My 1986 VF500F revival

It was a little warm today, so I took her in the driveway to clean some of the dirt and crap off her. I used the "scrubbing bubbles" spray. Works pretty well.

Still need to rebuild the hydraulics.. I have towels wrapped around them so they won't drip onto my cherry paint

She's definitely no looker
With my lawnmower temporary fuel tank and rag holding the old 800 battery in. She looks terrible. Once the dented up tank is back on she will look a bit better.



Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Don't forget to drain your puke tank!
The Air Breather Box that the crankcase vapors go into.. not the coolant overflow

That's some foul liquid right there.

Also changed the T-stat today. The bolts cooperated so I'm pretty sure someone has been in there since 1986. Didn't hurt to put a $3 Murray thermostat that was probably made in this decade just to be sure.

60 degrees today, she fired right up. Peppy little engine this 500.. can't wait to get her on the road.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Got the rest of the fuel strainer out of the tank today. Like pulling a quarter deep out of a hole that's opening is slightly smaller than the size of a quarter lol. Thanks to a coat hangar and some small needle nose pliers

Going to bring the tank to the shop and see what they can do about the pinholes and maybe some dents. It's pretty beat, but I've got no choice

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

there are SO MANY non-running 500's it shouldn't be hard to find a replacement tank.

 

Yet you would be surprised that few tanks are for sale. And the ones that for sale are rotted out, dented and people are asking stupid money for them. Plus, they always want to sell the unique to the 86 model petcock separately. The struggle is real!

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-VF...-/154367777282?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Posts world wide


VF1000F2 a work in progress

 

Wow! I couldn't find any tanks when I looked, but I did not look international.. shipping would be insane, but probably cheaper than the money I would put into this one.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

There are two in Germany both less than 50$


VF1000F2F, in bits

 

That's crazy! Shipping would be insane.

Maybe I could fly there and pick up for cheaper

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

One was $25 post to the U.K.

Have to see how much it is from here,

Might be worth getting both then selling one stateside


VF1000F2F, in bits

 

Checked on the rear cylinders valve clearances today.

All are between .005 and .006... Kinda like somebody has been in there before me

Plus small amounts of black RTV at the corners of the valve cover gasket ears.



Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Drained the first batch of Evaporust from the tank. It's been sitting for about a week or so.

Very gross.

I still strained and saved the juice, it might still work somewhat some other time for something else.

I'll be taking the tank to the shop very soon for pinholes repair. Then to decide if I'm going to try pulling the dents or not.. probably not. It's fine lol

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

^^ caswell epoxy tank sealer does a great job filling pinholes. have you had a good close look at the tops of the valve stems checking for distortion ??

 

I have a Caswell liner set waiting.

Last time I tried it, I didn't prep well enough and still had a leak.

The radiator shop that brazed that tank did a good job, so I'm going to consult with them to see what they recommend.

I did not get a good enough peek at the valve stem tips.

Hard to see if you're not backing the adjusters off for adjustment. Since they were spot on, I let them be. Not like I can change valves anyway without head gaskets available

I'll need to get back in there at some point, I still need to check the front

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

don't know if they're available but the adjusting screws, which were rounded on the bottom when new, develop flat spots that make accurate clearance adjustments difficult and not long-lasting. remove a sample screw and have a look. you'll see a area pounded flat, not good.

 

Can do.


Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Well, bad news about the fuel tank.

The shop I went to said he won't touch a tank that has a liner in it. Apparently there is a liner that rust has eaten it's way through.

I need to have it baked off to destroy the liner before he will braze any holes.

Fair enough, but that sucks. This would mean a repaint. Which means pulling the dents out. I am kinda fond of the distressed theme I have with this one.

Should I try old school soldering the pinholes and adding my Caswell over whatever is inside?

If that doesn't hold I'm only out the Caswell which I had forgotten about anyway. And then it will still need baked off to be repaired with a torch..

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Nothing from our German friend, I shall message him again


VF1000F2F, in bits

 

You have nothing to lose at this point! I used JB Weld on my pin holes and it worked. At least it worked long enough to get the Caswell's in there!

 

I decided to at least try soldering the pinholes.

I sanded the paint down to bare metal, and used plenty of flux paste.

There were about a dozen small holes that looked like tiny bumps in the paint so it was like a little treasure hunt to find them all

There is one really bad one just below the fuel selector ring.. most likely that is the lowest section that water collects in. It's big.
Guessing 5mm crater. I got enough solder built up around it to make a mound and sanded it down slightly.

Nothing to lose at this point
Still deciding on using the Caswell or not

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk