Vf 500c: is there a sticking shifter problem?

the Vf 500c is so similar to the Vf500f that I was hoping to get some information on why my "c" is sticking in second, up or down. It seems to be most annoying when upshifting, but I think it also sticks down shifting. I have spent several hours going through the history lessons and past threads of people searching for help on Vf 500f's. I have not seen one complaint about the shift mechanism sticking in second. Maybe Jamie Daughertry has some experience with this problem? Whether or not I would like to know what he thinks I should do. If any of you other VF 500 hot shots have ever had your shifter sticking in second or any other gear I would like to hear what you did to fix it. Thanks, DKC.

 

DKC - I've owned four VF500Fs since 1990 and have never experienced the problem you're describing on any of them. Hopefully Jamie might be able to shed some light on the problem.

 

Lube the pivot points and make sure the shifter is not hitting the stator cover.

Also check out the "Won't Shift" section of <http://wiki.sabmagfaq.org/Clutch>

 

also, I had a friend that I go to school with and on his 500f he had a broken return spring inside the trans. this kept him in second. he could either grab second or neutral. took the bike transmission apart, and replaced the cheap spring and it worked. not sure if this is your problem though, but its a cheap part and a ton of work. I would imagine a shop would charge a ton, probably about the price of a new bike for this work. he had to take the engine out of the frame to do this.

 

shift drum

Only had this happen once , shift fork guide in shift drum had a small crack in it and would get stuck in second .Not a fun repair . I would examine the shift drum linkage and try to turn drum without linkage (by hand) to see if the problem is internal or in the drum linkage.Good luck

 

ive never heard of a vf500c? and ive done research on this and i cant find a vf500c only F's

 

mini magna

pretty sure its a mini magna

 

The VF500C was the Magna. It pretty much shared an engine with the F.

 

O, roger that thanks guys :biggrin:

 

Thanks to all of you guys who answered back.

Yes, the Vf 500 c is a "mini Magna". It was also denoted as the Magna V30. That is to say that it has "@30 CDI (500 cc)", like the Magna V 45 had @ 45 CDI (750cc). And the Magna V 65 o had 65 cdi or @ 1000 cc. The Magna came in three sizes and used what was essentially the same motor as the Vf (xxx) f's of like displacement. However, the Magna was the cheaper of the street model V fours. The VF f's and VFR's were the racer copies and usually has small technical benefits that were not available on the Magnas. The third type of Vf bike of the 80's was sort of in between the Magna, which had a 2 tiered seat like a Harley because of its conventional two telescopic rear shock rear suspension, and the high tech race bike inspired Vf f's and VFR's with mono shock suspension. The Saber's, came with the same or similar monopost central uni shock system the VFR's and VF f's had. The Saber was sold in a higher state of tune than the Magnas. It had more bells and whistles including a state of the art fiber optic cable lock built into the chasis and some high tech for the time electronic instruments that included a built in elapse time stop watch and some other electonic gismos that made it the "gee wiz" bike of its day, considering that the Saber V65 (1000) was also the fastest sled you could buy off a showroom floor in its day. The 83 Sabre V65 was the fastest 1/4 mile time stock bike available at the time it was introduced (82-3). It did 12 second and better 1/4 miles with 120+ terminal velocity stock. But enough of the history lesson.

Down here in SOCAl you can still find a fair number of 80's Magnas and to a lesser degree Sabers. I do most of my shopping on Craigs list. There was a guy trying to sell a Magna V45 over the winter who claimed that V45's had a tendency to stick 2nd. At least he was sellingthe idea that the fact that his stuck second was just par for the course. So if you wanted his rightous honda hotrod you would have to take it stuck in second. I believe that there may have been one other V45 offered in SOCAL this past winter with 2nd sticking. However, the V45 and the V30 are different animals regarding their gear selector geometry. I just wonder if there's a similar issue with the V30s. The V 30's are relativily rare. The V45 sold best with the V65 selling to those with a need for speed. The magna V30 was a great started bike with an aggressive if somewhat diminiuitive look that was perfect for short legged drivers and women.

I 'm about ready to put the thing back together as carefully as possible. I was going to invest in a new return spring and gaskets/seal etc. Someone wrote that they had a problem with the shift drum being cracked and sticking second, (ToeCutter). You said it was difficult to replace. That single part is also expensive ($100.00 for a new drum) You buy it, you own it, whether it was the problem or not. Are you recommending I remove and inspect the drum? I have everything ahead of the drum removed right now. I have played with moving it in place without knowing how it should move. I tried to move the bike the other day to get it out of the way for my sons Vf 500 f project and it was stuck in gear. Didn't have the foggiest how to get it into neutral by manipulating the drum and that small cog from the planetary shifter mechinism. Is the job so bad that I am going to end up with a piece of junk with a hole where the drum is supposed to be? Can it turn into a project that takes too much time to screw with? I'd appreciate a considered experienced opinion.

I also want to mention that my search of past threads led me to a thread titled "Neutral to First" that went into oil viscosity and the clunk you hear when down shifting to first. It had been started by "Neelsonwheels" and has a long list of contributors and a much appreciated movie avatar for "HONDAJT" that you need to check out if you have somehow missed it before entitled GET THE FEELING. It was 5 pages back from this page.


I'd like to have the Magna V30 as a town driver, gas saver run to the grocery store and the Bank for less than a buck kind of vehicle. Eventually be able to sell it and recoup my costs. However, I have other bikes and other projects that I would prefer to see through successfully. And my time is getting more valuable every additional day I am still alive. Any opinions?

DKC