Back from the dead

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by jeremyr62, Feb 13, 2018.

  1. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    When I got my really nice (and expensive) VF500F2 in 2011, a local bike dealer sold me a parts bike he had had stood in his yard for years. This was a half faired 1986 US import. He knew nothing about it so I just slowly took it apart and threw most of it away.

    Pictures of it when I first got it are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/dKoWSAJTCH5b7dbA2

    Anyway to cut a long story short, I decided to try the engine to see if it would work in a another VF500F I bought in Feb 2017. The engine in that one was toast with a rod knock.

    After quite a lot of cleaning, but no major internal surgery, the result is below. This was the second time I had run it and the engine was warm when I made the film. In my opinion it sounds OK. It was a cold day so I'm hoping most of what was coming out of the exhaust was water vapour and not oil smoke. Over the years I had put a load of oily stuff down the inlets to stop the valve stems corroding, so all that has to burn off too. I will try to ride it this weekend to see if it clears and has no nasty gremlins.

    Got to admire the internal combustion engine. Standing in a field for years in the weather, and with a bit of rudimentary cleaning, still runs.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/5BiLPKYeAiBx6Hg03
     
  2. Ghostrider.1127

    Ghostrider.1127 New Member

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    Amazing job!!! hope was not much rust in cylinders , and also gearbox bearing were not pitted
     
  3. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Internally it was OK. I can't remember if there was oil in it when I got it but the airbox was on and this stopped water getting into the engine. I did turn it over when I got it so I knew it wasn't seized. I stored the bike under a tarp outside for a year or two but I then took the engine out and stored in the dry. At this point I filled it right to the brim with cheap engine oil. It then stood for years and I cannibalised it for a few parts. I never really intended to see if it would run. I took the clutch cover off when I was cleaning it, and there was some light internal corrosion. One lucky thing I did was check all the steel coolant pipes in the Vee of the engine. These were completely blocked with gunk. I used a molasses/water mix to remove all the corrosion on the pipes and then painted them.
     
  4. Ghostrider.1127

    Ghostrider.1127 New Member

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    That´s was sure a good action!
     
  5. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Took it for ride. No big issues. Some oil and water leaks but I will wait to see if the new o rings do their job. Performance is on a par with my other two 86 engines so it appears I now have three functioning VF500 engines.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/QokUN5biGN9f3KL32
     
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  6. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    Good work getting a nice one going. That bike-as you first bought it-man, i wouldn't even let that fiflfy beast in my garage !
     
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