1984 Interceptor in Vermont

Took of the clutch plate cover to see what was the matter, refilled it with oil+new filter, rtv gasket the cover, and replaced the igniter boxes with spares I had. Not sure if the spares even worked but I thought it was worth a shot. Nothing at first, but after a few seconds (and a dash of starter fluid) it started to rumble up and die. It sounded great for 4 or 5 beats though, and a few puffs of smoke came out of the exhaust. I've only had it beat maybe once, or half beat since I've owned it. The screeching eventually came back with more attempts and is loud as hell, it's painful to listen to. I'm guessing the screeching is coming from the starter and its gears heating up, but thats only a guess and a hope. I'm sure its super flooded right now so I'm going to wait it out and give it another go.

 

I replaced the clutch side engine cover, a gear bridging the starter to the clutch, and the pin that it rotates on. The Screeching is gone.

A few moments later the engine roared to life.

Get some.

 

Congrats! I felt the same way once I got mine running too! These are good little motors. They just require some attention now and again.

 

This good news indeed!

My compliments on staying with this project I think you have definitely earned your VF500F Merit Badge with this rebuild.

I think now is a good time to take a pause and go over the bike carefully to make sure everything is in spec.

Also, as mentioned earlier, take your time with getting the bike back on the road - attend a rider safety course and purchase a good set of riding gear.

Again great news - congrats!

 

Great news! Talk about detemination. Any more pics?

 

Congrats on getting her running Mike! It's a great feeling when persistence pays off!!!!

-Paul

 

GOOD work !!

 

Thanks for all the support, I could not have gotten it running without the forums help.

I'm trying to gt it to idle right and start up easily. It fights me on startup, and idles well sometimes, and other times it just freaks right out.

I've cleaned the carbs to the best of my abilities (I've never even seen one before) and I believe it's pretty clean. While looking at some videos online I came across this showing a good look at the carb slides:

YouTube - Banshee Carb Syncing

Are the slides on the vf500f supposed to move with throttle control like this? I could only detect a connection to the butterfly valves, and thought that maybe the sliders only moved due to air pressure, fuel pressure, magic, or not at all. Also, is there a trick to getting the carbs onto the engine? I've had a hell of a time every time I've had to do it. It's a terrible pain.

Other things that may lead to this problem: I never adjusted the floats, because i don;t know anything about them other than they are super clean, and I did not clean the jet that the manual requires me using self tapping screws to get at. Everything else is so incredibly clean.

 

Hey Ferrarone,
check out DMR's carb page
Daugherty Motorsports - V4 Honda Carb Removal and Installation Procedure

 

I pulled the carbs off so I could to a little more work on them. I drilled out the pilot caps to clean those, only to find that they were already in pretty good shape. I'm worried I didn't screw them in the proper amount though, apparently they are already factory adjusted? Is that actually true? I also was wondering what this is, and how to clean it if it needs to be:



That carb has a white crusty mess in it that not amount of scrubbing or carb cleaner can get off, I can't figure out what it is. The other carbs do not have that, and are bare aluminum. This carb was also way out of sync, which might have been the cause for my high/fluctuating idle. I adjusted it to it;s maximum level, and it still is a little off from the others.

I don't understand where the pilot hole gets fuel, I can only find a connection to the hole after I remove the side plug, which does not supply it with fuel: If anyone is familiar with this I'd appreciate the assist. I've been trying to plug up the pilot with my thumb and blow carb cleaner through the side hole to find another route, but that route either does not exist or seems plugged on all the carbs, even with choke on.





I'm using a 1984 carb on a 1985 engine. The carb is to a vf500f, but the engine is a vf500ff apparently. I have the carb that matches the engine, but it's so gummed up I can barely get the butterfly valves to open up. That is a project for another time I think.

 

1st pic- pilot jet for your idle (pilot screws 2nd pic) which feeds hole -3rd pic. Actually that hole is on the negative side and draws fuel thru it for idle and partial cruise. Your pilot screw adjustment is "factory" set. All carb adjustments on all new carbs are factory set. Get it..... It's just for emmisions. Make sure when you put them back in that the small washer is with the o-ring. Turn them all the way in till they just bottom out,"lightly". Then back them out 2 1/2 turns for starters. You can then adjust later when warmed up.

You may want to check the main and secondary jets in both carbs to see if they are the same. You want the same jets from old carb in carb you're using.

 

A bit more intel on the pilot screws:

 

Hey Ferrarone,

I have access to an '85 parts bike if you need anything. It has a gas tank that's a little beat up, but I don't believe it leaks. Also have some plastic bits and many other parts. Send me a PM if I can help you out.

 

Thanks, this info was worth it's weight in gold.

 

Some updates:

I've gotten the bike together again, and running. the carbs are not synced yet but I have some gauges coming in the mail. Here's a look at what's going on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STX11DXL6Gg

Sounds pretty good for out of sync carbs, and starts up no problem. The only issues I have to complete before I complete the bike is:

Sync carbs
Fix headlight
Replace rear tire
Get a good fuel tank


All in all, not much compared to what I started out with. Overall I've made money on this project by selling off extra parts here and there, but I have put in a ton of hours on the bike. I've been riding it around the neighborhood and it feels pretty good, but gets twangy at high rps. I never did adjust the valve clearances either. I'm going to take out the engine and give it a good paint job (stock style) in a week or so, and the valves will be a lot easier to do then. See you all on the road soon!

 

Good stuff.

Kudos

 

Congrats!

Thanks for the update. Great job turning some serious wrench time on this project.

 

Hearing you describe riding it around the block shot me back 20 years. I totally remember the feeling of the first ride aboard something that I had worked on for a long time. Maybe it ran a little crappy or wobbled a bit, but the feeling of cruising around(without having to pedal!) left it's mark so deep that riding a motorcycle was going to have to be a part of my life till the day I die. Way to stick with it despite some thoughts to get out while you still can.

And I must say, the stuff you had to do was no easy task for a newcomer. You were balls deep in the heart of the motor and never flinched. You knew that for every problem there is a solution no matter how difficult. I for one am extremely psyched for you. Enjoy it. You'll move on to other bikes but this one has laid the foundation for a life time of experience with the internal combustion engine and hopefully with Honda...bad valves and all.

 

Congrats! Having finally gotten mine on the road I know the feeling. Cheers!

 

Couldn't have said it better myself. Bravo!