean. When I apply vacuum to the petcock (engine not running) fuel flows freely from the petcock. I let it drain into a container for at least 30 seconds, flow did not slow down.

 

So that obviously leaves something in the carbs that is different than others who switched to gravity without problems. I know I am one step behind you through this troublesooting, but like you I am intrigued...

 

The bike is running fine with the pump, so I wouldn't think it would be the needle screens. I believe that he cleaned the carbs already.

 

When I cleaned the carbs, I separated the carbs, disassembled, cleaned using carb cleaner and compressed air, replaced all the seals and bowl gaskets, new float needles and seats. There were no screens at the needle seat locations. Although I am new to the v4 carb setup, I have plenty of experience with dirt bike and inline 4 carbs. I found out what you guys were warning me about when spearating the carbs, what a PITA getting everything reassembled. There was plenty of evidence that the carbs had been apart in the past, float levels were uneven, float drop was way to much, choke linkage was screwed up.

 

Per Tink's post, there should be screens that are 'under' the float seats. Looks like these have gone missing somewhere along the way.

 

My take is that a PO removed them. As a sidenote, the carbs were surprisingly clean, almost no varnish or crud. Enough of this for a while, I'm going to ride, too nice a day not to.

 

The united States in in sad shape as far as training for young mechanics and the internet is not the best way to learn.

The best thing is to work with an experienced mechanics and have them show you details about your work . NO show off but actually teach the younger men real skills.

I see so much misinformation on the internet.
And when you cannot get a motorcycle part
ONLINE through a Honda parts place, It does NOT mean there are no parts available.
Many motorcycle parts interchange.
Like the clutch job I just did on my VF1000R. No clutch prssure springs available.
Well the VF1100 was the exact same part with different part number. works perfect.
Measured the same in every respect. See the thread on this forum under Mechanics.

 

Creaky did you set the float height on your carbs? If so where did you get the specs? Just wondering if anybody has check the float height specs between the different years? Thinking that those that went gravity feed successfully had 86 bikes and the floats are set higher may be along with the dual feed lines.

IC do you know if the floats are set different or the same between years?

 

The float height spec changed on the '86 from 6.2mm ('84/'85) to 7.3mm. These numbers refer to the factory method of setting the height - as shown in post 4 in this thread.

 

The spec is .024" with the float needle just seated & the spring loaded plunger in the needle fully extended. I set them at .250", I have this thing about a slightly lower level than recommended. I had a mental lapse when I was deciding on the amount of float drop and did not record the final figure. It is somewhere between .280" and .300". I was surprised that I could not find a float drop spec anywhere. The float height spec is listed in my Clymer manual that came with the bike, I also found it using a Google search. BTW, I had a great ride on the VF yesterday, put 150 two lane miles on it, no hiccups, the bike runs & rides really great. I have some new tires ordered, hopefully they will be installed by the end of the week and I can ride with full confidence and venture out a little more.

 

Float drop is not adjustable on streetbike carbs.

In your case, since you did all that unnecessary work to split carb set, you now need to synch properly before you judge how the bike is running.

good luck

 

Agreed that the carburetors should be synchronized - as they should be anytime they are removed, worked on, taken apart, etc. Creaky looks to have a solid set of mechanical skills and I would bet he knows this.

My question, and reason for starting this thread, is what effect if any the fuel pump has on the fuel level in the float bowls - on the VF500F.

Apologies if the above sounds terse, but I would like to keep things on track re. the original question in the first post.

Thx!

 

The float drop IS adjustable. There is a tang on the float arm that contacts one of the float pin towers. Bending the tang adjusts the float drop. The tang is visible in ic's post #4. I bench synched the butterflys and ear synched them after getting the engine running. Although the engine is running quite well & very smoothly, I do plan to check the sync in the near future with a manometer. While I do agree that luck sometimes can have no conscience and come or go indiscriminately, I also believe that luck is very subjective and that one's luck is most usually a result of his/her own actions.

 

I sense an oncoming discussion of float level versus float drop, and thus a further derailing of IC's thread....