Just got my first bike - Incerceptor 500

Good luck with that thing. Tear it apart and make mistakes now so you wont on a nicer bike later. I have an 86 that refuses to stop leaking shit...yet I cant stop buying parts and trying to fix it. It's like a bad exgirlfriend...shes fun to ride but shes a total wreck.

 

Parts ?? Replacing the float bowl gaskets would be a good idea along with the new boots.

 

Hey, i let the red-kote dry for over 24hrs bc i was being cautions, but, i bet 8 would be fine. I also removed my vacuum pump,but, i didn't cut the diaphragms i just used some gasket maker to replace the gaskets so i could use them later if i so choose. Good luck, Is she running yet?

 

I would also like to make it known that i didn't have to replace the boots and i really don't think i will ever have to.. I just pried the crabs out nice and easy and lubed them up with STP ( but i bet any motor oil would work) when i put them back in, pried some more and the slid into place. Just take it slow.. I would say send me the carbs and i could clean them for you ,but, i would need $70. But i don't doubt u can do it, just do some reading and you will be fine.

 

Thank you everybody for your help so far. I trally appreciate it! I think I made some progress today. I took all four spark plugs out and tested each one for spark. The front two were good, but I couldn't get any spark on either rear 2 cylinders. Then I took those spark plugs and switched them with the ones in the front two cylinders and they did spark. Now I know it's something further back so I looked at the ignition coils.

Here's my question, are the ignition coils specific to the wiring they were plugged into? I switched the wiring to see if it was the ignition coil that was bad, or something else like the wiring. However, when I swapped the wiring on the coils, neither worked.

So what do you guys think? Bad ignition coil? Bad wiring? Anything else?

1 final note, after removing the spark plugs I noticed they were extremely black and gunky which I think means two rich. Ill try and upload a pic when I can

*Edit* Here's a picture of one of the spark plugs. They all are in similar condition.

 

If i was trouble shooting the same issue with my bike i would switch the wire that goes into the coil from the good to the bad and see if i got spark, it seems to me that this is what you did. Your saying that after doing this you didn't get spark to either coil you switched the wires on right? That makes it look like not only is a coil bad but the wire that should set the coil off is not producing any effect... I doubt that is the case, and i can feel your frustration. So, please correct me if I'm wrong in what i have said.

 

O i forgot to mention, my plugs looked the same way, i haven't checked the new ones yet, but it could be bc the bike was ran on 87 and not 91+

 

You pretty much got it right RoadRash. Neither worked when I switched the wiring, but maybe I got the cables switched - who knows. Ill test the coils with a voltmeter tomorrow and see if they match what the service manual says.

 

yea see what you can find out with your volt meter.. I would check over the wiring and see if they are all where they should be when compared to the wiring diagram. The po might have done the same thing you did and mixed up some wires. My right side rear turn signal didn't work, i almost ordered new ones, glad i didn't bc it was just unplugged... Most of the time it's just silly stuff like that, people get overwhelmed when it comes to wiring, they will unplug a bunch of stuff, loose patients, then forget how to put it back together.

 

Well I think I found the problem - bad ignition coil. I measured the resistance against the service manual and while the primary coil checked out OK, the secondary measured infinite. I also noticed a crack in the casing. It must have taken a hit at some point. Regardless, time to find a new one.

It looks like bikebandit.com sells a single unit for ~$90, but I found a few used sets of 2 for ~$50 plus shipping. I was wondering if I might be able to find something aftermarket that might work. I guess it really just has to mount in the same location and have the same leads.

 

see if you can get in touch with matt1986vf500f on here, he did an aftermarket coil upgrade.

 

Aftermarket coils can be used, but you need to get non-CDI parts. Yes, I understand that the VF500 has a CDI ignition, but it is an early type and the coil drivers are still made for the earlier type of coils. If you get CDI coils you will have a nice flame show that comes out from your ignition boxes. Too bad it doesn't last very long. Then you have more problems to worry about.

I would just get a used coil off eBay. Coil failures are EXTREMELY rare so you would be probably be ok. Physical damage like you describe is about the only thing to be concerned about.

 

+1

I believe you can also use the 500 magna coils if you can find those cheaper or easier.

 

glad you found the problem.

 

What's up bitches! Ask and the shall receive. Or is it speak of the devil and he appears? Or my favorite beetlejuice beetle juice beetle juice!

 

holy crap mat IS still alive!!!!

 

I'm still alive just been living life spending time with the kids and riding as much as I can.

 

Congrats on the bike! I too just got an interceptor as my first 2 wheeler. It's an '85 VF700. I'm in Greensboro so once you've got that thing ready let's ride!

 

Well I finally got the bike running! It took a new ignition coil and a good carb cleaning. I was trying to hold off on taking the carbs off until I tried everything else, but sure enough it did the trick. They were actually pretty clean with the exception of some rust. Only 2 of the pilots jets were completely clogged. I guess that's enough to keep it from starting.

Before I can actually take it out for a spin, I really need to get the tank rust under control. I ordered some Metal Rescue rust remover. Supposedly it is water based, so I can leave the petcock valve on the tank to seal it and it won't harm it - nor the paint. We'll see how that works.

Also, I finished my basic rider course this weekend! I just need to take the DMV test to get my endorsement. Now I've got some real motivation to get this bike street worthy!

 

Suggest that you coat the tank internals with something like the fuel tank sealer from Plating Kits Electroplating Kits Aluminum Anodizing Kits Powder Coating Systems Metal Polishing And Buffing Supplies - Caswell Inc **


**not a compensated endorser