'86 VF500 Carbie synchro

Are the carbs on the '86 different from those on a '85? I have the clymer and is shows the adjusting screws, but I dont have adjusting screws...just two little holes. Not only that, but looking at the clymer, where the two adjusting screws should be (items A and B in Clymer) should be in the front, and mine are in the back. Could it be that the 4 carb assembly should be turned around? Would it still mount up properly?
does anyone actually have the tool that the service manual says that is necessary for carb synchro?

 

Yes, they are different. For one thing, the throttle bore is smaller on the 86's. I don't know off the top of my head what, if any, are the other differences.

One piece of advice - get a Honda manual. The Clymer's are good only for a second reference, the Honda manual should be followed whenever possible. The Clymers are riddled with errors, so be careful.

 

Good bit of information. thanks!

 

just above the float bowl gasket and just behind the intake rubber boot, you will find a small round plug that is about 3/16" round. that is a plug to cover the adjustment screw. drill a small hole in it and put in a sheetmetal screw and pull them out with a pair of pliers. the plugs are there to keep people from adjusting them, when a dealership mechanic is done adjusting them, they replace the plug with a new one, by law, at least here in california.

 

I think your referring to the Pilot screws my friend.

Those are for metering the fuel at idle, rather than the other types which are air screws, which meter how much air comes in at idle.

You need a rpm gauge to adjust the Pilot screws, but some can do it with their ears!!!
I still have to adjust mine...

You definitely need the Honda shop manual and Clymer, cause I found some Rookie errors in the Honda manual which was a shocker.

Good luck

LL

 

well I guess I must have been wrong in assuming that you were talking about your fuel mixture when you mentioned small holes, as they are the only small holes on the outside of these carbs that I have seen. if you're talking about your syncronization of your carbs, its all done with the linkage, you'll find screw adjustmentments inbetween the throttle linkages, between all the carbs. just had mine off to rejet. maybe I'm wrong in assuming anything.

 

Thanks. To Synchro the carbs, are the adjuster screws on the bottom, and I am just not looking at the underside of the adjusters? I know there are errors in the Clymer, but according to the Clymer, screws A and B are shown. Normally on other bikes, I have seen them on top, easy to get to with the tank off and a phillips head. A friend said these screws face the bottom.
Do I really need to Honda special tool?

 

Ebay is wonderful when trying to find pictures of stuff.
I answered my own question. Yep, the adjusters are on the underside.

 

snap on makes a flexible shaft 1/4 drive nut driver. the thing that looks like a screwdriver but you put a socket onto. the flexible shaft allows you to get it in there. the clymer manual does a better job of describing how to do it, the honda maual assumes you know how already and just gives the specs. 1.6 in/hg between carbs