VFKr rebuild begins today

Hi all. Today marks the start of what will be a complete restoration of my just purchased 1984 VF1000r. I hope to be able to update this post regularly with the latest work being undertaken, and add photos along the way. I hope that what I encounter and overcome might be of assistance to others, as some of the other topics on the forum have already done for me. I have added a couple of photos of the bike as it is now. . Will post again soon with details of the strip down , and what surprises I may find. Cheers. Simon.

 

Nice. I can't wait to see the progress and the final result. I have an '86 R that I put back to showroom condition a few years ago now, but it did not need nearly the work that yours will need. Mine really only need a face lift. If I'm not mistaken, the '84 non-US model has the dual headlight. Welcome to the forum.

 

Glad to see you Saving an Ole-Girl Like That!
I Subbed to the thread, so I can Keep up with the Build.

Good Tymes & Good-Luck!

 

Looks like you might be spending a few days cleaning out the garage first!!!




I hope the parts will be cheap and available, the wiring glitchs obvious and the paint shiney the first coat!



Sub'd!

 

woo hooo git r dun brotha

 

Hi all,

Got the workshop sorted today and started to strip the old girl down.

Not too many surprises at this stage.

Will need to source the odd bolt etc as I go along.

Cheers Simon

 

It actually doesn't look that bad afterall. I bet that even after you put some elbow grease into it, it'll look even better. When I did mine, I replaced just about all of the chrome bolts for the bodywork and they were all still available. I'm assuming that it will be painted with the RWB color scheme.

 

Not a lot left to come off the frame now. I should be able to get to a bare frame by the end of this weekend, and then the real work begins. Restoration of all the individual parts. Can't wait.

 

An 84 model, very nice!

 

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone can tell me about the coolant hoses connected to the left side lower frame. I have seen this mentioned on forums, but looking at other vf1r's I have noticed that they have a full rubber hose fitted. Was this something Honda did to certain year models? My frame and engine numbers match and are within the Australian delivered number range and my parts book has the frame part with hose connectors. Any info would be appretiated. Cheers Simon

 

Thought I would add some of my last resto, a 1981 Suzuki Katana 1100 SXZ

 

yeah as far as yours goes that coolant hose through the frame is normal its just that year though that done it in the r's i personally havnt come across a 84 r up here in the states but have seen them on my travels abroad. back when i was at the homeland i seen 2 of them and myjaw about dropped because i did not know they made them at all that year. whats the last four of your vin if you dont mind me askin just curious the numbers have been mixed but this year of the rs are very limited.

 

Hey Orion. Mine is one of the very early ones. Last four digits are 1024. And the build date is April 1984. Cheers TassyVF1000r

 

Hi all,

Just a quick update.
Engine is finally out of the frame.
Not an easy task with limited tools.
Thanks to TassieDevil (Motorcyclist Cafe) for all your help.
I couldn't have got that lump of engine out of the frame by myself.

Now the real work begins.

 

Tell you a trick on engine removal and install. Get a nice soft pad lay it on the left side of the bike then unbolt all the mounts on the left including removing the frame section then just lay that beast on its left and unbolt the right mounts. Then just pick the frame up and then there lays the motor. And just reverse the process for install. Works on all early model v4s. And a rather fast process that hurts the back less. Thanks for the updates man comin along great.

 

Hi all, I hope that this is not a stupid question, I am having trouble freeing up the left hand swingarm bolt.Just wondering if this is a normal thread, or is it a Honda querky left hand thread. Any info appreciated prior to me getting some heavy duty tools onto it and potentially stripping the thread. Cheers

 

the ones onmy bikes are normal thread but its hard to say on yours the more i look at your pics there are a ton of lil subtle differences, i like them side covers though the ones that are solid on my bikes they are made of mesh i wonder if i could get ahold of some similar to teh ones likeyou have i think it cleans up the lines on the bike a lil bit looks good.

when i removed the swingarm from the parts bike frame it was pretty tough but i had to use pb blaster and let it soak a bit had a hard time getting that one loose too my get some wd.40 or my favorite pb blaster and soak it for a bit then wrench on it a lil bit . i also used a small butterfly impact on mine that prolly helped a lot its just a small 3/8" drive butterfly impact i got from harbor freight about 20 years ago idk if you can get ne thing similar over there..

 

Thanks Orion, I have been working on the bolt today, but no luck. It is very seized. Tried undoing with socket wrench with a 5 foot extension to get more purchase. Now the bolt will move back and forth about 3mm which is not good. It would be better if it was stuck firm, or better still, undone. Trying to work out my next course of action. Any advise appreciated. Cheers. Simon

 

Added a few photos, just in case someone sees it and thinks there is something dodgy.
These 3 are of the stuck bolt.

And this is the other side, which is loose.

 

Wow, what a pain. I'd keep after the one that's loose. Alternate heat and penetrating fluid. It make take 20 cycles of that or more but stay with it. At least you can get at the right side threads easily with the fluid. Once you can get that one free, leave it in to work on the other side to keep the arm straight.
The left side threads are at the head of the bolt. Again get as much heat and penetrating fluid as you can. Some occasional whacks with a hammer won't hurt either. Those bolts are pretty stout so I wouldn't worry too much about snapping one. Hang in there, it may take awhile but eventually they'll give up.