The restoration has begun... Now the questions!

[Salvo]

I'll let you guys in on the secret if you'll help me figure out what to do about my rotor bolt problem! I had ordered one "F" model bolt to see if it was close to the "R" model and maybe just longer like the parts listings show, 8x57 (F) vs. 8x32 (R) but when I picked it up today at the dealer, wrong..... Not even close! So, my project is back on hold until I get this dilemma figured out! Hey Seb, you've got quite the project going... if you were in my shoes what would you do for a remedy? I have given thought to using an allen bolt with a flat washer and a bushing underneath to kind of mimic the bolt head "area" and still fit the spacer that actually sandwiches into the rotor between the rotor bolt head and wave washer/rim... I can draw a sketch of what I'd like to do if it doesn't make sense here. Any thoughts? Please??? Oh yeah, the secret number for the paint is Krylon Industrial 1765 Gold over a coat of SEM epoxy primer, the a couple coats of Krylon Industrial 01000 Gloss clear. I'm not a big fan of aerosols but I will use them occasionally for detail painting. Everything else gets a uerathane with hardner for durability. I will confess that the paint for the bodywork on this project will be AutoAir. It is waterbased and will be cleared with a uerathane. The bike in my avatar was sprayed with the AutoAir colors, they are super easy to spray and really "pop" in the sunlight! Don't forget your ideas for the bolt issue....! :)

[Sebspeed]

Why exactly do you need new bolts? Do you still have the old ones? If they only have a little rust pitting, you can gently wire wheel them to make them look new again. Follow up with a little polish & you're good to go. If the manual says to use new, don't worry about it. They say that for all models!!

[Salvo]

Every one of my bolts broke off when I removed them... I actually thought for a moment that they were "breakaways"! I have since found that, that is not the case... In my last order from Motogrid they had been able to get me 3 bolts, so I assume these were the last ones in the Honda warehouses... I snapped a couple of pics to show the difference between the "F" model and the "R" model, on the microfiche they look similar and show that the "F" model is longer, so I hoped that I could get some of them and just cut them down to size... Wrong, they were totally different. I have included a sketch of what I am proposing to do and wanted to get your guys' opinion? I just want to be safe however I can get it fixed... I spent several hours last night scouring the net and found nothing close to a replacement. In my sketch, I will find or make a bushing to mimic the size of the shank on the factory bolt so that it will fit onto the spacer just as tight as the factory bolt... What do you guys think?

[Sebspeed]

Or you could dig around on the forum here, and over at VFRDiscussion.com, and see if anyone has spare bolts!

[supertex]

I've seen bolts very similar to that at Ace hardware. Whenever I need something just a bit off that's where I go. They even have an automotive bolt section.

[deepdish]

slick50?????????????????????????????

[Salvo]

Slick50? What does Slick50 have to do with my bolt dilemma? Just curious...

[Salvo]

Hey guys! Wow, it has been quite the summer down here... I had hoped to get back into the garage by now but several things had come up. It is finally getting to a decent temperature now and I should be able to start making things happen again.... First on the list is color on the rims and then tires... afterwards I should be able to start getting the frame and forks back together. Hopefully progress pics soon!

[safetypro10]

OK, 12 8mm x 32 fine (?) thread pan head ss allen bolts, with 12 ss washers and 12 8mm x 12mm (?) ss bushings? I'll go to my favorite hardware store and see what I can build. Let me know some specs on the bolt and the bushings.

Larry

[mrich12000]

Guess I should reread My own message's

sent a pm to you today. Check out the part number and fishe

[monkeymunch]

nice looking bike. About to start my build, luckily I have a full parts bike. Did you ever get your rotor bolts? you had someone offer you some on page 3 half way down.

