Rain Bike Build - VF750F

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by Captain 80s, Jun 8, 2013.

  1. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    1984 VF750F
    IMG_2039.jpg
    I got 4 750's (well... one 700) some years back for free and I've decided to finally go through one and build a rain bike. 2 750's and the one 700 were pretty much complete. The 1984 750 (pictured) did not have bodywork, gauges, radiators or exhaust after a crash. So I am going to build 2 bikes out of the 4. I've heard the 2 750's and the 700 run before I got them and they all sounded great. I wasn't sure of the status of this engine, so I hung a fuel cell and plugged in some switches to see if it would pop off. It did... instantly. So I threw an exhaust and radiators off of one the 750's I disassembled, and she sounded great! Bonus. Not sure of the exact mileage, but looking at the original sprockets and stuff like footpeg rubbers, I'd put it at about 12-15K.

    I tore it back down for some cleaning and painting of brackets and shit and to pull the valve covers to hopefully see something worth checking the valve lash on. [Fingers crossed]. I do have back up engines, but boy would it be nice if it looks ok. Sure sounded good. No knocks, rattles or chain noise.

    I've got a pretty nice complete set of Red/White 1983 bodywork, couple different choices for clip-ons (pictured are some Magura, we'll see if they play nice with stock bodywork) and these...
    IMG_2046.jpg
    I've never seen another set. I'm sure they are out there, I've just never seen em.

    She is going to get some perfect condition VF1000F mufflers. Same mounting points, just a little longer out back.

    It should be pretty nice, not perfect, but one I don't mind going out on if the weather looks iffy and I get caught in the rain. I'll post some pics as I make progress.
     
  2. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Some progress. Covers off for cam inspection. Initially very happy, super clean inside. One intake cam lobe has a little pitting. No galling on the cam or rocker. For now I am going to continue with the build and take care of it in the future. Maybe go through one of the other motors and just do a swap.

    So I spent some time at the blaster and painted some covers and brackets.
    IMG_2054.jpg
    Not my best work, rushed it a little, but they are done and will look just fine when everything is bolted up. Crankcase covers came out pretty good. Battery box is also blasted and painted.
     
  3. Belgarion

    Belgarion New Member

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    Dude you just do this all day every day, don't you?
     
  4. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    OK... little more progress. Opened the carbs. This is what they looked like right out of the bike and opened up. Pretty damn good. Even the float bowl o-rings are still perfect and raised up out of the groove. Nice. No money here.
    IMG_2058.jpg
    Radiators, shrouds and motors all cleaned, prepped, painted and ready to assemble and install. Done with that shit.
    IMG_2056.jpg
    Tapered steering bearings sourced from a parts bike are all cleaned and ready to grease and install. Rear shock got a quick prep and paint just because it was hanging right there by two bolts and begging for it.
    IMG_2059.jpg
    The damn bike keeps getting smaller on the lift, but after checking the valves, some serious headway can be made. Still need to prep the wheels for paint and rebuild the forks. I already have the seals and washers. I think the bushings will be fine considering the mileage (fingers crossed).
     
  5. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Nice pictures!!! Thanks for sharing.
     
  6. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Little more progress... Valves adjusted and painted engine covers installed. Wheels and discs painted. Front forks painted and rebuilt. Carbs cleaned and installed (painted pitted slide caps black).
    IMG_2088.jpg IMG_2089.jpg
    Next few bits should go pretty quick. Cooling system refurbished and ready to install. Everything that goes in the center of the bike is clean and ready to go back in. Still need to blast and paint the exhaust collector, footpegs and pedals.
     
  7. hopit88

    hopit88 New Member

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    Why is this "rain bike" quickly becoming awesome? This "only ride it if the weather's iffy" bike is looking fantastic. Can't wait for the rest.
     
  8. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Spent some more hours this long weekend. Still need to go through the brakes and clutch systems. Should have done it sooner, but really didn't feel like it. Wanted to make some progress on assembly. Full rear fender for now, working on a smaller version. Blacked out the silver bezel around the gauges like the 1000F. Stock bars for now, wanted to mount up the switch assemblies to check everything out. We'll see what bars the stock upper will allow. Need to clean the chain and sprockets. Looks like I'll be ordering tires pretty soon. 1000F mufflers mounted up fine.
    IMG_2099.jpg IMG_2101.jpg
     
  9. Bryan88

    Bryan88 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Some people are just perfectionists, they can't help themselves. Great work man!
     
  10. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Thanks! It's coming out pretty nice. Nothing crazy, just a nice clean Interceptor. I do have to keep reminding myself, "You're not doing a restoration." But I definitely am a freak about things. It's just hard to put things back on a bike without making it look nicer.
     
  11. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Ran it last night for a good while. Perfect. No knocks, ticks or cam chain tensioner noises. Fans eventually cycled on and off. Smoked for a bit then ran clear. Not bad for not running in over 20 years. Revved up perfectly and settled down to idle. No hang up on the way down. So... pretty stoked. Time to order tires it looks like. Right now I'm at about $120 (50 of which were just the L and R crankcase cover gaskets!)
     
  12. mpadgett88

    mpadgett88 New Member

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    man makes me wanna tear mine down, clean, rebuild and paint everything
     
  13. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Haven't been able to really work on it for weeks, Summer stuff. Installed tires, assembled brakes, finished cleaning out tank, installed seat cover, installed turn signals. Runs and rides great. Pulls really strong and the 1000F mufflers sound good. Couple small things still, like the seat key latch and find a clutch lever that will activate the switch on the m/c. Need to re bleed the front brakes I think. Under $500 for what you see.
    IMAG0217.jpg
     
  14. Belgarion

    Belgarion New Member

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    Unbelievable. Good work man. :crazy:
     
  15. hopit88

    hopit88 New Member

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    Don't you dare ride that thing in the rain!

    Looks fantastic. Wish I still had my red one.
     
  16. Bryan88

    Bryan88 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Well done again, it looks great. Bet you spend 3 hours cleaning it after it's first ride in the rain :biggrin:
     
  17. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Installed the lowers. They're pretty cool. Didn't know that they integrated with the stock chin cowl.
    IMAG0339.jpg
    IMAG0340.jpg
     
  18. 74ullc

    74ullc New Member

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    I know this thread is almost a year old, but just wondering if the bike is finished and how it turned out? Looks great in the pics! I like those clip ons!

    What media did you use to blast the radiators? I have a full size econoline cabinet with crushed glass, glass beads, sand, garnet and baking soda in my media collection. I would like to make mine look that good too! Are you using a rattle can for painting?
     
  19. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Thank you!

    I used walnut shell for the media and PJ1 paint out of a can, satin case paint on the rad and epoxy gloss on the covers and brackets. I've recently used VHT epoxy paint, and I like it as well.

    Had to put the stock bars back on. The clip-ons just didn't jive with the stock footpeg locations. It felt really good in the shop and out on the road at first, but it just felt wrong after a little while. The same clipons on my 500 with stock pegs feels perfect. Oh well. And the lowers need vents on the trailing edges, there's just no where for the hot air to go except to absolutely cook the seat. I'll put some mesh on the inside of the openings like the VF1000R side panels. So for now, the lowers are off. Here's how she sits now. It handles really good with the increased ride height and new tires.
    IMAG0898[1].jpg
     
  20. 74ullc

    74ullc New Member

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    Cool man! Thanks for the update and paint info. I've been meaning to add some walnut shell to my media collection.

    Bike looks good, I see its out in the rain. :courage:
     
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