Where to start

Hi All, just picked up an 86 VRF and it has been parked up for a couple of years and I wnt to get it back on the road so get ready for a few questions if I may. First two simple questions after I walked around the bike this morning How do I check the oil and how do I get the seat off. Tank is rusty inside so that will need a good clean. Any other things I should look out for before attempting to start it?
Thanks for your help Norm

 

There is a dip stick in the clutch cover to check the oil level and you check it with the bike standing up and not on the side stand. The helmet lock turns clock wise and counter clock wise......counter clock wise for the helmet lock and counter for the seat.....I think.....been a while since I had the seat off. Side note.... the helmet lock has the key code printed on it and is best to remove that as it is a theft issue. Not the lock just the number. Clean the carbs, throw a new battery in it and ride.

 

New carb boots to.

 

Thanks Toe Cutter, best place for carb boots, Old Bike Barn?,
Thanks again

 

Ok now I have another question as I delve a little deeper into the bowels of this motor. Found 2 litres of water/rust in the tank. Fuel pump rusted up. No apparent water had got up into the carbs, lucky that they are higher than the pump which was off a Mitsubishi. From what I can see of this setup I should be able to gravity feed these CV carbs just so that I can get an idea if this is worth the effort. If water has got up into the valves it won't be worth continuing. What sort of pressure is the pump supposed to deliver to the carbs and will any electric pump be good enough?
Thanks again
Norm

 

Is the crankcase full of water and fuel, or is the oil level and contents correct?

If it were my bike i would ensure the oil and level were intact, pull the spark plugs and valve covers, inspect, then turn the engine manually through the access hole in the crankcase cover until oil is pumping out into the valve train--Then if you want to really save yourself time and trouble you would do a compression check while the plugs are out before trying to fire off the motor and waste time beating a dead horse.

Pull the tank off, open the air cleaner housing and inspect. Drizzle a few drops of fuel directly into the intake manifolds and you can determine if it is going to try to fire when you crank it over. If it tries to start then you know the electricals are working okay to generate sparks, and the compression is okay to fire. Then you just need to clean the carbs and sort out the fuel pump, new lines, etc.

Don't remove the plenum plate when pulling the carbs--pull the whole rack of 4 carbs attached together. Loosen the boots and the whole rack comes off together. Don't remove the plenum plate.

 

No you want to avoid old bike barn like the plague, a local honda dealer would be okay for these or try David Silver Spares.

I think a 2.5 psi fuel pump would suffice if you cannot find a replacement at a reasonable price, you will need a fuel pump on this model though.
Check like mentioned above that water did not migrate down to the engine and crankcase.

 

Thanks again for the replies, I have had the air cleaner off and it looks like no water got up into there fuel pump must have stopped it going further. Thanks for the tip on not removing the plenum plate. Local Honda dealers here need to be avoided like the plague I'm afraid. Couple of years ago I need a stator for a CB750F and they wanted over $500, Old Bike $125. David Silver gets a lot of mentions on the CB1100 Super Sport site. I have a remote fuel bottle so that should do I think as a gravity feed to the carbs to see if it is going to work. Thanks for the tips, let you know how I get on

 

Can't believe I let this go to this point......

 

Toe Cutter, I understand your dilemia but who wants to see an FVR with no seat, no tank, sidecovers and a scratched L/H side fairing but I will get some up for you when my son comes over

 

Also wouldn't hurt to remove the spark plugs and spray some Marvel Mystery Oil or other similar lubricant in there to lubricate the cylinders

Rollin

 

Ok so it fires up easily on the ezy start so I'll pull the carbs and see what I find. Thanks for the advice so far, but it ain't over yet :smile:

 

A cream kit for the tank might be worth a look too - google for availability, it stops rust and seals the tank...

 

You may also want to consider using electrolytic rust removal techniques which uses a conductive solution and electrical current to remove the rust. Google for more info.

Rollin

 

Tank has to be cleaned and treated for sure, I'll give it a dose of mollases for a week and see how it cleans up then treat it with POR15 Thanks for the heads up

 

Welcome and congrats on your find!

I would suggest sealing your fuel tank with something (I used a product called "Redkote" commonly used on tractors, etc) so that you get a good clean new tank to work with.

These bikes will seriously surprise you if the engine turns out to be in good shape. I was lucky enough to find a VERY cheap 86 and restored it for less than $400. Now I ride the stink out of it

Here's a peak into my project : http://vfrworld.com/forums/1st-2nd-generation-1983-1989/32268-great-find-86-vfr700.html

Keep at it i promise you will love it!

 

Motor sounds good for the few seconds that I can get it running each time, hopefully I'll get a chance to pull the cards tomorrow. Everybody keeps telling me how good they were/are and after Enfields I'm sure I'll be seriously surprised. Now off for a ride on my 82 CB750 because the sun is shining and we are in the middle of winter.

 

What's an FVR?:wave:

 

Sorry, typo haven't had a chance to pull the carbs yet:frown:

 

Ok thanks for all the ideas, got a chance yesterday to pull the carbs, one hell of a mess rustycrud everywhere. Big clean up in hot soapy water eventually got most of the bodies clean, stripped out the jets and cleaned them there was no way in a million years they could work. Put the carbs back on this morning and it fired straight up. Sounds nice. Now onto the bodywork which has been put down at probably 20kph and scratched on the left hand side but at least it isn't broken. Rear brake appears to be draging a bit so that will need attention. Any tips with this?
Cheers Norm