1986 VFR Restoreof Japanes import

Finally got her intobthe shed...which is at the bottom crazy downhill slope..carbs off and going though...good thing i ordered intake rubbers as these look shot

 

Keep rockin'. Loving it.

 

Some restoration questions , if you guys dont mind..

Triple tree? Painted?Anodized?
Footpeg hangers?
Handlebars?
I can see the clutch and brake res were painted, was wondering about the above?

 

Upper triples and handlebars are painted on models that don't have the fuse box mounted. The 86 upper and bars are either clearcoated or clear anodized. I think anodized. Lower triples may be clearcoated, but they typically don't yellow with age and fail like Honda clearcoated pieces, like "polished" crankcase covers on old Shadows.

Swingarm, frame are clear anodized. I believe the footpegs hangers might be raw, can't remember. Some polish on a rag will either turn black or not.

Just my experiences and observations. Been around Hondas my whole life, worked at a Honda Dealer for over 12 years and have restored quite a few.

 

Awesome. Thanksnso much!

 

Confirmed: Footpeg brackets are raw.

 

So...delving deeper...

Took off the perspex for the clocks... pretty milky.... busy polishing bit but dont hold out too much hope...

When its over the clock faces, and in its houseing its not too bad....

Are they naturally slightly milky?

 

They sometimes have a anti fog coating on the inside that can become "milky" too.

I have cleaned / polished it out on the inside of a 500 Interceptor without issue. But it also wasn't an all weather bike.

 

Cheers Captain,

getting weird looks from my girlfriend, polishing it while watching TV, I keep looking through it to check the clarity...my newfangled 3d glasses

 

Ok, some more photos. I work from home, so every spare moment *which hasn't been much) i nip down to the shed and get some more bits off, as i need the spray-ables to go off on Sunday( A mate is taking them about 600km to a brilliant spraypainter i know)

Carbs are back together , but i'm hating the corrosion, so trying to decide if im going the soda route

This clock surround has some tiny cracks, so i think its going to get sprayed along with the fairing inners

Oil radiator also needs some fin straightening

Rear subframe and front fairing bracket removed

Mangy dirty rear shock. hopefully will clean up ok

 

Also toying with the idea of dropping the engine, but i hear horror stories about getting the headers off?

Your thoughts, i mean i could get away with touchingthe engine up IN the frame...

 

Start soaking all of the exhaust studs and nuts for a while and give them a whirl.

Judging by the condition of everything else, I would want to have a bare engine to restore.

 

T

tried the front ones today as an experiment and they turned easily

mmm, engine out!
Are there any particular tricks re the rear headers? Or is it just that the bolts can shear/stuck etc

 

More like frame off. It lifts off the engine pretty easily. Get the exhaust off and the oil pan will sit nicely on a flat surface. I add thick plywood to the center of those moving dollies. Remove the wheels, then the suspension and lift the frame off.



Now the engine is already on something that can be rolled outside for cleaning. Do your resto work and check the valves while the engine is out, it's so nice. If you restore/paint the valve covers and crankcase covers, leave those off for the frame install.

 

Awesome. Thanks cap... was dicking around with the idea of engine removal ...this pushed me over.. do it properly

Very nice bike to work on i must say. I love Honda... but theres a big jump from the 70s to this...

 

Sent the tank off for derusting , the guy didn't feel good about the tank due to the rust inside, so sandblast,.. good,... not too dented and exterior is ok

 

Got the clocks a bit less milky and got the front exhausts off... did a cleanup to see whats what. I think i'm not going to ceramic coat the headers...leave em stainless?