newly used interceptor

Hey all. Just came home from buying my first bike. Its a 84 vf500f, 19000mi, org owner looks beautiful. It started up real easy when I was looking at it, it drove great. It has new tires, brakes and battery. Anything else to look out for? Well, I was driving it home and it needed gas... I ran out of gas and switched it to res, I got to the station and filled it up(what fuel should I add? I put in 93). When I switched it back to regular fuel supply it wouldn't start! It finally started when I used the choke and wouldn't continue to run under its own power... After driving it for a few blocks it got better ad final was back to normal... Do you guys think it was just a bit of gunk at the bottom of the tank that passed though the carbs? The guy used it last year and stored it with fuel stabilizer over the winter. Its currently at my buddies house since I couldn't drive it home unregistered... I broke the rear blinker stem (bah!) bought a new one on ebay for 11 bucks already. I'm going to register it tomorrow

 

its all set, battery needed alot of fluid along with the coolant system. I plan on changing all the fluids over the weekend along with plugs, check the air filter, change the fuel filter and maybe the thermostat.

here are some pictures!

 

Welcome!

Along with the maintenance you have mentioned, I would recommend inspecting the valve train and checking the valve lash.

Also, a copy of the Factory Service Manual is a must have for the library shelf.

Let the bike properly warm up, keep the revs in check and change the oil every 1k and you'll be in good shape.

500s are great bikes but they do require dedicated maintenance to insure longevity.

Good luck and keep us posted on the progress.

 

I have the original owners manual and the clymer manual. How do I check the valve lash? I have a dial gauge and calipers, do i need special tools or should I just have my honda mechanic do it?

 

every 1k? thats a lot of oil changes

 

I was kinda thinking that too but then I am not a mechanical wizz by any stretch of the imagination. I do mine every 10,000 km which is about 6200 miles. And that is more often than the manual recommends mind you mine is an 06

 

Politely said, the Clymer manual is a distant second compared to the FSM. Used copies, of the FSM, can often be found on eBay for $25 + shipping.

Setting the valve lash is fairly straightforward. A search here will give you more information. Personally I would recommend purchasing the Factory offset wrench and tappet adjusting tool but I don't need much incentive to purchase new tools.

On this note, using two long blade feeler gauges is a very good method, though the lash can accurately be set using other methods.

 

Agreed! This rec is specific to the VF500F. In part it is based on the fact that this is a 25 year old vintage bike with many parts being NLA.

If you think about a set of hardfaced cams and followers costing around 1k, $20 oil changes are a bargain.