1986 VF500F main Jet Sizes

Can someone please confirm the main jet sizes for the 1986 VF500F? I thought I heard somewhere that there were some errors in the documentation somewhere. My "84-86 Honda Interceptor VF500F Service Manual" says the following:

Front #90, Rear #90 [Front #95, Rear #92 for California]

I have a 49-state bike, but I thought the jet sizes were different for each bank. Also, I think 90 would be smaller than 95/92, and certainly California would have been pro-lean.

Thanks,

Dan in Naperville, IL

 

VF500F Carburetor Specs

'84
Model No. VD56A - 32mm Throttle Bore, 6.2mm Float, 102F/105R Main

'85
Model No. VD56D - 32mm Throttle Bore, 6.2mm Float, 90F/90R Main

'86
Model No. VD31AB - 30mm Throttle Bore, 7.3mm Float, 90F/90R Main

 

My '86 has #95 fronts and #92 rears. It is NOT a Cali model, so go figure.
I just got a set of '85 VF500 carbs, and those have size 90 jets all around. I intend to use the '85 carbs, but put the jets from my '86 carbs in them.

 

Sounds like a good upgrade switching to the larger bore on the '85 set. Not sure about setting up the rear jets smaller than the front jets though, given the '84 has #102F and #105R.

On a side note the emulsion tubes are different on the '85 model (they are the same on the '84 and the '86).

From a previous post:

The emulsion tube part numbers are different between the '84 and the '85 model years. Strangely the '86 shares the same part numbers as the '84 model year.

The '84,'86 emulsion tubes have a different design for the front and for the rear cylinders.

The '85 shows the same design used for both the front and rear cylinders.

On a side note for reference: The Factory Pro Kit does not come with new emulsion tubes. The kit is supplied with #38 pilot jets ('84 & '86 are stock #38's the '85 is stock #35), adjustable needles and #108 (for use w/ a stock or street baffled slip-on exhaust) and #112 mains (for use w/ an aftermarket race exhaust).

 

I'm thinking about messing with the jets on mine once I get it back together, and it gets warm enough to ride again. Right now, I'm not sure which carbs I have on it, but I put in the 102/105 jets. I did not check the floats when I put it all together last summer, and I'm thinking I had better do that before they go back on the bike, and maybe start with the 90's and see how it does, depending on which carb bodies I have on it. I'm pretty sure one set is the original 85 set, and the other is from an 84. I need to look at them tomorrow when I get to work and see.

 

From my research, these appear to actually be the correct jets for the 1986 VF500F (non-CA). The original Honda Service Manual is wrong, but I have checked the updated fiche, and it matches these sizes (as do the jets on my mostly unmolested 1986).

Dan

 

Nice catch!

I checked my Factory Manual and it spec’s: '1986, 90F/90R (95F/92R)'.

It does state that the parentheses denotes the California model...

 

From the Honda manual I have which might be the European version:


Model No. VD41A - 30mm Throttle Bore, 6.8mm Float, 95F/92R Main

Model No. VD41B - 30mm Throttle Bore, 6.8mm Float, 62F/62R Main

I really don't know where the 62 mains are fitted. My carbs have the 90/90 size.