1986 VF500 questions about bike in general.

I've recently purchased an orange 1986 VF500 that has 13k miles. I'm not experienced with Honda bike and bought it because I have free time and needed a vehicle to fix up for a college course. Ive looked up the completely orange paint job but have found very few posts or references to it. Is it a special edition paint job? or is it not common in the States? Also the previous owner said that the oil pump had failed on the bike. I have the oil pump, but im worried about lack of oil on top end of the engine. I've thought bout making my own feeder to oil the top of the engine. Is there someone who sells these? or has specs on one? Any more trivia or issues I need to look for on the bike would be appreciated.

 

Hey lead … no orange vf500f bikes that I know about… they are red/white and blue.
Oil pump gone bad … oh man. I worried you have damage but take a look at the cams and see what you see.
Pics would be appreciated…


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I’m sure the forum experts will chime in … they forgot more than I know ..


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Here's the two photos I took after hauling it home. It was a 3 hour drive there so I wasn't rosy on tearing into it right away.

 

Definitely an aftermarket paint job

Does it start?


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Nah, it sat for 2 years with no fluids and he didnt have a battery for it. ill start tearing it apart after the 4th hopefully.

 

Why not add some oil … get a battery … don’t know what the inside of the tank looks like but you can get a remote tank .. see if it starts … carbs are probably clogged up but you never know.


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In any case you’re going to get plenty of help from all the guys here …


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How bad are these bikes to tear down? I've seen mixed answers on other forums about this.

 

I have found that they are just like any other Japanese four stroke … of course it’s a v4 but you have plenty of help here


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that's somewhat of a relief, i've torn down a couple Kawasaki, and one Yamaha. But no Honda. Thank you for the fast responses!

 

You got it brother
I’m sure “the boys” will chime in tomorrow.
Happy 4Th!!!


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You too!

 

Oh
You want to get the factory service manual
( FSM )
I think you can download it from this forum… the link is somewhere on the site




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Will do!

 

removing the sparkplugs for inspection is usually informative. gives some idea how it was running b4 it was parked.

 

Non factory paint.
Remove seat and tank
Loosen radiator
Pull plugs - see squirrel post
Pull timing cover (?) the small one on the lower right hand side 17mm I think
See if you can turn engine over by hand gently with socket n ratchet.
If it rotates then proceed to remove valve covers and inspect.
At this point you gotta choose replace pump and then start or try and start to see if the previous owner was correct. Since you have the pump I would install the new one ( only loss is time) and then try a start. Have all of the new orings?

just my process but it sounds like an adventure for sure.

 

its hard to believe a honda oil pump could fail except on a very high-mileage bike. unless it was run with no oil in the sump.

 

Did this and nothing looks too bad, the owner had the O-rings and nothing looks too wrong with the pump he said failed. So i'm kinda worried that he ran it low on oil or abused it somehow. But while I have it apart I might aswell but the new pump on.

 

Ive spent a lot of money on bikes recently, so this one's budget was supposed to stay under 1,000. After tearing it apart I think it might actually be that way. Hopefully.