Restoring a YELLOW '87 VFR700F2H

Is there a single place with a clear and complete write up? I have all winter. I'm just a pansy.

 

Post #72 on the previous page has a You Tube video that takes you through it........

 

Just rewatched. Any advice on what else to remove from the tank? The filler/cap seems like a good choice, How about on the bottom. I don't think that I've had the tank off of either of these VFRS...or any of my FI bikes, only low/no pressure ones.

 

Remember you're going to be filling the tank with water plus carbonate soda solution, so you don't want any openings except the top, where you'll be sticking the anode in.

At some point though, you'll want to empty out the tank, flush with water, rinse out as much as possible. When you do that, it will be helpful to remove the bottom plate that holds the fuel sender.

This pertains to the VFR tank I'm using here ('86-'87 RC26) but others too, I'm sure.

The idea is to shoot as much water through it as possible to help wash out any debris loosened by the electrolysis.

Hope this helps......

 

Thanks. So, it will not harm whatever else in in there? I don't know if there's a filter or other devices/switches/pumps. And...do I need a battery or only the charger? I gave away all of my regular chargers in 2023. Maybe my neighbor will let me borrow it back. And only a car battery, or is a bike battery fine?

 

Correct on the 1st question.

Motorcycle battery should work fine along with a charger to keep it charged.

 

Do not do it with the fuel pump or sender in place. You would want to make a block off plate or find an old sender base to use.

If you provide some measurements of the plate, it might be common to other bikes and may help find a donor.

I use a medium sized motorcycle battery with a Battery Tender connected no problem.

 

Just finished up on the Yellow tank and now have the Blue one from the RC15 going with the electrolysis.

I used my new endoscope to "look around" inside the Yellow tank before deciding it was good enough to dry with hair dryer and then spray down with the fogging oil, which I did. I set it aside for now and will proceed with other items.

No doubt, the tank would benefit from some more work. I'm thinking the technique of throwing in some fish tank gravel and acetone and swishing around would be the next step, but with my recent hand surgery, I'm not going to do that for a while.

I need to work on my endoscope skills but I think it did what I wanted today.

BTW...this is the one I bought (Amazon $49.99):
Endoscope Camera with Light, Inspection Camera with 5" IPS Screen, Endoscope with 32GB TF Card, 16.4ft Semi-Rigid Cable Borescope with Dual Lens, IP67 Waterproof LED Lights, Hardshell Case (Orange)

Here are a few shots.......

 

But some cheap nuts... And count them going in. Stainless sounds like a good idea, but stick to cheap so you can use a magnet.

Don't use chain, rocks or gravel.

 

Thanks! I've never used this technique before.

Saw a guy on YT use the aquarium gravel and acetone and it really worked well, is why I said that.

I also noticed some of these tanks are different in how the openings are formed which would have an impact on being about to remove whatever is put into them.

Also saw some comments about using a cement mixer to do the "shaking" but there's probably other creative methods.....and I'm not even sure it'd be worth the effort.

Too bad you can't just stick a long nylon bristled scrubber in there and let her rip!

 

I know people that have bought old used dryers and disabled the heat element. Then super wrap the tank and stuff the drum so it doesn't bounce around.

But those are tanks that don't have any internal plumbing.

 

Wow....that's crazy.......

I was thinking more along the lines of using an old bicycle wheel attached to a 4x4. Use some kind of strapping or hammock-like setup to hold the tank. And a big old crank on it to turn by hand.

My overall goal would be to have something to take the weight off - not to do the turning part.

And what if the wheel could be rotated in different planes too.....hmmm......

 

Interesting and informative thread. Could be stickied in a DIY section.
Thank you for sharing.

The link to the article on page 2 was dead. Here it is on archive.org: https://web.archive.org/web/2022092...ncegarage.com/public4/gas-tank-cleaning-1.cfm

 

Nice score yesterday that will help with the restoration of this bike. Crazy that these show up in the same Yellow color as my first bike! Fuel tank is almost perfect (2 tiny paint chips) and has been coated inside but looks like a good job. It also came with 2 Honda brand keys. The lower panels are aftermarket. The nose piece also with non-OEM blinkers. Everything else is OEM. Also came with a brand new windscreen not shown. Unicorns.......

 

Not quite ready to begin restoration of her yet.....but got the brakes off yesterday so I can roll her around easier now.









This bike is gonna need a lot of help!

 

Looks like fun Bazz... we have seen MUCH worse.

 

Thanks, Six......I'm looking forward to the restoration. Lot of cosmetic help needed on this one! Engine should be fine....

I have another 87 too in Blue that will need some work and am anxious to get to that one too, before more time goes by.

 

Looks fun Bazza, the plastic pieces look amazing.

 

Thanks, Tom....you ain't lying, brother! I'm still pinching myself to make sure I didn't dream getting those goodies!

Today I removed the mirrors, blinkers, front headlight fairing, rear tail fairing, and the front fender.

I had to drill out the two bottom fasteners on the inner fills but fortunately didn't muck anything up.

The stuff I took off today is in really fantastic condition!

I'll bring the color back on those fills using the same technique as Joe of V4 Dreams did here:
https://v4dreams.com/shop-blog/archives/01-2024












Even the gaskets for the front blinkers look great!

 

Nice grab on those parts!