Oil Mod feeback please...

If I could suggest, check the followers for wear before proceeding with the rebuild.

 

I'm also one of those guys that have had zero cam problems with my 60+k 83. If you haven't had cam problems on your bike and they look good. Then what's the problem??? There is no problem. I'll bet half the guys who did the oil mod, did it out of fear, not reason. Depending on how they reason.

If the bike was going to have oil/cam problems it would have done it by now. So there is no problem. I also think some of the problems may have been caused by to tight or incorrect lash settings.

 

Agreed.

Factory techs, that were in the know during the 'great camshaft crisis', all say this.

The issue isn't lubrication rather the manufacturing process, i.e. cam lobe inclusions and related damage to the hard chrome surface on the followers.

 

I have been looking on the Sabre and Magna websites and there are blogs of owners with good results tested over time from doing an oil mod. It seems to be a given on there if you intend to keep your bike for a long time to do the oil mod, no negative feedback at all. Im not saying I know the answer of right or wrong about the oil mods but just going from the blogs of owners with oil mods I havent found any who regreted it. some had had the bike since new, no doubt changed oil / maintained regualy but did have cam issues untill they did their oil Mod. Maybe the replacement cams and followers were of improved quality but the oil mod did no harm either.
Maybe the manufacturing and mechanical engineering was the fault but it appear but increasing the lubrication it improves the situation. I found one blog that had 100 000km of testing, cams replaced twice by 30 000, did the oil mod, no more issues.

After all the reading, I would still not replace my worn cams and follower and not follow it up with the oil mod. Sorry Guys, it appears its all a bit mythicol like arguing religon or something....over and outotstir:

 

Don't think you are 'pot stirring' at all. The most important thing is to enjoy your project. Please post up some progress photos when you have a chance.

Good luck with the build!

 

AOL. This is the reason I bought a VF engined bike. I want the trouble it brings. Modern stuff is just too boringly reliable.

 

Well that's my point. If you've never had a problem in the first place. Then you intall oil mod. Then you get no negative feed back. Why?? Because there never was a problem with your bike to begin with. It's like putting a band-aid on your arm incase you get a cut. See no blood so it works!! I see no real proof that this mod helps anything. Except someones pocket.

As long as your happy that makes things alright. NOW don't get any shavings in the oil passage. They could end up causing a problem.

 

In conjunction, be very careful with the pipe threading. By nature this seals on a taper, i.e. it expands around the surrounding metal. Using this type of fitting in hollow cast aluminum has its own potential risks as well.

 

I feel like it's 1992 again with all of the subjection and assumptions! It's like Deja Vu all over again.

 

As you know, there's a circular spot on the case where you'll drill. Cheat in towards the motor with the hole, not dead center of the circle and drill as straight as possible. I helped a guy put an R motor in that had the hole drilled slightly crooked. It hit the frame but we didn't know it. When tightening the last bolt in the frame, we heard a click. Sure enough, pulling the frame in against the fitting cracked the case.

 

Good intel, hopit.

Sounds like you ran into a bear on that day. How did you end up resolving?

On a side note, if installing the oil mod, what is the best way to drill and tap? As grey noted, metal shavings are a concern.

 

I installed the oil mod on my 1986 VF500F about 8 years ago. At the time, it had only 600 miles on it. I too did all of the reading and research and found that the facts, to me, were inconclusive. As others have stated, I did the oil mod as a "feel good" thing or as an insurance policy. I meticulously maintain my bike and I have had no problems since doing it.

On a side note, my brother also currently owns a 1986 VF500F that I originally bought way back in 1991 that he still rides. It has about 35K miles on it with no oil mod and it is fine with no signs of cam wear.

If I could go back and change things, I still would have done the oil mod. For peace of mind, the money was worth it. Good luck with the project and I look forward to seeing the progress!

 

Thanks Hopit I will be super carefull with that now

 

Yep, a Momma bear with cubs. He ended up pulling the motor and had it welded.

I haven't done it and with 100k plus miles I don't suspect I will. If I had the motor out and on it's side(or tipped back) I would probably make a puck out of some plumbers putty or play dough and stick that in side where the drill will come through. I'd then tape off a drill bit to a depth just in side the case and into the putty. The putty would hopefully trap any shavings that weren't removed by the bit. Then hit it with a vac. Maybe a vac is enough held up to the hole.

Another member used a rag in there. Here's their motor.


I've seen some AN elbows that are larger than others making the space between the frame and motor pretty tight. Try to get the smallest fittings you can I guess.

 

Good intel as always, hop!

 

Just stick a piece of paper towel in the hole beyond where you drill. That's what my oil kit instructions state - everyone who have used this method has reported good results. With just a little bit of care you can prevent shavings from getting in there. It's not that difficult really.

 

Dont worry Jamie, I'm gonna follow your oil kit instructions, although I will probably drill a little off centre like Hopit suggested to provide more frame clearance. I will take pics as I go and post them on this thread once done.

 

Look forward to seeing the photos. Good luck with the install and please keep us posted on the progress.

 

There is a small step on the area where you'll drill. File that flat, this will let you cheat the fitting over and have a flat surface. Smooth out the entire area for a tight fit.


Sebs motor