VF400F Revival

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by ShaunVF400, Apr 20, 2021.

Tags:
  1. Colddevil

    Colddevil Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2008
    Messages:
    648
    Likes Received:
    292
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Map
    That's one heck of a carburetor to cut your teeth on! Really nice work.

    The relevant discussion (in a pretty disjointed thread) is on page 7 here: https://vfrworld.com/threads/matt-tries-–-1984-vf500f-overhaul.57900/page-7
     
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
  2. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Cheers for all the feedback, and for pointing me in the direction of instructions on how to bench sync, much appreciated.
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2021
  3. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    So back for another update, engine related this time. Now you see it.....

    now you don't.
    IMG_20210415_174854_649.jpg

    Removal of the rear head:
    IMG_20210417_110032_637.jpg

    IMG_20210417_110100_205.jpg

    IMG_20210417_114907_518.jpg

    IMG_20210417_123708_141.jpg

    Head off, ready for valve lapping (notice not all the head gasket wanted to come with the head) Cylinder on the left is the one that had low compression and wasn't firing:
    IMG_20210417_181439_623.jpg

    A first pass with the coarse grinding paste (before and after), a marked improvement already: IMG_20210418_183908_708.jpg
    IMG_20210418_184502_061.jpg

    IMG_20210418_183941_405.jpg

    IMG_20210418_184513_765.jpg

    As a side note, its when you look at someones profile picture and think "I recognise that bike" then realise Colddevil is the guy you've been watching on youtube for months for tips! (Exhaust collector box removal for one) cheers mate, great videos.
     
    Diving Pete and Jim McCulloch like this.
  4. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Not much of an update today, but managed to score this beauty a little while back from eBay:
    IMG_20210426_044947_547.jpg

    And if anyone needs any of this info in the future:
    IMG_20210426_045032_422.jpg
     
    Colddevil likes this.
  5. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    910
    Likes Received:
    198
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    WOW! There can't be many of those around anymore. Nice score.
     
  6. duccmann

    duccmann Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Messages:
    9,214
    Likes Received:
    910
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    SoCal
    Map
    So exciting to watch.
    Great job


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  7. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    So this might give away where I'm at at the moment, don't suppose anyone might happen to know the torque value for the four bolts that hold the cam tensioner in place (no mention in the service manual, assume it should be the same as the VF500).

    Thanks!
     
  8. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,825
    Likes Received:
    2,353
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Should be the same. Yo can also go to the General section and they usually list common torque values for bolt sizes (6mm?).
     
  9. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    New Zealand
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    2,728
    Likes Received:
    625
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    This is the general torque values for the VT250F which I would expect to be very similar to the 400, same general vintage and layout.

    upload_2021-7-7_15-35-13.png
     
  10. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    So, where the hell have I been? Apologies to everyone for the serious lack of updates.

    I'll cut to the chase, the bike has been sold. I really wish I had the time to devote to a project like this, but with a full time job, three young kids, a wife and a house to maintain, I can't do the bike justice. Don't worry though, the guy who brought it is seriously into his bikes, and may even update directly on this forum as I provided him a link to this thread.

    It wouldn't seem right signing off on the project without updating to where I got to, so here goes. Going to be more pictures than text, given how long ago i took them, but I'll try my best.

    So once the valves were lapped on the rear head, I proceeded with replacing the oil stem seals and cleaning everything for reassembly:
    IMG_20210525_163415_613.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163423_419.jpg

    Inspecting the head, some light wear but nothing sinister:
    IMG_20210525_163442_134.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163448_134.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163504_030.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163513_402.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163520_872.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163526_549.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163533_630.jpg

    IMG_20210525_163538_897.jpg
     
  11. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    New valve stem seals installed:
    IMG_20210525_165324_991.jpg

    IMG_20210525_165503_410.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170423_196.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170427_823.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170450_287.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170432_442.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170434_813.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170458_573.jpg

    Inspecting the cylinders:
    IMG_20210525_170604_437.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170614_377.jpg
     
  12. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Cylinder inspection (continued):
    IMG_20210525_170620_958.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170627_683.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170632_886.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170656_984.jpg

