Hello from Barrie, Ontario, Canada 86 VF500F

Howdy..

I'm not new to motorcycling...I also own a 2001 ZX12R and a CR125 for some off road excursions. I do love older "vintage" bikes....same ones I was riding in High School and University!!

Being a new owner of a 1986 Vf500F Interceptor(Miniceptor). I found this gem with 28xxx kms and in relatively mint shape locally. Paid 1800 CDN. All original body panels, windshield, exhaust etc...no fading or dings to the paint or plastics. The previous owner had just replaced the tires with Pirelli Sport Demons, new brake pads, battery. Some minor rock chips to the TRAC fork legs...searching for some paint to redo.

I replaced all fluids when I got the bike but have yet to do the fork fluid. I still need to find an airfilter and get the miniceptor stripped to really clean it up.

There is a very faint ticking from the right bank of cylinders...sounds like valves are needing some adjustment soon. Not worried yet. The mechs who saftied the bike (and are RC30 wizards) said it was fine and was a good tight bike. After seaching the forum, found some good articles on valve adjustment...I do better with pics and descriptions that words alone!

Some minor rust spotting on the chrome nuts/bolt in the engine compartment, along with some serious chain lube build up on the front sprocket area....nothing some steel wool, degreaser and elbow grease wont fix.

I do have some questions as to parts sourcing and servicing.

1. Best place online to order OEM Honda or aftermarket parts for these bikes.I want to r and r the clutch soon...engagement is good, no slipping, but it is engaging near the end of lever...I assume this means it is wearing out and it (hydraulic clutch) adjusts automatically. New to the hydraulic clutch thing. Any recommendations to clutch parts over OEM ie Barnett etc?

2. Anyone with walkthroughs with pics for the clutch r&r and valve adjustment? Any out of the ordinary things to worry about with the clutch on these bikes when replacing?
Please email pics etc to chris.castonguay@hotmail.com. Never worked on the V4, but seems like a royal PITA on the rear bank to get at.

3. Rec'd oil for these bikes?? ( I know, the old oil debate )
I run a full syn oil in the 12, Amsoil 10/40 MC specific, but some other V4 owners suggested stright 20/40 or 20/50 dino oil?

4. I'm looking for an OEM Honda Service Manual and owners handbook that comes with the bike....this one was MIA. I've tracked down the Clymer manual, but find their pics are sometime brutal. OEM manuals are usually better.

5. Air forks?? How are they adjusted / emptied etc? I imagine the service manual would describe this, but I want to get them cleaned out and fluid changed ASAP and then recharged with air.....is it as simple as a bicycle pump? I think it is , but not sure.

6. Any aftermarket exhaust options out there? Just curious to see what people are running. ( Argh jetting...love FI and the PC3R on my 12)

I'll get some pics posted soon.

Cheers and thanks in advance for any/all help.

Chris Castonguay
Barrie, ON, CAN
chris.castonguay@hotmail.com

 

Welcome to the group and thanks for joining us here. It's great to have you with us. :biggrin:

The best place I have found so far, with regards to pricing, is Service Honda, www.servicehonda.com. They have an online fiche and when you place an order online, one of their people will call you, usually within 24 hours. The exception to this is if you place you order late on Saturdays, then it will a little more than 24 hours. I have used them once but caled then a couple of times and they are great people to deal with. Ron Ayers, www.ronayers.com, is also another place with an online fiche. But I do not know if they will match or can beat prices at Service Honda.

I thought I had some pics of when I replaced my clutch, but I apparently don't. The clutch is pretty easy to replace. Drain the oil, remove the bolts from the case, remove the case, remove 5 or 6 clutch spring bolts (I forget how many springs there are), remove the plate cover, remove the plates, install new clutch and reverse the steps of disassembly to put it all back together. One thing to keep in mind: Not sure if your clutch is like the one on my 93, but the plast closest to the engine is diferent than the rest. The inner diameter is larger than the others. When installing the new clutch, this plate must go on first.

Amsoil should be good. I think 20/50 is the OEM recommendation. Synth is fine to use. I have use the Castrol GPS(?) synth and the Honda Pro Gold Synth. Both work fine, too.

