84 VF500 Carb Assembly

Restoring an 84 VF500 and fuel is leaking between the carbs. Pulled the carbs and found the metal air box screws loose and some fuel joints missing or not connected. I have the Clymer manual but its useless for the carb assembly. Any one have pics or a diagram of the fuel lines/hoses between the carbs? The pics below show two joints that don't look right.

 

There is a fuel connection between the middle two carbs right where you circled. Its really hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like yours is not connected. Basically the fuel connection there is a couple of 90 degree angles, and both ends are stuck inside the carbs.

I think you are going to have to separate the carbs from each other in order to get this corrected.

 

STUDY the exploded view parts diagram; it might help figger it out.

I'm not sure how the inlet tubes are secured to carb bodies?

If you need to separate the set, a minor nightmare, be prepared to deal with several small, easily- lost springs. Work over a box or tray and watch for each spring.

 

That connection is definitely screwed up. Now that the first image fully loaded on my PC, I see it better. On my carbs, that "hex" portion of the fuel tube is connected into another piece that takes a 90 degree turn and is attached into the adjacent carb. If you are lucky, the PO screwed it up upon reassembly, and both sides of the connection are there. Worst case, you will be looking for someone with a set of "parts" carbs.

 

Here are pictures of how that fuel connection should look, with mostly similar camera angles.
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PARTS ??

You need 'em, i gottem........a set of complete '86 VF 500 carbs for parts.....

 

Careful - there are some differences between the carb parts on the 84/85 and the 86 carbs. I'm not sure about this fuel tube, but the longer T fuel tubes have a slightly different diameter. Someone here sent me some parts from an 86 and they didn't quite fit my 85. I would check the parts fiche to see if the same part # is used for both.

 

Thanks for all the info. Got them back together using the parts fiche and the photos posted above. Two Float bowl gaskets are leaking, hopefully the dealer can get them.

 

Leaky gaskets........try letting it sit with fuel in carbs for a couple of days cuz dry seals shrink but when exposed to fuel often swell up and work OK.

You won't like what you discover at the stealer: float bowl gaskets for your bike ( i believe) are only available in a kit of several parts @ around $40 each and you need 4 !!!!!

There's a useful thread somewhere here about making gaskets from basic O-ring material and is at least worth a try if you can save $ 160 !!!!

 

Got 4 new gaskets and all the o rings for the carbs for $25 from Daugherty Motorsports - Motorcycle Suspension Performance and Modification

 

I wish I had known of this site when I was into my carbs, and needed all that stuff! Jamie is very helpful!