84 VF500 throttle linkage spacer - Driving me nuts trying to find one

I need a single piece to finish up a carburetor rebuild for my friend's 1984 VF500F. It's one of the nylon(?) spacer/shoulder washer/bushings that sits inside the throttle linkage lever. It is part of lever set 16017-MJ8-004.

This seems like it is probably a common part that is found on many bikes, but I cannot find one. Without it, the butterflies will not open at the same time on each bank of cylinders.




I believe the red- and blue-circled washer/spacers are identical, but I can't be 100% certain. Pretty sure though. I started looking at McMaster-Carr trying to find something similar. Electric shoulder washers are close, but they don't have the same usable dimensions. I took some measurements on the one that I have.

Inner Diameter = 4.00mm
Outer Diameter = 5.35mm
Total Length = 5.75mm
Flare(?) Diameter = 8.85mm
Flare(?) Length = 0.66mm

Does anybody know where I might be able to find one of these washer/spacers? Or know what it's called and if it's found on other bikes? At this point I'd begrudgingly order the throttle link set, but I can't find it in stock anywhere.

I'd appreciate any help I can get on tracking one of these little buggers down. Thank you.

 

But shouldn't you be able to adjust the butterfly valves with sync screws to compensate? aka, do a "bench sync"

Probably easier to find a nylon sleeve and a separate nylon washer, make it two pieces instead of a single shouldered washer, it is just there to reduce friction...?

 

Closest thing I got is a standard plastic push pin fastener for fairings, the ones where you push in the pin to release it... fits in 6mm holes. ID is 4.5mm but may be close enough.... you can trim it to fit...
Other suggestion is plastic anchor for putting screws in drywall. However, looking at it, function is a washer and a sleeve.... you have cotter pins to keep it all together, so no reason why two-piece wouldn't work.

 

There is a fair bit of play, so I think it's a little more than just reducing friction. Though I believe you're right that a nylon sleeve of the correct (or even close) dimensions should be able to work. You really have to get the sync screws out of whack to get it to operate close to correct--and still, you can visually see it's not right. I just know that when I put it onto the bike, it is going to be impossible to get working correctly. I did a bench sync on another one that felt pretty good, and it still requires attention from vacuum synchronizing.

I've stumbled on two sites this morning after reading your post and changing up my search parameters. I think I'm onto something, but the way they present the dimensions of the washers is brutal. Gonna take me a while to find one that looks like it works, but I bet there's one in here that will match exactly what I need.

• https://apexfasteners.com/fasteners...ashers?zenid=0c60a39716bc85f4283071bb15dba375
• https://fastenercomponents.com/wash...pacers-c-1_4/nylon-shoulder-washers-p-13.html

 

The trick to your play is dim's C and D... all others not that important to be exact.

 

I'm definitely starting to think this is a standard nylon shoulder washer size. I just have to figure out which one it is--the way the information is displayed on the sites isn't ideal.

The best I'm finding is SWS 625

• ID 0.159
• OD 0.223
• L 0.373

Where I need

• ID 0.158
• OD 0.210
• L 0.348

 

If the 83-84 VF750F uses the same bushings (likely), I've got a broken set of carbs I'll scavenge from.

 

I should have a few SWS 625's here by Saturday. Sent the link to my buddy and told him to find the best one and order some to my house.

If I cant modify one of those to work, I might just take you up on that offer (if you find one).

 

Just as a conclusion to this, I was able to sand down one of the SWS 625 nylon shoulder washers and got it to work. There are probably much better ways to sand down the diameter of a piece of plastic like that than manually doing it with sheets of sandpaper. I used an orbital sander to shorten the length.

Not ideal, but it works. Eliminated the play in the throttle linkage. If anyone ever discovers if that is a standardized shoulder washer size though... that would be way better, and I'd replace the one I sanded into shape.

 

Still willing to scavenge some VF750F OEM ones and check sizes.