New owner of an '85 VF500

I recently picked up a project bike. This thing was "a box of parts" and rolling chassis. I'm the 3rd owner since it ran last. Apparently it had some upper end issues that one of the previous guys attempted to fix but got the cam timing wrong on reinstallation and was tired of messing with it.

The guy I picked it up from found the timing issue and corrected that. Fortunately, the guy who got it wrong, didn't smack any valves. Anyway, the guy I picked it up from decided he didn't have time to finish it and now she ended up in my garage.

I put it together and got it running enough to take it for a spin which is the attached photo. I have a full front fairing for the bike which isn't installed right now.

It still has carb issues and they are sitting back on the bench again. Flooding out after shut down, surging over 5.5k rpm. The carb-to-head insulators were dried out and shot (new ones come in tomorrow).

My biggest problem is that when I tore the carbs out Sunday and decided I'd recheck the valve gap; I pulled the alternator cover to rotate the engine and found my oil leak. There was probably 4oz of oil trapped behind the cover. I hope the crank seal is still available and easy to change.

This is my first sport bike and it's real clean for the age. 24700 miles, no dings, dents, or rust in the tank. A little paint fade but otherwise all the covers are present and in good shape. Tires are dry rot and shot, pipes rusted.



(p.s. anyone notice the Mikuni sticker?)

 

I called to check on a crankshaft oil seal and was told that there wasn't one, that the alternator is supposed to have oil on it. Interesting, on all my other bikes, if there was oil there then it meant you had troubles.

 

Yep, mostly mid '70's 2stroke yamaha's, various 2stroke snowmobiles, tractors, cars, and machinery. This is my first sport bike.

newbie :crazy: