VFR400r (NC24) - Rothmans Build.

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by Diving Pete, Apr 12, 2019.

  1. Colddevil

    Colddevil Member

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    Diving Pete, what type of paint/procedure did you use on the engine components? It's looking great.
     
  2. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Hi,

    Basically, clean, clean, clean,

    Start with a normal car wash & clean it - this will remove 50%.

    I used sandpaper to take off any obvious marks / rust and also to help act as a key. The paint is Hammerite Satin black or Hammerite Smooth Silver.

    If it fits in my heated ultrasonic it get a couple of treatments - using ultrasonic cleaner.
    For the chrome stuff, clean using thinnners, also clean by rubbing with tin foil - makes a bigger difference than you may think..
    For general cleaning I use various type brushes, toothbrushes, picks, & lots of micro fibre rags.
    For bolts, they also go in a hand drill & get spun using Autosol Solvol Chrome Polish / Cleaner as the cleaner / polish into a microfibre rag - don't have a bench polisher...
    You will use lots of masking tape & thinners - just be VERY careful around rubber components - motorbikes are generally oily - lol.

    I also put brushes into a drill to clean areas that are harder to work on.. - you still need to add a cleaner / polish but does save time.

    1 of my old race engineers used to say to me - if it moves then oil it, if its still then paint it..
     
  3. Colddevil

    Colddevil Member

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    Thank you for the thoughtful answer Diving Pete. I'm always interested in learning how other people handle some of these jobs because I often find that working smarter, not harder, would save me a lot of time and frustration.

    I took your suggestion in another thread and purchased an ultrasonic cleaner from Amazon--got it in my car now. We'll see if it works. I actually work for a company that sells industrial ultrasonic cleaners, and the prices on those are a lot more than the motorcycles I ride, so I never considered that cheaper consumer-level ones might exist. The good news is that I'll have a lot of different degreasers I can try out.

    Anyway, really looking forward to following this thread and seeing how you progress on the bike. I saw a VFR400 in person for the first time at Road America last year and just fell in love with it.
     
  4. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    Simple Green (citrus cleaner), Dawn dishwashing soap and some water.... works wonders when the ultrasonic heats it up to 150F or so.. Another thing you can do with say fasteners, is soak them overnight in PineSol.
     
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  5. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Well just to show a little more progress...

    New chain, sprockets & bearings.. from Rick Oliver

    [​IMG]IMG_2156 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

    Stator wires - I'm sure at one point they may have been in better condition = shouldn't really be surprised... lol

    [​IMG]IMG_2160 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

    Took back the wire & replaced the connector

    [​IMG]IMG_2164 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

    Forgot to mention I managed to get a almost brand new Nitron rear shock..

    [​IMG]IMG_2166 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

    Newly powder coated wheels - just removed the 32 year old bearings (in pretty good condition ! ) & now replaced with the same - Japanese Koyo OEM bearings..

    [​IMG]IMG_2167 by Pete Smith, on Flickr
     
  6. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Next job is to get the discs clean & back on..
     
  7. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    More work completed..
    Undertray on, electrics routed & connected, subframe in position

    [​IMG]IMG_2178 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

    Lights & ECU

    [​IMG]IMG_2177 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

    [​IMG]IMG_2176 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

    Next jobs are the exhaust & rear brake (thats going to be bad - lol)
     
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  8. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Lookin' good, Mr. Pete! Making some really nice progress.
     
  9. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    Very nice indeed....!!!
     
  10. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Ok since COVID hit and the fact this bike is at the mother in laws meant that work on it basically stopped from then - March 20th 2020.

    HOWEVER,

    as I hate unfinished things, & the oldies are now innoculated, over the last couple of weeks I've got back into finishing it.

    So, as pictures are best I will show the latest updates.
     
  11. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    IMG_0741.jpeg

    IMG_0742.jpeg

    IMG_0748.jpeg

    IMG_0755.jpeg

    IMG_0756.jpeg

    IMG_0766.jpeg

    IMG_0771.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    So what was recently looked or completed:
    Rear Hub regreased & installed
    Chain & sprockets, installed & fitted
    Rear brake & disc cleaned & serviced & fitted - complete strip & new pads, seals, etc
    Front sprocket cover installed
    Steering Head bearings replaced with roller bearings
    New power coated triple installed
    Repaint of bars & front brake master cylinder
    Front brakes cleaned & serviced - complete strip & new pads, seals, etc
    Discs cleaned & put back onto new powder coated wheels
    Disc bolts cleaned
    Replacement forks installed.

    It is now really close to startup:
    need to do is go over every bolt with a torque wrench to check it.
    bleed the front and rear brakes

    Things that I also want to do but can wait:
    Replace tyres
    Repaint Hub
    Repaint Forks
    Repaint front & rear brakes
    Paint front discs
    Have a few (now) surface rusty bolts so tempted to zinc plate them. its not that major a deal.
     
  13. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    1st world problems....

    IMG_0825.jpeg
     
  14. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Nice work, Mr. Pete!
     
  15. straycat

    straycat Member

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    Awesome work Pete !!
     
  16. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Forgot to mention, I replaced the standard head race bearings with roller bearings - It was decidedly notchy unloaded and now its as smooth as butter. Wasn't planning on doing it unless needed - however it was, so I did.. lol
    I'm presently going through a few of the panels & repairing the tabs - just generally getting them ready to be painted.. These are mainly spare sets.
     
  17. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    when it rains it pours - I've broken my compressor.. - think the motor has died... ARGHHHHHHH. The original motor lasted 8 years - this one about a year..

    Going to look at options.
     
  18. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Doh - so are we talking about the small compressor or the giant one taking up half the shed?
     
  19. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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  20. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    nice work, pete.

    we have a 400 too, hasn't been touched since my buddy bought it 5 years ago...............

    june 6 2021 001.JPG
     
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