Valve adjust VF500F

Since the V4 is unfamiliar to me, I decided to recheck the valve adjustment on my new to me '85 VF500F before reinstalling the carb assembly to make sure that I didn't screw up the first time and noticed something odd ( to me). I checked according the the manual, set the piston at TDC, checked rockers. Out of curiousity, I rechecked the clearances with the heels of the cam lobes positioned at the rocker arm contact surfaces. While the exhaust rockers remained at .005, the intake rockers opened up to a loose .005 from the normal setting of .004 at TDC. An explanation will be greatly appreciated and I will have learned something new. Also, when adjusting the float level, is the measurement taken from the bowl gasket surface to the bottom of the float? The manual says to measure from the carb body to the float arm, I'm not sure how to interpret this. Thanks.

 

Look through the VFR library, Lots of info there. good luck . Also google Jamie, hope I spell your name right Jamie! