Got my new VRF need some help with some small things

So I picked up my bike last night 2/7/13 and road it home almost 100 miles and I learned some things that need some attentions

1) Left Turn signal indicator lights up some times and not other (the indicator works all the time), The right works perfectly, and the light switch if i switch to high beams I really have to press hard on the low beam side to get the low beam to engage, (they are HID's so on low it's more light then I will ever need) I'm thinking that its a contact thing and that if I open it up and clean it up it should be fine, any idea's or link or other things I should look at?

2) Gauge cluster lights are kind of dim has anyone ever replaced them with led's or anything like that? I think that would be a cool mod.

3) are there any guides on plastic welding. Some of the plastic pieces are cracked not bad but I would like to fix it cheaply if possible

 

Congrats on the new ride.

I'd definitely pull that switch apart and clean it up. That may fix your issues with the blinker and hi beams.

I know plastic welding has been discussed here previously. Can either search this forum or Google it.

 

On my 97 when I had it I replaced all the gauge cluster lights with some LED wedge bulbs that I purchased from a local supplier. I changed most of the bulbs for the gauges with amber colored LED's (personal taste) and used white everywhere else.

I found this thread on plastic repair on another site and you might find it useful.
How To: Repairing And Painting Plastic Fairings - Body and Paint - VFR Discussion

If you take apart the switch as Pliskin suggested and clean it up you find the problem will resolve itself. If not you may be able to pick one up for cheap on Ebay or you could try a place like www.bikebandit.com or www.hondapartsnation.com about getting a new OEM switch to replace it. On my 97 I sometimes had problems with low beams on the headlight and I found a bit of corrosion on the contacts once I had the switch apart. I cleaned the contacts off by gently scuffing them with some 1500 grit sand paper and they worked fine after that.

Nice looking machine and congrats on the new bike.

 

just thought of another thing, while riding my temperature gauge said it was cold (I knew this) but being that is was 20F would that cause the temperature gauge to barely move once the bike warmed up?

 

I think the temp should move up once the bike is warmed up. If it is too cold outside, it still should move up and stay around 180/190 ish range.

 

ok well then it was working because thats where it was.

 

Hey Rust it sounds like your thermostat is working just fine. It starts to open at about 175F, as cold as it was outside the minute the thermostat started to open it dumps all that cold coolant from the radiators into the engine and the temp will drop or stay the same. At 20 deg. F it would take a long time to warm all that coolant in the engine and the rest of the system. It might not get everything hot with 2 radiators exposed to 20F ambient air.

 

nice bike. apparently red is fastest although my blue one has more torque :smile:
They run cool on the guage... mine stays at 8 o'clock even in 30 degrees (rarely in England alas) unless in traffic for a while when it goes to 9 o'clock and the fan comes on. Either way it keeps yer ankles warm. probably worth taking off the plastics and cleaning everything. Try spraying the switches and other electrics with wd40 or acf50.
basically it's a very sorted engine and chassis but on a bike that old the ancillaries will need some tlc.
spend some time and or money on renovating suspension and brakes and you'll have possibly the best all-rounder ever made.

 

cool, brake system was already upgraded with the braided steel lines, rotors are new (i got the old ones in the box of parts i got) pads look to have plenty of life in them. I plan on putting a few hundred miles on her to get some of the new toy feelings out and then spend some time making sure everything is in full working order. clean everything up de-grease the engine, maybe patch some plastic, etc.

 

Where in PA are you from anyway? Close to Jersey, or more like Pennsyltucky?

 

Be careful taking that light switch apart. There are little springs and check balls in there that tend to fly all over the fuggen place when you try to take them apart. Good luck. I have to take one of mine apart because the four way flashers are not working. First things first, check the contacts for corrosion. Then drink beer cause you can't find dem fuggen springs and check balls.

 

I'm near West Chester, an hour west of philly give or take.

 

Gotcha. I got a buddy who lives in Wayne. Guess you're just a little further west of that.

 

Wayne's not to far from me, I have a store out there that I plan on drafting now that I have a more fuel efficient mode of transportation.