1st bike(not working)

So i finally purchased my first bike. its a 1985 vf500f with 18,500 mi on it. it hasn't been started in 4 yrs and gas was left in the tank. i bought it from a buddy's dad for 500 bucks hoping to fix it up and learn how to ride. on my initial exploration i remover all the plastics and the tank. i tried to get all the gas out but i just cant seem to get it all (it was yellow and at the end when i mixed new gas in to try and get all of it out some sludgy stuff came out). When i opened the airbox i found a nest in the filter. the tires are crap so if i get it running im gonna have to put new ones on it. i went to interstate and got a new battery and charged it with a charger from sears. I just wanna know what more i should do before i even attempt to start the bike. oh yeah and i broke off the side kickstand right at the weld. it just bent when i was trying to pivot the bike on it

 

Well, the bodywork and the wheels look like they're in great condition! Obviously, a new filter is in the works for you. Start by changing ALL the fluids and hitting all your lube points per the service manual. Clean out the strainer in the petcock and get some fresh gas in there. You're probably looking at a good carb cleaning before you even attempt starting, too. Check to make sure all your electrics work and it might not be a bad idea to change the spark plugs. While you have them out put a little Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylinders and let it sit for a day or so prior to starting or turning it over manually. After it's running, sync the carbs and check valve adjustment. Check for >14V at the battery while running at 3000 rpm to check the charging system functionality. As long as your tires are good, after that it should be ready for state inspection if you require it.

 

Looks very spiffy, so it should be a gud'un.

GREAT INFO, but maybe alex should do a valve check first; if it's normal, go ahead and do the rest. Since that's a common issue for high mileage or abused, or neglected VF 500s.

Around here, new riders with non-running cheap first bike VF 500s are an almost daily item with many people to help them. A service manual for your bike would be a good plan.

GOOD LUCK.....



(Looks like a pretty comfy nest to me!)

 

Might not a bad idea. Since it was bought from a friend, I'd hope the seller wouldn't have stuck him with a dropped valve motor or something though....

Time to dive in!!!

 

I'd like to be clever and add something but these are all the steps I would do!!

I kind of like the color, something different?

 

Is that fuel tank all purdy and shiny inside? If not...that's a real good place to start before anything else. The carbs will probably require a rebuild. When was the fork oil changed? If you don't know...It's time for that and you'll wanna put new seals on while you're there. Change the plugs, the oil, the air filter, the coolant......the......the........that's why I don't mess with old bikes anymore, it just goes on and on. Your first order is to get the fueling squared away. If that tank is rusty inside, nothing you do will be right till you square that away. Good luck, cosmetically, she looks like a real nice machine and depending on your abilities, may or may not have been a good purchase.

 

yeah that mouse had it made. i dont think he'd -f- me over like that. he said he'd help me start it up because he has started it up twice after a year or two of storage in his shed with only new gas and a battery. electrical is all good. i hooked up the battery and the signals, lights, and horn work. i cleaned out the tank to the point that only clean gas came out of the top and bottom. the engine turns over but it wont start. my dad and i gave it a rest after 2 hrs. right now im feeling like an idiot because i totally forgot about the choke

 

Yes....it is very difficult to get all of anything out of these tanks (Gas, cleaner, solvent, sealant etc).

Check compression before dumping any cash into the bike....these guys have issues with the Valvetrain.

Good luck, and welcome.

 

he didn't say so or not...but if that tanks got rust issues, he's gonna need to junk it for a clean one. First thing I check on dusty garage art. If I pop that lid and see rust, I am done looking. My buddy had an old RD400 with that issue. Pretty bike otherwise. We looked for a replacement tank and they were unobtanium. We ended up parting out the machine and ebaying the thing. Now if those tanks are cheap and easy to find in that color, that's another story.

 

You won't find a tank in that color.

 

I was told about a good way to clean the rust out of a dingy tank, but I've yet to do it on mine. Maybe this is a good time to bring it up and see what the peers think about it.

Disconnect the tank, remove the petcock assembly completely and clean/replace as necessary. Fill the tank with water and put a handful or two of regular 1/4" ball bearings inside the tank. Cap the holes as needed and roll the tank over, under, sideways and any other way you can think of for as long as you can. Take a break, and repeat the process several times (3-5 times was recommended) and then drain the tank - recovering the bearings of course. Repeat if all of the rust wasn't removed with the first tank of water, it should be shiny on the second. Afterward hook a hose up to the exhaust of your car and run it in one end of the tank with the other end open to allow venting of the hot exhaust. Run the exhaust through the tank for 45-60 minutes and then allow the tank to cool for a bit. Blow out the fumes and inspect the tank for and residual water. Reinstall petcock and tank.

I haven't tried this yet on mine (although I should cause there is spotty rust along the bottom of it) but it's functional as is and hasn't passed anything into the fuel filter since I installed it (it's clear, so I'd know).

Whatcha think????

 

I was told about that bearing method 100 times when trying to de-rust my tank.

The problem is with the VF500 tank (maybe the VFR's too??) there are lots of crevices and tiny spots where you are unable to drain from. The petcock hole is not at the lowest part of the tank so draining is very difficult.

I ended up using a de-rusting formula which I left in the Tank for 4 days. (1 day per side) I then drained the formula from the tank with a siphon as much as I could. (Still a lot was left)

Then I put about 10 Liters of fuel in.....swished it around and siphoned that too. I then installed 2 inline filters and went from there.

The tank is still rusty but what can I do?

I even had to spend about 30minutes before hand with a little pickup magnet getting all the bits of rust out of the tank.

Old bikes suck.

 

I've heard of this method, though methinks a hairdryer on low would be more efficient than letting your car idle for an hour.

 

For the gas tank, you can always try electrolysis.
Put the minus on the gas tank, the plus on your electrode inside the tank, fill in the tank with water+sodium carbonate (to ease electron traveling), power up
ELECTROLYTIC RUST REMOVAL (ELECTROLYSIS)

I already perform this for small pieces, the gas tank will follow in a couple of weeks/months.
It's long but effortless and gives perfect results as only the rust is removed ^^

 

I'm wondering if any one has actually tried this electrolytic removal process for their gas tank. Since I'm still an undergrad, I have a good vague recollection of the chemical processes that occur but am skeptical when applying it to such a real life situation.

Anyways, if you've tried it, what was the result?