My 1986 VF500F revival

I'm not sure if the shock has anything to do with it, but the front feels a little wonky. It rides straight, just kinda funky on turns.

Maybe I'm just not used to it yet? And the clutch engagement is a bit far out, need to get used to having some revs to take off

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Hmmm
Double check all bolts up front, fork oil and maybe tire is not worn funny


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My clutch is like that. Just got some new plates to install.

 

Tires are new.

Maybe the forks are tweaked

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Let’s see if the shock cures the issue


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Well, the clutch has about zero friction zone..

About the last 1/8" of travel is the zone.

Bleeds just fine. Better MC. No pitting.

I did not put a new seal in the SC.. one is on the way but in the meantime I disassembled it to clean . I was getting little black particles while I was bleeding the system

Got it fully bled. Lever feels solid except for like the first smidgen of movement, I can hear the SC make a squish sound.

Took it apart again to check the action of the piston. Feels like it gets a bit sticky returning with manual compression of the piston in the bore .

Wiped the inside of the bore with some red scotchbrite pad to knock down the brown..feels smooth to the touch now but still feels like it is sticking

Not sure if I should be on the lookout for a better condition SC before I install the new seal.

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What's 'better MC'?
Just installed new friction plates in mine today. Had very short friction zone also. It's better but not really as good as I thought it might improve it. Old ones were not burnt. Clutch was not slipping. I think it's somewhat the nature of these bikes to have short friction zones.

 

My old.MC had pitting in the bore. The engagement was random.

At least now it is consistent. Just at the Very End of the lever travel

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I personally wouldn't start chasing too many things until you get that ass end where it should be with a new shock. The Hagon is very good. For the same money I'm on a YSS. I just can't argue with how many times they have personally impressed me. Plus I think they look the Honda VF/VFR part better.

The eBay seller biketyresuk is the one to buy from imo, even if it is a few bucks more. They are the U.K. R&D for YSS (Firefox Racing I think). If they say they have inventory, they do. And they process their orders in a timely manner. I have always been pleasantly surprised how fast my shocks (6 now) have arrived.

Verify the stock length and make sure the part number (which decodes the length) jives with what you want. I just grabbed a stock shock (that is not frozen) to take to work and verify the length with my height gage and indicator.

 

The stock shock is ~345 mm



It appears that particular model YSS is ride height adjustable (335 - 345), so I would take advantage of that and get at least to the stock length. You will effectively gain a little ride height because the bike will actually be properly sprung now. And if you don't like it, you can go down from there. But that's where I would start.

The bike can take quite a big change to the chassis geometry / attitude. My race bike with a Fox has the rear quite high and the forks slid up a good amount. I don't have steering damper and never had a hint of head shake or nervousness. The thing RAILED.

 

I rebuilt the clutch slave with K&L kit.

The seal that came out was a bit shrunken and contracted.. and the spring seemed to be slightly more compressed than the replacement.

Driveway test says I have more friction zone.

Hopefully take a road test tomorrow

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Well, test drive went ok.

I feel like the friction zone is still pretty far out on the lever, but I am able to better modulate it. Must be how this machine is. Can't really take off from 1500rpm like with the 750 she needs a little revs.


And the xush drive "rubbers" are hard as rocks. Wonder if I can put those in the rubber softener solution and get them to swell a bit

I must have done something to anger the forks, because the left front caliper with the Trac piston, is just flopping into the Trac mechanism with zero resistance. So the Trac is needing rebuilt. Probably.

Forks gotta come off anyway for fluid change/ cleaning so I should just go ahead and order the Trac stuff if it's still available.

Oh and the horn is hitting the front cowling underneath.. it is supposed to be tucked up under right? Maybe the bottom of the fairing stay is bent upward on one side a little.

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On many of my other Hondas, the horn can physically mount either way...but there's one right way. Maybe consult the manual?

 

I feel like it needs to be tucked under.

One of the lower mounting legs on my fairing stay is definitely bent upwards slightly. Probably causing the interference

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trac might be ok, that failure seldom or never mentioned here before. there is a metal sleeve that might get lost that would take up some clearance, and pushing in the trac piston isnt easy, and it barely moves.

 

You do not have to remove the fork legs to repl. the fluid, at least on an '86. Drain bolts.

 

Yeah I know. I'll try that first but if it's grey and metallic that comes out, I'm taking the forks off

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The sleeve is there. Unless there is a bushing that fits over that sleeve, the eye that that fits in is Way bigger than the sleeve, or the Trac piston is supposed to be pushing backwards on the caliper bracket. Right now I have 4mm of slop between the caliper bracket and the piston.

And I don't see the parts breakdown for that bracket in the parts fiche?

NM I found it. I have a small metal sleeve, but am missing this 51536-MB2-000

No that's the top one.. I don't understand what's going on unless the piston is just stuck in


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It's not found here? --> https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/1986/vf500f-a-500-interceptor/front-fork

 

Because phone app doesn't like me uploading pics, sorry

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