My 1986 VF500F revival

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by jstehman, Feb 2, 2021.

  1. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    You go boy! Keep after it!
     
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  2. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Paint doesn't match, but I don't care.

    Getting this much closer to being 100% a bike again.

    It's not totally bolted up yet.. still finalizing my cobbled up fitting reducers, routing and plug wire routing so we're not pinching the fuel line.

    I have to trim some plastic off the side panel because there is so much weld holding the tank from leaking, and it Almost fits.

    Actual grips about to be installed.. hydraulic cylinders rebuilt etc

    Special thanks to Waylander for helping locate the rear tank mount. [​IMG]

    Then it's on to the busted up tail section

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    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
  3. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Almost there! Thanks for the update.
     
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  4. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Yeah yeah my garage is a cluster f*xk, but she fired right up and ran off the tank like she's supposed to

    Even have the vacuum petcock hooked up.. that part was new so I see no reason not to use it for now.

    We will monitor for leaks over the next few days

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  5. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Awesome!

    Regarding the vacuum petcock, I decided just to leave mine alone. I inspected all the diaphragm rubber and it looks perfect.

    Not sure what the failure rate even is on the the diaphragm as new ones seemed to last 20 years or more. Maybe the ethanol gas is hard on them????
     
  6. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    The issue with the Vacuum Petcock failing is that it tends to continue to kinda work while it dribbles gas and destroys some finishes as it weeps down and before you notice. That is from personal experience, one after some damage and one when I just caught it. And yes, the ethanol will accelerate the demise of older rubber that otherwise would probably continue to be just fine for a while.
     
  7. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    I had a bit of fuel weeping from where the tap meets the tank.

    I removed the tap, and cleaned the indented area on the tank where the oring seal sits. Got a bit of rust out.. bolted it back up and that was before placing it on the bike.

    So far, no fuel has come though the line, and I'm checking for leaks at the tap mount every hour or so.

    Not even a half gallon in there. Just enough to get to the tap.

    Still need to remove some paint and tank liner from the fill hole. There's a blob at the back that's preventing the fuel cap from fully seating. Probably sand down the lip and re-clearcoat.

    Gotta find something else to use the rest of the can on

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    [​IMG]
     
  8. Waylander

    Waylander New Member

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    Looking very nice


    VF1000F2F, now rideable,
     
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  9. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Got a bit of work to do. We almost match my fairing [​IMG][​IMG]

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  10. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Got the petcock for the 85 tank mostly figured out.

    The one I got did not have the cover plate for the selector, or the wave washer or nylon washer

    Fortunately, the 82 Magna petcock spare I have is the perfect size cover plate and will donate its' washers as well.

    Only issue now is the Magna only had on/off where we have reserve on the 500f.. looks like I need to modify the cover plate to either be able to use reserve, or leave as is and hope I can have at least on/off? Still have to look at the passages to see if that will work.[​IMG]

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  11. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Here's what I have now, the ground down Magna petcock cover.

    Guessing from a photo of the original plate and the orientation of the positions listed on the selector trim ring on the tank, that this counter-clockwise stopped position is "run".

    90 degrees clockwise is "off"

    And another 90 clockwise is "res". ??[​IMG]

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  12. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Well, I finally got around to putting some fuel in the tank and going for a ride..

    Engine performs just fine.

    Clutch, not so much.

    I disassembled , cleaned and installed a rebuild on the master cylinder and cleaned up the slave cylinder. Bled the line.

    Clutch action is Not Smooth or Consistent.

    I noticed a bit of corrosion inside the master cylinder bore.. wondering if that is why the lever feels odd.

    And yes, it's bled proper. I've done a few dry fills and bleed to know what it should be and this is Not Right. Nope.

    **
    Is there a clutch master cross reference for this bike?

    **

    If I have to get a new master, I'd like one that has a better mirror mount. The 500 mirror is just in the way kinda like the kickstand and the shifter

    Otherwise I'm liking this bike a Lot. The Carburetion is Excellent with the 85 carbs

    Oh and now that I've flushed the cooling system, the radiator is dripping from somewhere




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  13. RogueRC24

    RogueRC24 Member

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    Just keep on pushing!! You will get all solved!
     
  14. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    have u inspected the clutch basket for grooves ?
     
  15. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Not yet.

    I am pondering on if the rubber line has deteriorated internally and this is why the lever feels funky.

    Or maybe the slave cylinder is sticking?
    But I did give that a disassemble and clean. No fluid leaks.

    I go for a ride and the first couple of takeoffs from a stop feel ok, but then the friction zone goes wonky. Never in the same spot and very very small zone.

    I am going to try and contact Apex to see if he can make me a braided clutch line as well as brake lines. These will have to be replaced anyway.

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  16. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Took the radiator off today to be repaired.

    It leaked after I flushed the system, so it's going to the shop.

    Looks like a good time to check the front cylinders valve clearance

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  17. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    it's leaking from somewhere in the cores which is a super not fun expensive repair says the shop owner.

    I found a cheap "better" radiator that has a cracked inlet tube, so he will just swap the inlet tubes and hopefully have a good, functioning radiator.



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  18. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Tapatalk is being a bitch right now so I'm using another forum reader. Haven't figured out how to load pics but the repaired radiator is installed now. No leaks so far and the alignment is better now that I've straightened the mounting tabs on the rad and the frame I believe the spare radiator came off an 84 or 85 the fan mounting bracket is different than the 86 and the parts fiche confirms the rads are 2 different part numbers, but they both fit no issues. Sent from the mobile client - Forum Talker
     
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  19. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

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    Getting closer [​IMG]

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  20. sixdog

    sixdog Member

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    loookin good ....
     
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