From Canada....already looking for my second VF ! ! !

Hi guys....
Im in Canada and got my 84 VF500F from a guy moving west....I put it in my avatar for now...will figure out how to upload a pic here.

Its pretty original from what I see...some drop damage repairs...but looks like most parts are stock (minus the elec tape on signals ! !)

It was parked for 2-5yrs from what I could get from the buyer....batt was dead and lots of fuel in the tank.

Got it home about 3 weeks ago, tried to start it ....I know bad move....with the fuel that was in it....!!!
It kinda started...ran for a second...and that was it! ! ! !
Next few tries were just putters and some backfire.

Well I guess my first plan is drain all the fuel and run some Seafoam in it and see if I get a rumble.

I know it would make some people laugh but I overpaid for it...it was listed online like a Craigslist thing for $200...WITH ownership (title)....so I offered $300 and took it within an hour of his email ! ! !

I figure I can put in about $4-600 to get it street worthy...rear tire is almost smooth in the centre but front is OK....


Thats about all I got to post right now...will work on it and update here I guess....already looking for a second one...probably a VF700...some good leads under 1k !!!!

Thanks for all the info so far...I gona get working on that fuel system now!!!:frown:

 

Canadians. Pft.....They always pay more than what things are worth. Welcome to the world. Getting ready for Grey Cup? Americans think that is just a very dirty athletic cup.

 

Sitting that long, you'd be exceptionally lucky if you got it running OK without having to thoroughly clean the carbs and fuel tank. Resist any temptation to use starter fluid spray. How many miles on it ??

 

Hi Squirrelman it has approx 28k miles on it...about 42k kilometres here if I remember correctly...

Reg71....you think the 400 isn't worth fixing up and keeping? Seems the 700 and 1000 look a bit different to me, this one seems Ok...not mint, but I wouldn't be as embarrassed as if it was a 125cc anything ~ ~ !!!!

I figured I would have to pull off the carbs....would you guys think just filling them with Seafoam and letting it soak be easier????

Just trying to find an easy way to start it.

 

Shortcuts seldom pay off with carbs. Strip em down and clean them really good. Remove the jets and have them ultrasonically cleaned so there isn't any, and I mean ANY crap in them. Put them back together and have them balanced after it is running. Make sure the tank is clean too and put some fresh oil in her as well. Too bad you aren't closer, I'd help you out.

One of the fellas I worked with at Learjet rode a ZX7 with a ZX9 motor swap that always ran like crap. He used to talk to me about the issue, and talk and talk and talk. I told him it was fuel related and the carbs needed to be done. After about six months of complaining he finally gave me the carbs to look at. Here is what I found as I opened them up.





So I carefully documented what I saw as I tore them down and photographed them as I went. In addition to the obvious crud in there, I found this,



After a few hours of cleaning and blowing them out, I set everything back to the factory adjustments and gave them back telling him to bring the running bike back so I could put the vacuum gages on them to balance them. It ran so well as soon as he put them on, he wouldn't let me touch them. LOL

Later, I did a Valkarie for another colleague.

Now that's a lot of carb parts!


The jets in the Valkarie are soo small that I couldn't get the pilots clean. There was a thin film of varnish in them that even after repeated cleanings, wouldn't budge. Finally, I used a fine piece of wire like a pipe cleaner to mechanically scrub the insides of the jest and then she purred.

So go for it but take your time and be organized!

 

Jethro...I was afraid of that!!!...Well at least winter is coming and it's not like I could ride it if it ran.....

Think I will have to download the service manuals and get it apart.

Is Carb Cleaner the best to soak them in? I have a friend with a jewellers ultrasonic..I guess that should work and be the same effect??

I apprciate the pics....awesome how you can throw a post together that well and fast!!!!

 

Carb cleaner is formulated for the task but be careful with the rubber parts as they can be a fit fragile. They have a good excuse, they are old! Hopefully someone has taken care of it and you will only have to clean them.

It's important to fully disassemble them in order to clean all the tiny passages but you have to be careful not to loose or mix up things so plan to take a day at least to do this and have it reassembled. It's a nice way to spend the day with a few beers and some good tunes.