[Salvo]

About the rotor bolts... I should have updated you guys on this! Yes, I have found factory bolts. I found them from a guy on Ebay... He was actually selling an engine so I asked what parts he had available... I got lucky on the bolts... Unfortunately the other items I picked up from him I got scammed on, my first scam that I have had to deal with on Ebay! He had an upper fairing that "looked" like it was better than mine, so he sent me some more pics of the supposed damage... when I got the fairing the damage that was present was nowhere even close to what he described to me and had shown in the pics he sent me... I had even asked him if there were 4 mounting points for the headlight surround and he told me "yes", well, there were 2... the fairing was for an '86 not an '85 which is what I have... The damage was too great to fix! $150.00 right into the trashcan! Then......... there was the gauge cluster. I asked what kind of condition the foam surround was in and he said that it was in great shape.... "OK, send it my way...." and it turns out to have been painted with a gloss black and full of cracks in the paint... it looked pathetic! I can't put that crap on something that I intend to "show" when the project is finished!

BTW..... This same fella still has a lower fairing up on Ebay, it is silver in color and I believe the background color in the ad picture is blue... He is from wisconsin if I remember correctly..... You might want to steer clear of him!

But the rotor bolts..... Luckily, they were fine!

[monkeymunch]

you still need any plastics? I have 2 sets of 85 plastics top and bottom and I am biulding an 86 that is complete. they both need work pm your email if you want pics. I'm not sure of how much I want to let go of before I am sure I dont need the parts but I know Im biulding an 86. one set is primer grey the other stock RWB like I said there rough. If my 86 ever gets here I can start on mine all I can do now is get the garage clean and build a table.

[Salvo]

I have a lower that is almost like new... as for my upper, it needs work, I'm not sure how bad yours is... I'll try to snap a pic today or tomorrow and post it up... Mine isn't all that bad, the worst is around the mirror holes if I remember correctly.... I think there is a quarter sized hole in the side of the fairing as well, other than that just some scratches that need glazed over... Thanks for offering to help!

[monkeymunch]

mine is alot worse than yours by the sounds of it. good luck.

[duB]

It's a chance you got the bolts. I am not sure the arrangement you planned with socket bolts would have cleared the caliper bracket.
duB

[Salvo]

I guess I did luck out then as I hadn't even considered that yet... Good call, duB!

[vfrf2]

I just noticed this thread. Looks like a nice project...keep it up.

[cheyanne9]

I too just noticed this thread. What a project… great story, good pictures and great help from a good bunch of guys. That’s neat to watch a project evolve.

[Salvo]

Ok, things are starting to happen again, FINALLY! I went yesterday and picked up my eurathane paint for the rims and fork tubes, I plan on shooting them next sunday morning. I have to work 6 days a week up until the beginning of the year so I'll have to squeeze project time in there somewhere... It figures, now that the weather turns nice and I have to put in extra hours at work... I shouldn't bitch, it's work!

I also picked up "fiberglass" paint stripper and will start stripping the bodywork sometime this week after work... I was out in the garage tonight getting things ready for that task.

I'm sending an email tonight to Dave Dodge to see if his move to Az has been completed and whether or not he is accepting work again... If so, I hope to be delivering my engine up to him shortly for machining. I'll keep you posted on that.

Ok guys, hang in there, the ball is starting to roll again!

[Salvo]

Well Guys, I finally was able to get out and get some work done, yesterday after work I was able to spray the wheels, fork tubes and the metal cage/ bodywork frame that surrounds the main frame... I got in touch with Dave Dodge, I need to tear down the engine and start my inspection internally to see what I'm gonna have to replace... If any of you have some insight's as to what I should keep an eye out for please feel free to chime in! I hope to start on the bodywork soon... 'Til next time!

[Salvo]

I was out in the garage yesterday and this afternoon doing some plating work on my "used" front rotor bolts that I picked up off of Ebay... I beadblasted them first and cleaned 'em up... Then got out my new Eastwood Tin/Zinc plating system and went to town...

Here they are fresh out of the beadblaster...



Here is the plater in progress, about 5min. is all that is required on this particular size bolt...



They look kind of "pasty" when they come out of the rinse... You can see the difference between one that is beadblasted and one that is fresh out of the rinse... The plated one is on the left...



