Jim's $400.00 1986 VF500F

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by Jim McCulloch, Jun 25, 2019.

  1. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    isnt it seafoam they say to help free the engine up ?> may be worth a punt !
     
  2. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Yeah, there are instructions about adding some to your oil. And I would reserve judgement until you have it fully road worthy and get a good, long ride on her where it's at operating temperature and under some loads.
     
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  3. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    gotta admire his dogged optimism in the face of bad news and 100psi compression. :toiletclaw:

    nice resto job, and all it needs now is a new engine, which is why it was sold for only $400. :(
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 8, 2019
  4. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    If the previous owner had put oil in the exhaust prior to storage this can take ages to burn off. When I did this I had to go out at night to burn it off. Not my finest environmental achievement. So yeah, good long run and thrash the engine good and hard.
     
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  5. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    In my experience, nothing works as good as marvel mystery oil and a sound thrashing. If it's going to work at all.
     
  6. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Yep, used it before, had a Mazda RX7 and it unstuck the apex seals like a miracle. I still have some on the shelf might give it a try. My only question is what it may do to the clutch plates? First the bike gets a good thrashing on the road then I will go from there.
     
  7. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    LOL thanks! You have no idea the Don Quixote projects I have taken on. I have always finished them however. Totally knew this was a crap shoot when I bought it. That being said looking every night on EbAy for potential donor engines. This challenge takes my mind off work so it is all good!
     
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  8. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    I have heard this but have never used the stuff. May try it as a science project if the Seafoam does not work.
     
  9. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Yeah, I went out and started it tonight (did not get a chance to ride it this morning, work got in the way again) and it fires up instantly. It does not start smoking until it runs for about 5 minutes or so. Valve guide seals also bad? I am sure this lovely lady sat for a least 10 years since running. It was last registered in 2007 and I swear I saw it on Craigslist for sale a few years back in the same condition. I was going to buy it but it did not have a fuel tank and I was in the middle of restoring a 2000 VFR800FI (which I wish I never sold)
     
  10. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Well it could still be burning oil off in the exhaust as it takes about 5 minutes for it to heat up.
    Smoke under power (rings) or smoke on the over run (valve guides)? If it smokes all the time then I would think it could still be burning something off.
     
  11. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Weekend's work...Took a spin and she tracked straight as an arrow. No issues with the handling. That is good because you never know what these old timers have been through. Decided to go with the Seafoam in the sump because I am still seeing smoke which I am sure is bad rings at this point


    Had some left from the last project and it's just enough.
    IMG_9449.JPG
    View attachment 82279
     
  12. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Back assembled......

    IMG_20190809_155739.jpg

    Also started on the windscreen. Was in horrible shape after being outdoors in the sun for years. Started wet sanding with 2000 grit. Going to be some work involved with this one.

    IMG_9450.JPG
     
  13. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    rusty rotor, is the rear brake working ?

    have you located a set of new rings ?
     
  14. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Yes, I found a standard set in Chiba Japan for a great price. BUT, it is an unknown what pistons I even have in the engine. Crap they could be 0.10mm OS already for all I know. Going to go with the Seafoam first for shits and giggles to see what happens. Might as well do some Seafoam experiments while I am at it. Got a feeling it will be no bueno though.
     
  15. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Oh, and the rear rotor is not a Honda part from what I can tell. EbAy part that rusted. Brake does work, just have not been able to scrub off the rust as it is deep.
     
  16. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Pull the plugs and shoot some into each cylinder, let it sit, crank it, let it sit. The more times you do it, the better chances you have. You may add during the process, just don't fill the cylinder, lol. It does phenomenally well at loosening stuck rings, you just have to be patient and give it time to work. I don't see any reason why you couldn't use both in conjunction with each other.
     
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  17. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    That sounds like good advice. Really have noting lose at this point anyway. I will try this and report back.
     
  18. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

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    Well..........Seafoam did not work and it looks like the engine has to come out. Compression did not improve AT ALL and I am moving on. At least I did get to ride it around the block and it rides straight and true and everything works. Will start the overhaul this weekend. Parts seem to be available out of Japan. Hopefully the pistons are good and all it needs is rings and a hone job. Anyone has a engine laying around I have cash in hand!
     
  19. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Bummer and kinda surprising, but you did the due diligence. Good luck, it might snowball. Take some time and look for a donor motor/bike. Even a Magna VF500C.
     
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  20. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Yes, I agree. To find one worn out like that is unusual. Normally a valve lets go. VF500 engines seem to either go for decent mileage with few issues (with lots of TLC) or they explode. To find one genuinely worn out is rare IME. I do think a donor engine is a better idea if you can find one. Purchasing new parts gets extremely expensive very quickly.
     
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