'86 VF500F refresh

I've had my VF500 (running, 29,000km, I am owner no. ???) for a while now, but it sits quite regularly because I work a 2x2 rotation and I have another running bike as well. There are a few things I've been meaning to do for my VF (one of the reasons I don't ride it as much as the other one) and want to start now that I've got time and means to tackle.

I'm not a mechanic by any stretch, but I try to learn how to do at least some of the work on my bikes myself (engine and carb work on this thing is too detailed for my limited attention span though ).

-I have not always been good at disconnecting the battery when the bike sits, but it does seem like it has a tendency to kill batteries. Like, not just drained but drained and unable to hold a charge at all, finito, after one time discharging. I use a low amp charger when I do try to bring it back to life, that has a 'repair' mode.

I always thought this was because it had a draw somewhere but I just tested it and there is ZERO draw through the system, regardless what setting I have on my multimeter. Is that normal? Is there anything else that might do that if not a parasitic draw? If not and that's normal then I guess it's just my lazy self that needs to do better maintaining my battery, "easy" fix. (My battery is brand new and fully charged now for the test).

-Next.. fork seals, maybe - not something I have attempted before. The left side has a leak and needs to be replaced, so I should probably do both while I have it apart. There are some pretty bad scratches in the paint from some previous owner, maybe even a bit of flattening/distortion where you insert the dust seal, but the tubes themselves don't look like there is any scoring (from what I can see without taking them apart yet).
I haven't tried taking the dust seals out yet, I'm pretty sure they'll just break apart. Worth trying to keep running the fork setup I have or is this potentially distorted and it'll never seal?

-I've got the fairing and side covers removed in the attached picture. They're in decent shape except for where the mounting tabs have broken off from overtightening by previous owner.. the chin fairing is the same, so I need to tackle all that at some point also.

 

Any battery doesn't like to sit dormant, especially new ones that haven't a bunch of really good cycles put on them (I have found). For some reason, in my experience with a LOT of wet-type batteries, "seasoned" ones can be abused a little more and survive.

Hardly a VF500F (and VF1000R) out there that doesn't have those "tell tales" on the forks.

Will be following along for sure.

 

> Is there anything else that might do that if not a parasitic draw?

Devil, lead acid batteries have a very large, but finite, internal resistance that will eventually discharge them via internal parasitic current 'draw' even if they are disconnected. An extended period of discharge can lead to permanent terminal sulfation and inability to hold a charge. hth.

 

Thanks guys, my memory may be totally faulty I just recalled having a new battery, fully charged & ridden bike a number of days then it sitting for a few weeks and not being able to use the battery again after that. Just seemed like a short time period to ruin a battery. But, time flies when you're having fun so it could very well have been months and not weeks. I'll be in my garage more regularly this season so should be able to keep this battery in better shape.

 

OK, back at this again.. ordered parts, started taking the front end apart (so much greasy gunk..). Got to the point of removing handle bars and am at a loss and feel like I must be missing something.
Manual says to remove the stopper rings - but I don't see a means of doing that without removing the 24mm nut/cap on top.. but that's shown as a later step in the manual. Is there a way to take these off without taking that cap off first?

 

are you dense ? trump supporter ?

comes off easy in just a second, only tool needed is fingernails to expand the ring at the gap.

 

Wow. That's not very nice. Not dense, never done it before.

Thanks for your answer though, I guess.

 

Use a small flathead screwdriver or a pick to work it off where it's split. It'll come off over the top.