running on 3 cylinders....

If you choose to go the used route, be aware that the 86 model has different heads than earlier engines and are not interchangeable. They have smaller intake valves and ports, and the cam profiles are not the same so don't mix. Guess you will see what you need once you open it up tho.

 

OK here is what I have, havent taken the head off yet so I havent checked for piston damage, but it appears that the outside exhaust valve is whats causing the loss in compression, the valve looks to be still inside the spring, but the keeper is not attached so the valve does not have tension on it.
Luckily it looks like the valve did not drop into the cylinder so there should be no piston damage, but I will have to check it. Still I wonder where the keeper went?????
Also I am considering taking it to a shop and having them do it, I am afraid to do much valve work as I do not have any expeirience with it, also I do not have any time to work with it.





The head itself looks to be in good shape!! So all I should need is just a valve/valve springs and all for that one valve correct?

any advice or comments are helpful

Thanks

 

AND pay shop rates ?????? Those costs would likely be far higher than the bike would be worth and some of the parts possibly not available.

Few shops would take on that project, mostly because something else could fail after any "repairs" and you'd blame them; in any case you might end up paying a couple hundred for a disassembly and inspection to find that something is seriously wrong and get your engine back in boxes with a large bill to pay. They probably would not want to do just one valve only but replace the whole lot based upon the assumption that if one's gone bad the others are soon to follow.

It's a well known fact and frequent topic of discussion here that new valve springs are not available for VF500s, and used ones might be in bad condition.

 

Bite it off and dig into it, you only need to learn one engine, best to learn it now.

 

If I could ask, do you know how many miles are on this engine?

 

Got a good laugh out of that!

I only have 5,800 miles on my '84 but guaranteed I will be inspecting those pesky valves at 7,000 miles - about 1k sooner than the Maintenance Schedule recommends.

 

if you have air compressor , and pressurized the one bad cylinder through spark plug hole with at least 100# or higher , remove the bad valve spring , pull on the valve stem up if it goes and if not losing air pressure your is probably ok if that is ok buy a new vave
spring and keepers i think you can buy this tool to install the keepers i make my own from a old socket cut some holes on the side u shaped on each side use a extension and push down on it , shouldnt be too hard install the keepers through the u shaped slots
almost forgot make sure piston is in compression stroke and turn it by hand , there is access cover on right side where u check your
timing make sure the right cyclinder cooresponds to the mark , you should do this before you do anything and if feel any unussual ressistance just stop reevaluate , i would still pull up on valve stem , good luck to you , maybe you wont have to pull heads off.

 

Little to no chance that there is no damage, remove the exhaust and carbs and take a look at the valves to find out .

 

This thread makes me worried about my bike :-(

 

I think the first step, if you are going to keep the bike, is to head on over to eBay and to pick up a Factory Manual. After this you can start to open things up and inspect the damage. If you are a fan of this model VF and you have the time and funds available, then getting a second engine is probably key here.

 

I'm looking at a 92 VFR on Kijiji.....that's how worried I am.

 

yeah done that before but not on 500 did that on old 750 4 hondas any how when the bike was on 3 cylicers like he said ,he didnt mention clacking noise or any unussual noises it worth a try if he has air compressor , he might luck out and he didnt mention anything about the mushroom on top of stem

 

Sacrilege!

 

yes i have but not on 500 vfr ,concept remains the same , its easy check if he got the tools for it hey and if i loose the bet what the hell , i will donate 10 bucks to your lucky charity

 

Lots of worry around here, eh ??

Invisible is fine cuz he has low miles and never beat on his motor, knows what to look for.

Only rode about 3 VF500s in my un-illustrious career so far.....a good running 500 is a smooth, almost unnoticable, well-balanced engine that resembles an electric sewing machine motor: it's THAT smooth!!

Not many good ones left, but a few.

 

my bike has a tad over 40k on it... I know someone was asking, so invisible just take care of her and you should be fine.
I have only put about 100 miles on it since I bought in in january, the original owner aparently rode the bike hard and did not keep up with maintnence. A buddy of mine works at the local honda shop and he is going to look into it in his free time. I will be heading back to school till may on sunday and cant work on it...
I will be getting updates from him on it with hopefully pictures and such. He is working on it for me for basically the cost of the parts an thats it, so labor is not that bad.

Speaking of worries... I am now worried about the other 15 valves... are they just ticking time bombs now?? I have started looking around for a nice gen 3, or maybe like a honda hornet.


And osccean23, how do I get the valve out without removing the head??? it will not fit out the spark plug hole, is there a way to squeeze it out of the exhaust port?

Thanks

Also has anyone tried to buy springs through bike bandit for these bikes? they have them in stock and look to be the right part, $5 for the inner spring and $6 for the outer one. anyone tried them?