stator opinions requested

My '84 VF500F has slight hesitation/stuttering around 5500 rpm. Is this the dreaded Honda stator pre-fail warning sign? I know this is the case on other Hondas from that period. If so, any stator source tips?

 

Unless you are having obvious signs of low volts, dimming lights etc. the stator is not a likely cause.

Never a bad idea to throw a meter on it, or install a battery monitor.

First guess fuel issues, second guess ignition. If you have factory plug wires I highly recommend silicone wires.

Factory wires are notoriously bad with internal breakage and poor insulation & sealing.

 

Thanks Redwing750, I will look at your shortlist before going after a replacement stator, just got the bike last summer and have not had to dig into the engine yet other than do a gravity fuel feed mod to get rid of the fuel pump and also replace the temp sensor switch at the radiator.

 

Just put a multimeter across the battery and see if it is charging.

 

Hate to differ with redwing cuz he's a real smart fella (and alot bigger than i) but plug wires on our old bikes very seldom fail unless you see obvious cracks in the insulation, and hONDA USED VERY high quality plug wires, most of which --even 26 years later--are still doing their job.

Inspect/clean/regap or replace spark plugs b4 anything else..........except the charging system test our Norm mentions.

 

All good squirrel, I think I had 70s in mind more as far as wires.

And I will second the advice on plugs!

I had several occasions on the old CB with factory wires, in the
rain it was near impossible to keep the fire lit. Specifically the lack of seal around
the porcelain, and almost any amount of rain would short me out!

Another issue before I changed the coils & wires, even in thge dry I had one
coil junction that was arcing about 3" to the frame, I forget how long it
took to discover but it was a major pain.

I bring up plug wires here because they are usually about the last thing some people would suspect.

I'll by my first guess with fuel being the most likely problem.

 

Don't forget one coil fires two cylinders, check the push on connectors for the trigger wires. I had a hard time finding a bad connection, just pull off each connector and burnish spade lugs on coils, check for corrosion, doesn't take much. Does the hesitation go away at higher rpms? More than likely a fuel delivery problem.

 

Not to change the subject but if it runs fine and stumbles enough to start a thread at the stated RPM, Dynojet comes to mind or at least a slide related issue. Worth taking a look and making sure it is all stock and not some jetting wet dream. Maybe make sure all the caps on the slides are sealed correctly, only takes one to bugger it up and cause it to stumble.

 

Runs like a champ above and below 5500 rpm, at least well enough to not perceive any problems anyway. Will take all these suggestions.