1984 VF500 Oilpan removal and braided lines

Hi all,

I bought an 84 VF500 recently and it's acting more like a mid-80s Harley than a mid-80s Honda, dripping nasty oil from two spots on the bottom of the oilpan - front, near the oil drain plug, I suspect is a crush washer that someone re-used too many times. At the back, I dunno, the whole oilpan gasket area is pretty greasy.

I purchased an Athena kit from Glenn at Flying Squirrel Motorcycle in Toronto, which looks to have the oilpan gasket in it, but am prepared to use RTV if I have to. My questions are:

1. Has anyone replaced the oilpan gasket here, or cured a similar oil leak and found it was NOT the oilpan gasket but something else?

2. Can you remove the oilpan with the exhaust pipes and collector still on? The manuals of course say remove the exhaust. I'm not sure you need to go to all that trouble - anyone done this with the exhaust left on?

3. Exhaust gaskets - on this bike, can they/do they usually survive an on/off, or are they a 'replace every time you take it apart' item? If I do have to pull the megaphones off, and the collector off, that's potentially 6 gaskets - Yikes!

Now for the lines. Front brake lines are squishy, so need to go. I have a set of braided steel ones made up and plan to put them on using a double banjo bolt and just run one line to each caliper (I had this mod done on my 98 VFR800 and it worked like a dream). Anyone done this before? Any issues?

Any other hints tips tricks or advice all welcome, less the "sell the bike it's not worth it" - this bike is #2 for me, and not my daily driver (the 06 R1200 GSA is) so it's more a labour of love than a "must get it done NOW".

Thanks a bunch.

CdnPz

 

I just pulled the oil pan off my 85 today.

I don't know about the gasket. I'm going to reuse and keep my fingers crossed. It looks like the gasket is a rubber ring set in a groove in the oil pan. My fallback plan if it leaks is to put a little RTV in the groove behind the gasket then install and let it set before torquing the bolts. We will see.

It does not look to me like the pan would come off with the exhaust collector in place, since the mounting tangs for it reach over (under) the pan and there's no flex in the system.

The "gaskets" on the front header pipes (and I presume the rears as well, though I didn't look closely) appear to be stainless steel bands that will probably outlast the rest of the bike, you, and me. The ones to the muffler are semi-crumbly (asbestos?) things that probably ought to be replaced each time, though mine look intact enough I'll probably try to reuse them.

 

Don't use RTV! Use "The Right Stuff" It was designed for use on Ford aluminum oil pans, They have a groove you over fill, let semi- set & install. ( No gasket )

 

That's how I have mine set up and it works just fine.

 

Great info guys! Thanks. For Poligrafovich, do you have any pics of the pan and groove? For Apittslife, where can we get hold of some of this "Right Stuff"? For Bikdrgn, how tightly did you torque the double banjo and the banjos at the calipers? I have conflicting info on the torque values.

Unfortunately I mis-measured and one of my lines - the one slated for the left caliper is too short by about half an inch, but it may as well be a mile! Back to my line-maker guy to get that squared away and note to self, after measuring, add 2 inches for good measure, not just 1!

 

We get it at our local auto parts supplier, I believe it is a permatex product?

 

Your question number 3: I wouldn't re use the header gaskets. They are meant to crush to seal and be used just once. I believe they are still available and they're cheap.

 

I agree with this. To clarify, there are ten things called "gaskets" in this story: Four crush washers between the cylinder head and the header pipes (what Michael's referring to). These should absolutely be replaced each time the pipes are removed. Four rather robust-looking bands (ss?) between the header pipes and the collector (what I was talking about earlier). These sure look to me like reuse would be reasonable. Finally, there are two wide, and on mine rather brittle and crumbly, gaskets between the collector and the mufflers.

The best source, even better than the FSM, for parts diagrams is the Honda microfiche pictures, which can be browsed on many of the parts vendors' web sites. I use BikeBandit's, but there are others. These are a good reference point for questions like this, as well as a good way to know what small parts can and cannot be got.

 

Honestly I don't know, Mine was installed on the bike when I bought it. I'll have to look into the torque values. What is the info you have right now?

 

Right now I have a Clymer manual and a factory manual for the VF500C Magna, can't find a PDF of one for the Interceptor from a site that gives me trust in buying. So far, I haven't found the torque values, but am only partway through the manuals. A quick reference would be great to have.

For the other posters who've responded, wrt exhaust gaskets, agree on all - the ones at the cylinder head I always took as a 'replace every time' item like the oil drain pan crush washer. My plan is to leave the exhaust pipes in place and only pull off the collector and mufflers to get at the oilpan. I have 2 of the "crumbly collector-to-megaphone' gaskets, and 4 of the 'exhaust to collector' stainless steel looking gaskets that I've ordered from Motosport. Since they've arrived, I note how substantial they are, so should be no worries.

Anyone got a line or advice on resolving the small amount of water pump coolant weep at the pump drain hole? I have not opened my Athena gasket kit yet so don't know if the water pump seal is part of that kit. Doesn't seem to be listed anywhere - most of the parts fiches I have seen have pretty much only the water pump as a complete assembly, and on every site I've seen, it's "not available." Anyone done a custom build or scavenged from another model bike for this?

My leak right now isn't massive (just damp, no active dripping) but you know, leaks never seem to get smaller, only bigger!

 

Hi cdn,

A PDF is avialable on this site.
Sounds like a new water pump is in the near future. no other options ( Sorry ). As for Avialability, I haven't a clue? :sad:

 

The easiest way to pull the collector is with the front header pipes off. I'm not sure it's possible otherwise. The rears can stay put.

 

I have the Honda FSM for 84-86 VF500F, if you check ebay you can find one. Either look for the one in the Green Binder or the one the shows Honda in blue writing and a rider on the cover.

As for specs, the FSM shows - Brake hose oil bolt Torque 25-35 N-m (2.5-3.5 kg-m, 18-25 ft-lb)

 

Thanks a ton. I managed to find a Honda FSM for 1984-85 Magna V30 online in PDF, but no joy on an Interceptor one. Having laid down the $100+ for the FSM (at the time) for my 98 VFR800 when I bought it, there really is no substitute. Looks like I will bite the bullet and buy a PDF or paper version. Anyone have a reputable PDF merchant they go to? I have been burned by dodgy PDF vendors in past (as I'm sure all have).

Project continues. In fact I had so much motivation yesterday when inspecting the Interceptor that I went and did a caliper removal/inspection/rotor scrub and clean on my R1200GS and both oil changes. I'm a bit sluggish getting my riding season going this year and have only been out once on the VF and nonce on the BMW.

 

No joy on finding the oilpan gasket in my Athena Kit and NONE online I can find anywhere. Had a guy suggest I just buy some gasket sheeting and cut my own... even in shop class I made a hash of every gasket I tried to make.... and that was 25 years ago! So I don't think that's an option. Looks like I'll be going to Acklands Grainger for "The Right Stuff" on Tuesday.