Rebirth of a 1986 VF500F [Pics or it didn't happen!]

(Here's to my first post on the forum! Hope this all goes well XD)

Picked this bike up yesterday for $420, the guy said it just needed a starter (which he included) and that one of the starter bolts broke off. Bought some oil/filter, plugs, air filter, Pro-Weld, a nut and bolt, and got to work. The bike has ~20k miles, and the only damage was iffy paint prep work, and the lower fairing deal was really beat up, nothing a little epoxy and filler can't fix!



Plastics will later be painted a gloss white. Forks will be painted black. Black Honda decals/v-four/interceptor decals on the white, white Showa decal on the black forks



Air filter was 100% toast, the foam disintegrated at the slightest touch 0.o replaced with a K&N I found for $30



Got the starter in (had to grind down the bottom bolt post and cold-weld a nut onto it, the bolt WOULD NOT take to being drilled through.)
Hooked up some jumper cables and the starter just whirred, which meant time for a starter clutch. Opened the crankcase to change it out to find a bolt just lying on the bottom of the case!(look below the clutch pack)



Got the starter clutch in and it fired right up on starting fluid, wouldn't run otherwise. Sooooo the carbs are toast-

DAY 2

New tires! (also had to get 4 new tires for le girlfriends car coincidentally >.<)

https://sphotos-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1236887_10151682629924141_707104480_n.jpg[img]

New headlight bulbs, these are philips xps2. Really bright, very white

[img]https://sphotos-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1075866_10151682629589141_1339128940_n.jpg[img]

New grips as well, the old ones were falling apart

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1186866_10151682630489141_1350377041_n.jpg


Cleaned out the carbs, brushed the jets down to bare metal after soaking in b-12 chemtool. They were beyond dirty! To the point where even 2 of the sliders were stuck in the passages. Washed out all passageways, and chased it with pressurized water, then let dry in the sun for several hours.
Bought a 3" x 1/16" o-ring for $1.50 a pop- instead of $12 a pop for the official gaskets. They fit and seal perfectly ^^

Before:


After:


JUST got those suckers back on! Jesus they should make these boots easier to get back on. Took me a good 45 minutes to get em back on with some WD40. Since this bike doesn't come with a fuel filter, I figured i would retrofit, These flow 6gph each free-flow (the bike at MAX would use 5.6 gallons per hour (25mpg @140mph) so 5.6/2= 2.8 which is well under the 6gph range. The reason the calculation is necessary is that you don't want to starve your bike for fuel (duh =p) especially when you kick up the RPMS. Theoretically, the worst mpg i could get at 140mph until these were a real restriction is 11.3mpg which better not happen!



Plans for the future:
Change plugs + coolant
Paint plastics white, new decals
46t rear, 15t front sprocket, white/black o-ring chain
Fork seals/ rebuild rear shock (not sure if it needs it, but it's old.)
New clutch/brake bar assemblys
Different mirrors, don't know which.
MAYBE a full fairing. At $350 this is the last on my list

 

Welcome aboard, good luck with the new bike.

 

She looks to be in capable hands. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.

 

Great find, and start. Good luck with it.

 

Got it up and going! Engine runs like a top APART from a CRAPLOAD of smoke. This does not go away, and only begins once the engine has been running for 10 seconds, which leads me to think stuck rings. On all 4 pistons =p I'm talking a LOT of smoke 0.o

It's not coolant, smells like new oil being burned (I just changed the oil) and there's no wetness on a paper towel held on the muffler end for 30 sec

Planning on giving the pistons at least a day long soak in MMO, I REALLY don't want to take this engine apart

 

You're right, you REALLY don't want to take this engine apart. Give it some time and hopefully it clears up for you.

Maybe there's oil in the exhaust collector under the engine?

 

I just though of that and came back to say as much XD There is -some- smoking under the engine, I had to open the crankcase to get at the starter clutch, which would have put oil on it, perhaps in it.

If i just let the engine idle, it takes FOREVERRRRR to show up, if i put rpms to 3k it shows up in around 15-20 sec. However the amount of smoke makes me think that it isn't in the collector? Perhaps i underestimated how much got in there. I've had the bike running for maybe 10 minutes total in my care. I thought that would be enough to burn off any oil? Perhaps not.

It's last inspection was in '05 so the bike has been sitting for some time, so a stuck ring wouldn't be unreasonable.

