Need bolt sizes - anyone?

'86 VF500

Removed carbs tonight, and noticed:

a) missing the bolt that attaches the gas tank at the front end. guessing it's a machine bolt with a 8-10mm head, something of that size?

b) in the intake manifold, the brass screws that hold the plenum to the carbs... half of them are completely stripped out. They're on tight, so I'm debating whether or not to even mess with them... but while I have the assembly it, would be the time to do it... Anyone ever replace these before? What about allen socket bolts? I've used socket bolt kits in the past to replace stripped carb screws, wondering if anyone has used them on the VF?


Think that's all. One of the slides is slower than the rest, but I think that will be remedied by a good cleaning. 1hr15mins so far to get them off. Hopefully have them cleaned and back on by Sunday. Replace a couple busted rubber hoses, do the fluids and plugs and maybe be riding by this upcoming week...

 

Use allen head bolts where you can. Works better for plenum to carb. They are not brass, just coated/anodized. Stay away from SS stuff. Most is soft China crap. Unless you can find SAE grade stuff for industry.

 

Was able to swap 5/8 of them. The other three are pretty damn stuck. Going to soak the whole plenum/carb assemby in something a little later, maybe it will help.

Carb jets were definitely gunked up bad. They're soaking right now. Everything is a little "green", although it's coming off with some patience and some carb cleaner...

Going to need to replace the small bolts for the float bowl covers. A couple were stripped out bad, was lucky to get them off. Just need to find somewhere that sells socket heads small enough to replace these. Will sure make it easier for next time, though.

 

I use tiny vise grips to get the plenum and bowl bolts off. They are only about 3" long. You can get allens for the bowls also. They work good for that.

 

Yeah, makes so much more sense with the socket heads.

In other news, cleaned the carbs the best I could today, soaked stuff, scrubbed stuff, etc etc. Hooked it all back up and the bike doesn't start, just cranks and cranks.

However, I'm pretty sure the issue is the plugs. Checked for spark yesterday, and while there was some, it was barely even visible - had to look at it under a shadow and from a couple inches away to even see it.

Hopefully just the plugs. Swap new ones in tomorrow, see how it goes.