crappy gas mileage on my 1986 vf500f

Count the number of teeth on the rear sprocket.

Also....how much do you weight?

A general consensus is poor mileage and you should take a look at your carbs, they may be dirty or in need of some work.

Get that rear brake cleaned/lubed and then go from there.

My old VF500 averaged 43mpg.

 

Invisible cities, nice post of the factory manual. Linux, take a look at the picture at the bottom of page 14-16 where it indicates the collar and the boots. From the looks of the picture of the rear brake, there seems to be only one collar on the rear caliper. Remove the bolt that holds it in place and remove the collar. Clean any gunk off the collar as well as the bore of the caliper that it slides in. Regrease the collar. If you can get ahold of some silicone grease use that, if not then use antiseize. Do not use petroleum based grease, as it will destroy the rubber boots. The collar should slide smoothly in the caliper. This should take care of the uneven pad wear you are experiencing.

 

so yeah. that collar is completely seized in there. any ideas on how to get it out?

 

It does appear the collar is supposed to slide in the caliper right? Sometimes the collar slides on the bolt/stud its attached to. From looking at the pictures best i can, it appears the collar/caliper body junction is where the caliper slides and compensates for pad wear. Try carefully tapping it with a hammer or other heavy blunt object and see where that gets you. You may have to disconnect the hose, pull the caliper and use a vise to press it out. To use a vise to press something like that out get a deepwell socket or piece of tubing that will allow the collar to pass through the middle and use that to squeeze the sucker out. A scotch brite pad or some sandpaper may be needed to get the collar to slide smoothly in the caliper before you grease it up with silicone grease and reassemble.

 

i just bought a new (to me) caliper off ebay for $30. so ill just put that one on when i get it.

 

That will work too, just make sure to clean and lube it up when you get it. Did you buy replacement brake pads for it?

 

ok well. replaced the rear caliper. and the wheel spins nice and freely now. but my gas mileage is still about the same. maybe 1-3 better. ill take a look at the choke thing later. also, what kind of gas am i supposed to be feeding this thing?

 

Normal gas but I always use the brand that has Zero Ethanol in it.

 

lets see...odometer said fifty miles..... gas pump said 1.96 gallons.... my mileage is sucking hind tit

 

i mean more of what octane? Ive been giving it premium, because thats what my motorcycle owning friend told me when i bought it.

 

You will want to run 93 octane fuel because of the 11:1 compression ratio

 

ok, thats what i thought. but i wasnt sure. after i pull it out of storage in the spring i will work on it more agressively to bump up the mileage a bit.