Jeff's 1985 VF1000FF Project

So here it is, one of the best finds I've had to to date.

A 1985 Honda VF1000FF ... I paid $625 CAD for it, and it's in excellent shape all things considered. The engine turns, but the fuel has turned bad in it. The last time it was insured was 2007.

Here's are the things I've noticed so far that need to be done:

• Drain Fuel
• Steam Clean Tank & Inspect (some rust in the bottom)
• Replace Fork Seals (and probably fluids)
• Drain & Replace Coolant
• Drain & Replace Brake / Clutch Fluids
• Clutch Slave Cylinder Leaking
• Fix Plastics / Paint
• Carb Tear Down & Cleaning

I'll likely do a full tear down, inspection and rebuild. I'll get some parts powder coated back to a stock OEM finish.

Here it is ... it's been an 11 hour day since we had to drive an extra 2 hours in each direction to pick up a sled that my buddy bought out that way as well. It was a very good day.

The metallic flake candy red color they used looks INCREDIBLE in the sunlight.

(Excuse the mess in the workshop ... I'm remodeling it and doing an epoxy floor in it this coming spring)

 

Nice find, you are Lucky.

 

Nice score!!! Keep them pictures coming :vtr2:

 

That looks really sweet Jeff. Amazing how much you got it for. MHOFWIW. How bad is that dent in the tank, photo #3? You may want to get hold of zoom-zoom here in Kelowna. He does paintless dent repair on mostly higher end vehicles for the rich biches there. Who knows, it may be worth your while to ship it out to him and get him to do the repairs even if you are painting it. He's a fine gent. Have lunched with him a few times passing through there.

 

I don't think it's an actual dent - not one I can detect anyways. It's like there was a scratch and the paint has bubbled and started to crack / flake?

My wife's uncle owns an Autopac repair centre - he's the one that fixed my Honda Magna V45 tank when I did that restoration.

 

Tell uncle you discovered a long lost brother who wants his bike painted...again. ROAD TRIP!

 

Haha. It will have to be over the winter ... he farms all summer.

 

Congrats on the new girl....so what did ya buy the wife? Dinner, bottle of wine?

 

Jeff is Manitoban. They are practical people. He bought her a new to her, reconditioned, Kirby vaccume cleaner.

 

Hey Jeff

After taking a look at the photos of the bike, I kind of agree with Randy. It appears as though there is a dent below the crack in the paint, on the left side of the tank. Likely cause of the crack is that a dent below the contour line from the side to the top of the tank has caused a brow to form on the top of the tank thus cracking the paint. Although I would love to help out as Randy suggested, it wouldn't make much financial sense to ship the tank back and forth and pay for repairs, when you'll have to get the tank painted (at lest the white part) in the end anyhow. I'm sure there are a few qualified PDR tech down your end of the country as well given the amount of hail damage teams are centered in eastern Canada. As a matter of fact, your uncle probably knows a few. LOL

Being the former owner of a 1985 VF1000F, there is a warm spot in my heart for the VF1K's. It was a fantastic bike to own and ride and my old bike now resides in Calgary with a good friend. I had a spare bike, he gave up a bike in a time of need, and I returned the favour and gave him the old girl when he expressed an interest in getting back into biking.

Good luck with the project.

 

I didn't have to buy her anything .... I sold my .223 to fund this, so it was money I already spent on myself.

This is why I collect stuff ... so I can sell it later when I need to fund a project.

 

Wow, you did a fantastic job with your VF1K!

I was planning on doing some customization but then finally decided that I want to keep it as close to stock as possible and simply restore it. It will mostly be a garage / show queen as I'll be putting a "collectors plate" on it and showing it at events, shows, and rallies (the only places I'm allowed to ride and remain insured with a collectors plate).

I'm going to use an electrolytic process to clean the rust out of the tank then I'll be able to get a good look from the inside. I may even sand that part down right away and take a look. My wife's uncle knows a few guys that do PDR.

Thanks for the advice! I'm looking forward to returning this gal back to her former glory.

 

Holy smokes, nicest 1000 I've ever laid eyes on zoomer

 

Nice score :thumbup:
Good to see Zooom........Zooooom resurface :wave:

 

Great buy.
Nothing that cheap or good ever turns up around here. Not enough basements obviously.

 

The wife had to run out to the hardware store to pick up some supplies we needed to work on the basement bathroom she's been after me about for a while now.

I took the opportunity to head out to the garage to look the bike over in some good light and the comfort of my own shop. I hadn't planned on working on it ... I turned the heat on in the shop and next thing you know, I had a ratchet and socket in my hand.

I pulled the seat off and found the original tool set and owners manual!! Cool. Almost never get both of those with a used vehicle this old.



I drained the tank first into sealed containers, then I removed the filler cap and pulled the tank off. I tipped it upside down and sloshed it around until I couldn't get anything more to drain. I'll take it to the car wash later this week to rinse it out real good before I use electrolysis to remove the rust myself.



Next, I pulled the air box out ... way easier than I remember it was for the '82 Magna V45 I used have.



The carbs took a bit of work to get out. They boots were rock hard and I had to use my heat gun to warm them up a bit and make them more pliable. I'll be ordering some new ones.



I inspected the RR and the connectors ... nothing looks crispy or brittle at first glance, but I'll take a closer look when I get to stripping it from the bike.

 

By this point, I was thoroughly high from the fumes created by the old fuel despite being put into sealed containers and moved out of the shop. I rolled the bike onto the lift at this point, jacked it up, removed the lower fairing, and called it a day ....

Oh yah, as a bonus, it appears that the battery is in excellent condition. I put it on my Battery Tender and within a few minutes it was already charged. It seemed to turn over the bike just fine as well (with the kill switch on - didn't want it to try firing)



I did take a photo of the intake valves ... a bit of gunk but very good considering the age, we can clean those up pretty easily without dis assembly of the heads.

 

Your one lucky dog...great find.
Love that lift as well

 

Thanks!

Oh shoot - that reminds me, I promised NormK some dimensions. I'm hoping to get back out there tomorrow night and start cleaning the carbs and will try to get some dimensions for it and anyone else who wants.

Side Note: What appears to be damage to the lower fairing seems to be caused by the clutch fluid leaking and the decal peeling up off it. I mean, there's some minor cracks and scuffs, but easy enough to fix. Looks like I'll need a decal set.

I started making a parts list this evening. I'll order my first round of parts once I see what the inside of the carbs look like.

 

Never ceases to amaze. Walk into a garage with a project (car, bike, etc) and you just can't help but pick up a wrench. Walked into the garage the other today and looked at the wife's new-to-her CB400T and Noticed a drip on the floor. Wasn't right under the bike but just off to the right of the forks a few inches, so I looked to see what was above it. Hmmmmm, seemed like it came from the brake master cylinder, I thought. Dripped straight down to the floor, right past the newly painted upper cowl and front fender (gawd what a relief that was, lol) and hit the floor. 40 minutes later and I had the master cylinder off, front caliper removed and the brake hoses disconnected. Wife walked into the garage, and the look of shock, said it all, "There was a leak," I said as she examined the bits on the floor. She smiled, gave me a kiss on the head and said, "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Gotta love her I tell ya. LOL.

This project will keep ya going through the long Manitoba winter. I say this as I look out the front window at the 5" of fresh snow accumulating in the driveway. So much for the mild, snow free, Kelowna winters. I could blame Randy, I guess. LOL. He probably rode yesterday.