    General inspection:
    IMG_20210525_170857_574.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170906_605.jpg

    IMG_20210525_170944_008.jpg

    IMG_20210525_171019_330.jpg

    Cleaning the old gasket off the head:
    IMG_20210525_173314_197.jpg

    IMG_20210525_173323_128.jpg
     
  13. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    IMG_20210525_173329_833.jpg

    IMG_20210623_045328_698.jpg

    IMG_20210629_164033_403.jpg

    IMG_20210623_045335_291.jpg

    More gasket removal: IMG_20210629_164000_519.jpg

    IMG_20210629_164020_230.jpg

    IMG_20210629_164923_853.jpg

    IMG_20210701_160138_882.jpg

    Nice new head gasket:
    IMG_20210701_160214_305.jpg

    Checking for warp before i start reassembly (not easy holding a steel rule, torch and phone):
    IMG_20210701_160352_847.jpg
     
  14. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    IMG_20210701_160613_280.jpg

    IMG_20210701_160624_948.jpg

    New head gasket in place:
    IMG_20210701_161034_402.jpg

    Checking for warp on head:
    IMG_20210701_161148_018.jpg

    IMG_20210701_161605_919.jpg

    IMG_20210701_181402_366.jpg

    Getting there:
    IMG_20210701_191343_818.jpg

    IMG_20210701_191351_009.jpg

    IMG_20210701_191357_554.jpg

    IMG_20210701_192449_174.jpg
     
  15. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Manufacturing defect?
    IMG_20210704_154552_536.jpg

    IMG_20210704_154558_270.jpg

    IMG_20210704_154631_064.jpg

    Info from the service manual if anyone needs it:
    IMG_20210705_045702_323.jpg

    IMG_20210706_173551_171.jpg

    IMG_20210706_173600_513.jpg

    IMG_20210706_173612_860.jpg

    IMG_20210706_173627_637.jpg

    IMG_20210706_173640_103.jpg

    IMG_20210709_184249_846.jpg
     
  16. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    IMG_20210709_184402_843.jpg

    IMG_20210709_184630_403.jpg

    All torqued down:
    IMG_20210709_191005_436.jpg

    IMG_20210709_191021_836.jpg

    IMG_20210709_191107_292.jpg

    Moving on to the front two cylinders:
    IMG_20210711_112039_301.jpg

    IMG_20210711_112046_676.jpg

    IMG_20210711_112054_439.jpg

    IMG_20210711_112110_000.jpg

    IMG_20210711_112115_645.jpg
     
  17. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
  18. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    IMG_20210711_113820_790.jpg

    Marking positions prior to disassembly, for reference:
    IMG_20210711_114242_300.jpg

    IMG_20210711_114250_500.jpg

    IMG_20210711_114258_518.jpg

    IMG_20210711_114308_212.jpg

    IMG_20210711_125031_799.jpg

    IMG_20210711_125038_465.jpg

    IMG_20210711_125043_289.jpg

    Glad I had to do the top end on this engine:
    IMG_20210711_125049_806.jpg

    IMG_20210711_125055_737.jpg
     
  19. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    IMG_20210711_125104_054.jpg

    Head off:
    IMG_20210711_152415_362.jpg

    IMG_20210711_152422_896.jpg

    IMG_20210711_152428_112.jpg

    IMG_20210711_152506_794.jpg

    IMG_20210711_152506_794~2.jpg

    IMG_20210711_152547_671.jpg
     
  20. ShaunVF400

    ShaunVF400 New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2021
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Fancied a change of pace so turned my attention to the bike itself:
    IMG_20210901_164813_269.jpg

    IMG_20210905_181518_071.jpg

    Rear (number plate partly blanked out)
    IMG_20210905_181557_128 blanked out.jpg

    Cleaning up thermostat housing:
    IMG_20210910_172556_937.jpg

    Poorly installed O-ring from god knows when:
    IMG_20210910_172602_543.jpg

    IMG_20210910_172615_876.jpg

    IMG_20210910_172623_890.jpg

    IMG_20210921_190243_379.jpg

    IMG_20210921_190311_936.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

Related Topics

Share This Page