Jim's $400.00 1986 VF500F

So I leaked tested the tank and all good. My POS fuel petcock of course started leaking. So I did what I had to do and used the @Captain 80s JB WELD and totally encased the stupid petcock in the stuff. IT WILL NOT LEAK NOW.

ANyway I got it back together and it started right up immediately. It;s probably been 4 months since I last started it. It helps to drain the carbs for sure. They started selling Ethanol free gas by my house so that will be all the VF gets in the future. Kind of expensive but worth it I think.

 

That is all good news.

Now the problem is you have two bikes to ride, which one today?

 

Ok, waiting on parts for the HAWK so back to the mini-ceptor again. I got new sight glasses for the brake cylinder from Joe at https://v4dreams.com/index.html . Give him business...he is a great guy.

I got the cylinder apart and is was god-awful inside. Had to put a new kit in it from K&L supply. Love those guys, great quality. Brake light switch fell to pieces also when I took it off.

 

Took 'er out for a spin today to get it state inspected....got some good compliments from the 20 somethings that worked here.

Is it fast? They asked.....No I said, but it is an absolute hoot to ride.

Did a 12 mile ride with no incidents. Huge milestone for me. Filled it up with ethanol free fuel at $4.00 a gallon.

 

Next step is to start moving forward and get the fairing, front fender, and forks fixed and painted.

Total expenditures so far.......$2,755.00 USD. It's not worth anywhere near that but wow what a trip it has been!

 

It's only money and look at all the hours you killed and the self control training you received, that's priceless.

 

BUT... that is not a stupid number either. Many people would have bought at a number not that far off and still needed to do all the maintenance items. I know you're not done, but that is really not bad.

Used bikes are RARELY "worth" what it takes to make them truly rideable.

 

Also for that money you have a bike that you know the state of.
If you serviced your bike at Honda you would spend that in a 2 or 3 years - especially as this is more than a complete service.

 

Next project....trying to restore one of these clear coated alloy parts.

Did a bunch of research an now I am armed with all kinds of YouTube BS knowledge.

I will see there this goes. Probably take 50 million hours to do this. This where I am at tonight after spraying it with oven cleaner.

After washing it off it left a BLACK patina on all uncoated surfaces. Not sure YouTube was right on the oven cleaner deal. Probably not going to try that again.

I had to power buff the valve cover patina and still have not gotten all the BLACK off. I think I will try green scotchbrite next and see what comes off the cam cover.

 

Alubright for uncoated surfaces, have to get all the old clear coat off first


VF1000F2 a work in progress

 

I soda blasted mine.

 

That get the crap and corrosion off


VF1000F2F, now rideable,

 

I forgot about that trick. Might try that also. This cam cover is pretty nasty. Was underwater for a week or two after a hurricane in 2017.

 

If you're not gonna polish it out. blast it for sure. It is actually clear anodizing and pretty damn tough. That's why the oven cleaner didn't do the trick. It has to be sanded / polished down thru the anodizing. I always blast and paint them black (or another darker color), I think the motors look better that way too. Like the 10ooR.

 

Oh, so it's anodized. That makes sense as it was freakin impossible to buff out without serious pressure or use of 200 grit paper.

I think I will punt on this deal. Too much trouble. I was practicing on this valve cover in anticipation of doing the polished engine covers on my Hawk.

I was able to actually polish the clear coat on my Hawk clutch cover today and it ended up looking pretty good. I was surprised I was able to bring the clear coat back to life with rubbing compound and a buffer wheel.

Thanks again for the advice from everyone!

 

Tomorrow I am finally going to transfer the title and get the bike registered. It has not been legal since 2007!

With everything legal I am going to spread my wings and take 'er out on the highway. Getting kind of fired up now!

Hope I don't end up hitch hiking home LOL.

 

"Hope I don't end up hitch hiking home LOL."

My solution was to do all the test ride in the company of the Missus. It paid off. The first time it died she simply motored home, got the van, and we picked up our Kendon trailer for the ignominious ride the rest of the way home.
Not that I didn't deserve that fate: I ventured too far from home on a test ride too early in the game.
N.B.: Check your fuel cap vent!

 

So I did my first real ride today, put 80 miles on the bike. No drama, no weird noises, all good. A couple of observations..

1. I need a new helmet!
2. The wind really blows this bike around at highway speeds.
3. Everyone in Houston drives 20 MPH over the posted speed limit.
4. Everyone driving a car in Houston wants to kill you and your bike.

 

My experience with Houston - They drive fast and they do it poorly.

 

Congrats Jim! I'm glad the first ride went well. You've sure earned it!