Jim's $400.00 1986 VF500F

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by Jim McCulloch, Jun 25, 2019.

  1. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Ok, so before I go crazy I bought some Marvel Mystery Oil and filled the rear cylinders. I will soak through the weekend and do another compression check Sunday night.

    If I gain compression I will cycle through another shot of the MMO and see what happens.

    Thanks for the advice everyone, and still searching for a donor motor.
     
  2. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Went out and checked the compression ( I could not wait) it went up 20 PSI for a grand total of 80 PSI. Not sure how long you need to soak the MMO. I cranked the engine over several times and refilled with MMO and now I have all 4 cylinders soaking.

    From what I am hearing this is pretty unusual. Could the rings really be stuck this bad? I really do not want to have to tear into the engine but starting to see no other options. At least the compression appears to be the same across all 4 cylinders now, at around 75-80 PSI.

    Could a blown head gasket cause this?
     
  3. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    If they are all the same then that is good. The fact they are only about 80PSI is not so good. However compression gauges are notoriously unreliable and inaccurate. Anyway all of this is moot because your problem is the engine smokes is it not? It's how it smokes that matters. When you gas it (rings) or on the overrun (valve guides). Both, you're screwed :)
     
  4. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    It smokes on giving it gas, I am screwed probably. Oh well I gave it a shot. Time to get the engine up on the bench and see what is going on.
     
  5. MPH Racing

    MPH Racing New Member

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    Friend of mine picked up a very low mileage VF500C (Magna) engine for $250 where as a VF500F engine (Interceptor) was between $450-$600. Found out the only difference was the Cams and the jets on the carbs. He swapped the cams and put the engine in his Interceptor. Now his 22 year old son won't give the bike back.

    So if your engine needs a rebuild hit up Ebay and fine a magna engine as it will probably be cheaper to go the way.
     
  6. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    There are a few more differences than that. The gearing is different and there are some electrical differences too as the 6th gear is an overdrive with a tell tale light. However physically I think the Magna engine is the same as a 84/85 interceptor engine and will fit a 84/85 frame AFAIK. There are threads about this on VFRD. I don't know for sure if a Magna engine will fit 86 frame but I think it will.
     
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  7. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Yes, I have read up on the threads for the VF500C retrofit and it looks like it will work. However I have yet to see a decent engine come up. There is one on EbAy that has compression all over the place. it was the only one that actually listed the compression in the ad. I will look again tonight and see what is out there.
     
  8. Mind_Surfer

    Mind_Surfer New Member

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    In 1987 I put a Magna engine in my '86 500. The coolant piping is larger on the Interceptor, so I changed that over. Also the starter clutch is a little different in terms of timing, but I ran that engine for many years on the '86 igniter boxes without any problems.

    And yes the gearing is different, with the Magna engine my Interceptor was getting 73 miles to the gallon. Yes 73mpg.

    I ran that Magna engine hard for many years, just recently swapping back to a 1986 VF500F engine.

    Best wishes.

    Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
     
  9. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Thanks for that information, I found a VF500C engine last night with 24K miles, and they guy said he will run a compression check on it. Hoping for good news.
     
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  10. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Starting to pull the motor.

    Got several leads on VF500C motors but no proof of compression from any salvage yards yet.

    One thing I cant figure out is why these salvage yards even bother to remove the engine from the frame. Then they pull the starter off and then say they can't test the motor. If it is a running engine just leave it in the bike until you have a buyer. Seems like a huge waste of labor time. I guess that is why I don't run a salvage yard.

    IMG_9494.JPG

    IMG_9495.JPG
     
  11. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    "Breakers" in this country are fucking idiots.
     
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  12. Mind_Surfer

    Mind_Surfer New Member

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    Your photos bring to mind my last swap... the majority of my time was spent cleaning all the munge off the frame!

    PS: salvage engines I have purchased in the past all had compression test readings painted on the each valve cover. YMMV

    Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
     
  13. Tyler McCulloch

    Tyler McCulloch New Member

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    Son here, happy to be helping pull that engine this weekend! This'll hopefully be the bike I learn to ride on.

    That's "my" civic in the garage btw.
     
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  14. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Not just your country, the same the world over I reckon.
    How hard would it be for them to at least take a video of the engine running before they rip it apart. I can why they might want to dissemble due to space but have some evidence the stuff works...
     
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  15. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    So no word back on compression checks on several engines on eBaY, I am starting to go ahead and tear the engine down for possible rebuild. Me and my son pulled the engine out jut now. Was not too bad. I did not remove the exhaust collector and that made it a lot more difficult. Won't do that again.

    IMG_9522.JPG

    Not too dirty.

    IMG_9523.JPG

    The engine stands up pretty good on it's own! Time to tear it down. HOPEFULLY it just needs rings and seals. Got my fingers crossed!
     
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  16. Mind_Surfer

    Mind_Surfer New Member

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    Jim & Tyler, have you run that engine number yet? I'm curious as to what year it is.

    I can't remember if you said it had been replaced before or not. It's either an '84 or '85 if I am seeing the photos correctly.

    Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2019
  17. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    It is a 1985 from what I can gather from the S/N on the engine. Unknown what happened to the original engine.

    There is an 86 engine on Ebay but again there is no compression check available.

    I would really like to have the 86 engine back as there looks to be some worthwhile upgrades Honda did to the 86 engine
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2019
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  18. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Started pulling the head off the rear bank and now I need some advice,

    IMG_9527.JPG
    Father and son project, Tyler helping me get the rear head off


    IMG_9534.JPG

    Does not look bad at all. I can still see most of the cross hatching. I think we will go further into the engine as I don't see any major damage. May just need rings HOPEFULLY.

    IMG_9539.JPG
    This is where I am worried. The valves do not look like they had the recall done and have a bit of wear on the tops. Are these valves safe to run like this?
     
  19. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Yes, they are OK. Don't worry about that. If you were going to circumnavigate the world on it then yes it might be an issue, but they look OK to me.
     
  20. Mind_Surfer

    Mind_Surfer New Member

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    Mostly the problem will be trying to adjust the valves. The surface is too inconsistent to measure so it is a crap shoot.
    In such a situation, measuring at the cam lobe may be a solution.

    Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
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