is this common for the VF700? rear headgasket blown

I just picked up an 84 VF700 with what appears to be a blown headgasket on ther rear cylinders, from what I can tell.

definitely headgasket, there was plentiful coolant in the oil. along with food dye from the last owner trying to diagnose it.

is it common? or is there some legit reason? freak occurrence?

 

Sure, it could happen, could be a crack in the block too until you find out.

 

well, I'm hoping its just a headgasket. otherwise I'm sourcing another engine.

 

Get another problematical engine ??? Any engine you might get is also failure-prone.

Just get a different bike, Bunkie, or face recurrent problems with that one.

 

honestly, I dont want to be told to get another bike, thats just not happening. I simply want answers, IS this a common problem? yes or no?

 

dood i hate to say it like this but if you dont have anything nice to say then plz leave there are alot of us in here that are die hard ole school vfr owners and i am sorry you dont like them but please come on dude b a lil positive for once... or just stfu..................................!!!...!!!

 

its a common problem on any engine if not taken care of properly.... all 4 of my vfr's not a mechanical problem and have owned them all since new. the only exception is my 86 vf1000r which was caused by my dumas brother butchering the bike when i had pitty on him and let him borrow it for a month b4 that it was pristine.....

 

Thank you! I love my old bikes and tinkering so much more than the new stuff. half the new ones, even as a mechanic, I struggle with. the old bikes, I LOVE.

negativity never helps me get anywhere, however it does anger me.

 

Blown head gasket

Usually an engine gets a blown head gasket by the engine overheating and the aluminum heads warping. Perhaps that's what happened at some time prior to you acquiring the bike?

 

My next project is the same. Used an aftermarket head gasket......my bad but was on hand. I knew better but needed to relearn a lesson. I am banning all gen 1's from my life after this.......done my time and need suffer no longer.......love them but am done.......to brutal of bullshit to deal any more......Brother Squirrel and I are on the same page. Sorry.

 

I dont know what exactly happened because I got the bike like this, being I enjoy projects. however the motor has indeed had a blown headgasket for some time, as evidenced by the left rear cylinder which appears beat.

I may just go for a new engine. I'm pretty sure I can swap covers and gearboxes from this into a magna case, unless theres some reason I cannot.

 

Let us know how it works out, ok?

Good luck with your project bike Bob!!

 

yeah but you go about it differently. ur not a douchebag about it.. and thank you for that

 

from what I found online, the original part is superceded by a new head gasket part number. I suspect that had a lot to do with it. its likely since it isnt pricey, I'll simply do the front as well for good measure.

 

Get the Honda gaskets like Toe said but I have to agree with him, move up to at least a gen2 if you want less problems to deal with.
Unless you don't mind the work and don't use it as your only bike by all means, wrench on.

 

OEM gaskets arent even a debate for me, I wont use anything else cause I dont like unknown quality.

luckily, it only costs me for parts being I work on my own vehicles, because I REFUSE to let someone else do so. right now the bike is my only vehicle(besides a minivan getting 10mpg)

 

I could be wrong, but I believe the Gen2 engines will fit straight into a Gen1 frame. I personally prefer the look of the Gen1 bikes over Gen2, so I'm considering trying this with my Gen1. The better looking Gen1 with the reliability of the Gen2.

**EDIT** holy crapola, that's a lot of gens....

 

The two engines are VERY different.

 

Hmmm.... according to Mr Daugherty, the Gen2 engines are interchangeable with Gen1 frames... Posts 16-18 on this thread - http://vfrworld.com/forums/1st-2nd-generation-1983-1989/34565-vf700f-mods-tuning.html