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Well, I decided to let the smoke run its course, running the bike until hot, idling for 5-10 minutes, and shutting off to cool. Heat cycling should loosen any rings that are stuck just from sitting (this does NOT work for rings that are glazed shut from overheating) The issue has gotten significantly better, though has not been cured just yet. I suspect after 100 highway miles the ring will be in full action, OR the possible oil-in-the-exhaust-box will all be burnt up. Either way, there is no noticeable issue other than smoke- the engine runs beautifully, and transmission shifts just fine (at least up to 8k. I wasn't going to push it past that in my neighborhood XD) I also might change the gear oil, just as a precaution to some wear.

Due to the good news, I decided to work on a few cosmetics. Most notably, cleaning deep in the nooks and crannies of the engine/behind the radiator. Also, A tip if you have fading plastics and want to bring them back, use some gear oil (MUCH heavier, stays longer) or if you REALLY want to restore them like a pro, use 100% silicon grease. Just grab 2 clean shop rags, one to rub the oil or silicon in, and one to buff it off I've done this with really good results for around a decade. If it fades again (usually after 2-4 years) just reapply. Here are the results that I got with some Pennzoil syncromesh that I had lying around.

Before:



After :

(The white dots are pieces of my shitty rags XD)



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Thinking of upgrading to stainless braided lines. These took me about a freaking hour to find >.<
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Venhill-Sta...22?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20d75f9e8e

Also planning on running Red LED strips in the rear wheel well and white in the front fender. Keeps it legal, and substantially increases visibility.

 

Ran the bike around the neighborhood after letting it idle for 30 minutes and it no longer smokes! I expect any plumes will go away the more i ride. Also, this bike is a FUN ride! My old gs850 had the same horsepower but had a TOTALLY different feel. So glad I bought this bike. $50 of paint, $150 for tax inspection and insurance, and $30 in lights and Ill have a bike my fiancee and I LOVE for under $750. Damn good deal if i say so myself ^_^ cant wait to go on the open road and open it up. Thinking of re-gearing up 6 teeth in the back, but I might stick with the stock gearing after the fun ive had on my street. Will definitely need a chain though no question

 

Wow! That's great that the smoke wasn't anything more serious than crap in the exhaust. It seems like my 86' vf500 has failed in almost every possible way that these bikes can. You definitely do NOT want to go into this engine. You may want to check the valve clearances in the future just for piece of mind.

 

That's great news. These bikes are a blast.

I would however, suggest you re-think the +6 tooth idea. That is really extreme on a daily rider street bike. Stunt bike, maybe...street bike, not so much. The revs will be quite high at 55mph and the last thing these top ends need is extended high revs.

 

I was thinking +6 teeth until I actually got to ride on it. After feeling the throttle response this guy has, most i would go is +3 rear if that. I wanted a bike that could get up and go, even it i drop the top speed a bit. Average (legal) speed i ride is around 45. But after actually riding the bike, I'm likely to stick with the stock gearing. It's very much a hoot all on its own. The chain REALLY needs to be changed though XD It's sooooo bad.

This o-ringer will go really well with the paint job I have planned


*The above chain is made by volar. After looking up some stuff about them, i will NOT be getting this chain (neither should you!)

Getting a EK x-ring chain instead
http://www.amazon.com/EK-Chain-530-...379306872&sr=1-3&keywords=530+o-ring+chain+ek

Paint purchased, $64. LED strips purchased, $12.

Time to start sanding! And gotta fill 2 dents on the tank >.< pretty shallow but they are on the ridge of the tank which makes it have to be done perfect OR ELSE

Pictures for a full report will be filled in laters after I have something substantial to show.

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Grabbed $210 worth of updated motorcycle gear as well as 6 turn signals (you'll see). I'll be getting paint tomorrow after school

 

Okay, so I have a vision, and it has something to do with 6 of these:

(don't judge until it's done XD it works in my head at the least)

Also, teaser pic of the paint. Blurry on purpose That's gonna be a long post. This rustoleum has been fighting me the whole way, which the cheaper paints I used to use DID NOT


I'll probably just be plastidipping my forks instead of painting them. it would make it loads easier

 

Dear lord! After 2 weeks of fighting the paint (combo of different cure times, and not having a paint booth) I finally have something to show! I didn't buff it out to a perfect mirror gloss white, i like the duller finishes more but I can always buff it out some more if i change my mind. Here's a picture:



things left to do:
2/4 turn signal install
Bottom panel bracket install
black-polish seat
decals/ designs
a couple touch ups on paint
paint forks black (plastidip)
*Repair petcock when I have the time. It leaks out of the drain and out of the suck hole

 

Looking good man, keep it up