Countershaft seal replacement on a VF500F

my clutch rod didn't leak untill i got the bike. Now it does. I blame myself for not removing it completely when working on stuff in that area. After a few bumps from my wrist the seal is now visibly to loose, and has a gentle leak. Right on my exhaust collector. Not so good huh.
later tonight i have to sand down the jb weld i used to make the clutch rod bigger for the seal to fit better. then when it is fixed i will purchase another clutch rod to replace the oversized jbweld clutch rod.
Clutch rod seal is probably in the $5 area. Cost of needing a replacement? Priceless
U can see how old costs more than new 100 times over sometimes. Best advice I ever heard was from a ricer/ stating that if your going to do something, do it right the FIRST time.
Im sorry this now sounds jerky and i apoligize. its my impatience in general. speaking of did u know u can get an engine gasket kit b for very very little. I think they run about 30-40 bucks

 

+1.... ^^^ Good advice.

 

I think a clutch rod seal sound like vgd idea indeed...it looks to me like the cylinder head gaskets have already been replaced so I'm thinking of leaving those alone.

 

Great + // Im not trying to pour gravey on ur thread im just interested.
I have the lower engine gasket kit coming in the mail, the gasket kit B. It might be a week or more to get thru customs thou. I could try to get a picture uploaded of the contents. Im curious what it gives and what it leaves out?
-What about bearings and matching seals? Prices?
Has ANY one any knowledge about wich bearings to replace and wich should be left alone? Such as the counter shaft bearing and imprisoned seal?

 

here's my two cents...you do have to seek a balance between fixing stuff "right" while ur patient is open, not breaking what isn't broke and dollars...a new countershaft bearing is about $200...just to replace to replace it? well, I will inspect it and then make decision

...but please feel free to jump, I think posts get more interesting and peeps add their thoughts.

 

Wow $200? For a countershaft bearing..... OK
I got one for you The oil pump inlet and outlet O rings..... 50 cents each at any auto parts desk. Keeps the oil pressure at the factory spec....
Without studying a manual or taking my own bottom end apart im out of ideas now. Time to sit back and listen, keep me posted, L8R

 

lol...well, I don't have that much common sense...this patient will come alive at some point

 

Well, just a little update...worked on right side crankcase deconstruction




In order to go any further I need a 27mm socket which I need to get.


To get to this point, you need to remove the starter clutch bolt...for that you need something like this "universal holder" which will keep the alternator from spinning on the other side of the engine as I used this breaker bar on the starter clutch bolt....you still might end up with a bleeding thumb like me...man that bolt was a bitch

 

Sorry I've been so quiet...not much work got done till the last couple days...the right side of the crankcase is totally clean now that I removed the clutch basket which required a clutch holder shown in the pic below.



Removing the water pump sprockets wasn't as easy as the manual indicate has you have to figure out a way to keep the sprockets from moving...I held the pump on the left side of the case

Right now...I'm stuck on the damn water pump...I think corrosion is keeping me from being able to pull it out. The manuals, "pull it out"...I luv that...so easy, in my reality, not so much...I'm spraying seafoam and wiggling...giving up for tonight...later...and yes, I've removed the water pump pipe/this is an earlier pic

 

Yeah!...water pump is out...lots seafoam spraying and soakn and waitn...adjusting the valves on my CB450 anyways while gettn the stubborn cus out but she finally surrendered...continuing to strip crankcases the weekend...photos soon.

 

Way to stay with it. Looks like you are making good progress even with encountering a bear or two.

 

Okay, some pics for your potential enjoyment...right side is pretty darn stripped..believe I just have a retaining plate to remove.


Left side, looking good...down to the gear shift mechanism...and then the alternator...still wondering about the cylinder heads. I heard I might be able to split the cases with them on, but might not be able to get them back together without talking them off...and I was wondering, gee, why do peeps say this bike is hard to work on....but she will be worth it in the end.

 

Hi all...work is progressing...starter motor now off...pretty much have concluded the cylinder heads will also have to come off...been saving this for last along with the alternator which has to be used to position the pistons to get slack in the time chains.

I will post pics again soon...the funniest/saddest one if of the oil pump strainer...full of CRRAAAPP...including, get this, a lady bug...wtf has this bike been through...maybe its a good idea I'm pulling this bad boy apart.

So cylinder heads....and then finally, upper and lower crankcase bolt and then, the promised land.

 

Okay...still working...after talking things over with the only living person I know who has split the cases, along with the clymer's and the FSM, all indications are that the cylinders heads have to come off...so, I decided not to delay any longer and tackle this demon. The scary step for me is getting the camshafts off...looking at like 5 pages of the manual just for this process...but, I did it...I hear getting them back together is the real challenge but we will save that for another day.

So, here the engine as it stands now...left side:


and then the right:


Will remove the actual cylinder heads next and then I think, I can actual split the cased...whoa boy

 

Great work and great thread. Please keep us posted on the progress.

BTW, finding a ladybug in the engine oil will bring you good luck, or so I have heard.

 

lol...well, I also found a semi live wasp underneath the alternator rotor...bad omen i think...did not sting me...so maybe its an okay omen.

 

Okay so...camshafts out, cam tension mechanisms out:


and the cylinder heads!...had a might fight with one of the hex head cap bolts that the po had stripped...y do peeps put stripped bolts on for the next person to deal with...bad karma for u!

anyways...her she is:


After this, I think it is time to start on the crankcase bolts, upper and lower.

Finding head gaskets is a bitch and already noted on this site...I found the front head gasket on ebay and having a supplier remake the rear...I'm tempted to use the rear old one because it looks okay but...at this point.

The only bad news is scoring on the front #2 cylinder cam shaft casing, and the cam shaft itself has wear at that end...a groove. Will think if i want to replace or refinish.

After reading these manuals ad naseum, I found that there is an oil feed hole right at the bottom of the countershaft seal...that is where my bike was pouring out oil...so it makes sense, for some reason the oil under pressure was leaking out of the seal right at that point. Of course, with the oil screen totally clogged (who knows when) anything could have happened to this bike.

Poor bikes, u take em apart and read their sad history sometimes like abused pets...well lets hope this one rides again...ttyl...ron.

 

IIRC, OEM gasket kits are still available for the '86. They are NLA for the '84 and '85 model years.

If I could ask, where are you having the rear gasket made?

 

I have the site bookmarked at work but I found it here searching through threads...think its begins with a "c"...I called and said the could but they needed a thickness measurement...I may send them the old gasket so they can do all the measurements they want...$50 quote.