Trying to get my '85 vf700f in decent shape and wanted to fix a transmission issue I noticed when I bought the bike. When sitting I can shift through 3rd gear but when I try to go from 3rd to 4th it is like I hit a wall and it will not get into 4th. This depends on the position the bike is in. For example I roll the bike into the center of my garage and now I have trouble shifting into 3rd. I suspected bent shift forks and according to the manual that requires splitting the cases. I disassembled the clutch and shift linkage assemblies and everything looks fine. Thoughts?? Thanks, Lucas
Yep split cases and stuff. Before you go to all that trouble you may want to see if you can get any trans parts first. Some of the trans parts have been discontinued for awhile for the first gen. Of coarse they are the ones that everybody needs. May have to find another engine with good trans for parts. If it's worth it to you. Or just take it apart and hope it's something simple and fixable.
Luckily I have a spare engine that is half taken apart anyway. The transmission on that should be fine so hopefully if I need spare parts I am all taken care of. Is there any reference on here for splitting the cases? This seems like such a daunting task to me...
Do you have a factory manual? I have one on my pc. It's a large (37mb) PDF format. To large for most e-mail systems. I could put it on a site and you could download from there. I'm not big on that procedure and really don't have time to investigate it now. But if you or anybody can come up with one let me know. I'd be glad to get it on the net someplace for others to use. Not much on first gens that way. Back to the point. A factory manual would be very helpful.
I believe the manual I got with the bike is the factory manual (it references all the Honda specialty tools and part numbers). I also have a Clymer. Will take a look tomorrow. Thanks.
So I successfully got the heads off and cases split. Only took me a couple hours and everything came apart beautifully. Completely different experience from when I did it w/ the engine off my '84! Anyway, at first glance the transmission, shift drum and shift forks all look fine! I have not examined everything else thoroughly and do not know where to begin to find the culprit of my shifting problems. Any thoughts? On a side note, now that I have the cases split are there any mods that might be helpful at this point of my rebuild? I already have the oil mod kit from Dave Dodge and was planning to do that before I put the engine back in. Anything else I can do while I have the engine out/apart?? Thanks!
I'm hoping it wasn't something to do with the clutch system and I just split the cases for no reason!! Can anyone help?
Nevermind. I guess I should have checked this before, but I reassembled the crankcase halves w/o all the bolts and shifted through the tranny using the shift cam and I got through all the gears successfully. I guess it is normal to not be able to shift through all gears when you are sitting at a standstill??
If the engine isn't turning and the rear wheel isn't turning, often gear engagement dogs don't line up, so you can't get a gear, and it's normal. Trying to force a shift when gears don't line up is a prime cause of bent shift forks. Easiest gear changes are done with rear wheel turning.
At least I got to see how the transmission works though I'm not sure it was worth it... Any suggestions on a crankcase sealant for when I put it all back together? Anything I can find at my local auto store or dealership? Also I'm guessing the best way to clean all my internal parts is a fresh engine oil bath?
Permatex makes a gasket that comes in a can (looks like cheez wiz) and it is by far the best sealant I have ever used. ASE certified master auto tech here, so you know where I'm coming from. Hondabond is also pretty darn good, but the gasket in a can allows you to lay a consistent bead very easily. You can get it at autoparts stores easily. http://www.permatex.com/products/Au...to_the_right_stuff_grey-one_minute_gasket.htm
EXACTLY....You took apart the clutch and engine for no reason. You should have asked FIRST. A sad story. I guess that is the end of that motorcycle. You did not even bother to tell us how many miles were on the bike. You cannot just put the cylinders and rings back together without honing the cylinder walls, or it will smoke like crazy. It would be best to hone the cylinders and put in new rings. Measure them first. You are in way over your head. But I give you credit for learning how to take apart an engine.
You can NOT use automotive gasket sealers on a motorcycle engine case. You will notice that there is NO paper gasket between the engine case halves. There IS a reason. Unlike a car the passages in the engine are much smaller and can get easily clogged. The engine is more precision. You need to get GASKACINCH gasket sealer at a motorcycle shop. It is made so that if you have any excess that it sticks together. It is also thin enough. It is not just about brands. This gasket sealer is made for motorcycle engines and has been in use since the first Hondas were imported into the United States.
If you look at the first post I described what I was experiencing was at a standstill, not while riding. I researched other posts and came to the conclusion that a bent shift fork might be a possibility as clutch and everything else looked fine. In my own ignorance I was wrong but now I know for next time so lesson lived lesson learned. Why is it the end of the bike? The engine has 5600 miles. Everything came apart fine, I did not pry between the crankcases to separate them and I don't think the overall integrity of the cases has been compromised from splitting them. I did not touch cylinders or rings, only separated the cases and inspected the transmission. If you think the only way to not ruin this engine is to take it to a shop to have it professionally put back together I will consider it. Thanks for the input.
Well it will be the end of the bike if not put back together carefully. Thats all. You say you did not touch the cylinders or the rings. I forgot that this rare engine design has cases that split horizontally not verticallly. Sorry. Just make sure that when you put the cases back together that you use the GASKACINCH motorcycle engine case sealer. DO not use a generic auto engine gasket sealer. Put a light coating on each case half and let dry. Then push the two case halves back together. BTW....If there is a bent shifting fork it usually looks blue or brown and burned because the operator has been pushing on it too hard. You will notice that on one side of some gears that there are four cylindrical pegs sticking out of the side of the gear. These small cylindrical pegs(dogs) fit into corresponding holes on the gear next to it. That is why the engine must be running and the back wheel rolling so that the 4 dogs can line up with the 4 holes. A motorcycle does not have syncros like a car transmission. Hope they never do either. Good luck with your reassembly. Maybe you will end up being a really good mechanic.