Then you polish them out with some "Autosol" polish and Walaah!!! Fresh looking bolts that are every bit as nice as factory new... In fact, it might be hard to see here but, the refurbished bolts actually look a little nicer than the factory new ones! Plated one is on the left...




I started to disassemble the engine but haven't got very far yet, will keep you updated... 'til next time! :)

[Salvo]

I removed my cylinder heads today and found a couple of sore spots... Inside the cylinders and on the pistons, I expect to find some carbon buildup and such but can anyone out there tell me what they think of the buildup that is caked on the pistons, it looks to be about an equal amount on all 4 pistons, I am curious about the firing condition though... maybe... As I have never restored a bike to this degree before let alone rebuilt a "complete" motorcycle engine, what do you guys make of this pic? The cylinder walls are, IMO, remarkable as far as cylinder wear and scratches are concerned... I wish some of my previous automotive ventures were as nice as these.



I also found that the front cylinder, left rocker arm was "worn" considerably...




That sucks! :(

In looking at all the cam lobes, I found that there were 3 lobes that had some gouges, here is the worst one...



I knew I would find some stuff that disturbed me given the condition in which the bike seemed to have been cared for... I have to send Dave Dodge an email in a couple nights once I get the rest of the engine apart and we'll go from there... I have a couple of extra heads that should be in better shape, we'll see. Any opinions are appreciated! :)

[matt1986vf500f]

the oiling monster strikes again!

[Salvo]

Does anyone know where to get a hold of or buy "factory" tools? I'm tearing down the engine and have hit some snags... I need tool #07916-4220000, lock nut wrench, for removing the locknut on the clutch shaft. If I can't get ahold of the tools, I guess I'll have to check with the local Honda dealer and see if they still have the tools for these models and have them remove them for me.... Thanks for any help!

[invisible cities]

Does anyone know where to get a hold of or buy "factory" tools? I'm tearing down the engine and have hit some snags... I need tool #07916-4220000, lock nut wrench, for removing the locknut on the clutch shaft. If I can't get ahold of the tools, I guess I'll have to check with the local Honda dealer and see if they still have the tools for these models and have them remove them for me.... Thanks for any help!

I have had good success with Service Honda:

Service Honda Home of the CR500AF 500AF 500AFX Junior-X - Honda Motorcycle Parts

If they aren't able to source the OEM part or tool my next go to for NLA items is David Silver Spares located in the UK:

David Silver Spares - HOME

Hope this is of help!

[mrich12000]

Shadbolt Cams, Goggle them Super service Jamie approved, Great price located in Canada B.C also they may do the cam followers as well. That tool the member is available from,
Honda Motorcycle Parts, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha Motorcycle Parts - ATV, Classic Bike, Dirt Bike Parts

[Salvo]

Thanks mrich! I checked and there it was... Impressive! Thanks again! :)

[mrich12000]

Salvo, That company is great the shipping is excellent as well. Just boght a Venture Royal,
In thinking of selling the VF1000, don't mean to thead shift .1,000.00 Canadian if anyone is interested.. Mike. Lots of spares..

[Salvo]

I got the forks rebuilt today, sorry, no pics... our main computer is getting rebuilt and I'm on our little laptop right now.....

I read somewhere on here that the factory manual is NOT correct for following the instructions on filling the tubes with oil... Is this true? If so, can someone please fill me in on the correct procedure?! I would appreciate it greatly!!!

I am supposed to take the engine up to Dave Dodge's sometime around the end of the month to start the rebuild on it... I'm seeing $$$' sign's going out the window!!! It should be well worth it though and I can't wait to get it back! :)

Maybe Santa will bring me my new tires and I will be able to get the 'ol girl back up on her feet soon... I'll feel much better once it is up on the build table rather than scattered all over the place in various boxes.....! I installed the new wheel bearings a couple of days ago and have been cleaning and polishing bolts/nuts, keeping busy taking care of the odds and ends needed to carry the project forward.

Once again, I would appreciate any info on filling the fork tubes!! :)