Other than your local dealer, try Helm Inc, www.helminc.com. Mine was missing the owners manual and that where I got mine. You can also get the service manual from them as well.

 

Thanks for the info...appreciated.

C

 

Hi Chris, welcome to the group.

I believe these manuals are both still available from Honda. I picked up the OEM versions for 86 VF500 back in December. You can try the Honda Owners Link.
https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?logout=1
But you may be disapointted if you're hoping for higher quality picks in the OEM amnual. They're not that great in mine. Kinda dark.

I'm pretty sure your options for new setups are none, atleast anything specifically for the 500. I've done quite a bit of searching and came up with nothing. After market slip-ons do come up on e-Bay, but be prepared to fight for them.

 

Bikebandit is generally better for Canadians than servicehonda. Bikebandit uses FedEx Expidited for delivery and charges a flat rate $25 per order. No surpise charges when the package arrives at the door either. If you order Monday, you normally have the parts on Friday.
Prices are a bit higher at Bikebandit, but the savings on brokerage charges more than offsets it, they also give a discount if you belong to AMA.

 

Allrighty.

Ordered an EBC clutch kit and springs and gasket, new plugs and a K&N. I'll be doing the clutch, plugs and filter when the parts come in.

I'll also be taking pics and doing a step by step walkthrough for each item for inexperienced home mechs.


Now to a more interesting, if allbeit fantasy topic.

Has anyone ever explored the possibility of a custom made exhaust system for the 500? There is a guy in New Brunswick, Canada who had a system made to mimic the stocker, with different mufflers etc.. I have fired him a message asking who did and some contact info. I'll advise.

Check it here http://www.nbriders.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=28499.

Made of T304 stainless....

I mean, could a performance automotive exhaust shop that does custom work be able to at least theoretically, make a custom header and collector box with flanges to accept current slip ons if they had the originals for sizing etc?

Me wonders.....I must look into this. Or learn how to weld better. And bend pipe.

Chris

 

Exhaust

Chris,

Check E-Bay listing http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hond...ryZ35596QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

"Honda VF500F Interceptor NOS Supertrapp Mufflers 84-85".
I'm running the Supertrapps on my 86 & it sounds / runs great.


Dave,

p.s. as for building an exhaust system, I work at a fairly well equiped automotive / exhaust shop & it would be REALLY difficult (read expensive) to
build a system (the bends are just too tight for most (non-mandrel) bending machines.

 

Dave,

Thanks for the link.

I figured as much for the exhaust beiung custom made. I contacted Lee Hindle and he said about the same. They dont make a system anymore and won't do custom work..

I'll be bidding on those Trapps.

Thanks,

Chris

 

Exhaust

Chris,

no problem, good luck on the bidding.

keep the shiny side up
Dave

 

Here are some suggestions:

- Your local dealer can always beat online places - just ask.

- Do not add air to the forks. The springs are enough and air only makes things worse. If you find that it bottoms out easily then add fluid in 10mm increments.

- Sorry, no aftermarket exhaust anymore!

Good luck and let me know if you need anything else.

 

In an attempt to remove and blast/paint the collector, I have realized that rust can sometime be stronger than a mere human.

Got the entire system off except the rear headers and collector.

For some reason, I could not get the rear headers released from the collector.....not a can of WD40, Not release-all, not a hammer and wooden dowel. Nada. (My wife thought this very humourous)

Some serious expletives were launched during this removal attempt....I'll keep it PG.

Well if nothing else I fond out that the collector is in great shape, albeit with some light surface rust. I'll attempt again later.....maybe some more soak time.

Any tricks to remove those rear headers from the collector?? Besides a 40lb sledge?

Chris

 

Exhaust

Chris,

I'm not sure how far you got with taking the exhaust off, but those goofy little 2 bolt clamps that Honda used have a locking tab that prevents the pipe from coming apart unless you remove them completely. (ie. bend the little buggers out of the way). Hope this helps

Dave

 

Dave,

Well well well.....That might just explain why the rear headers wouldn't come off the collector. Be damned if I can reach in there and bend those clamps though.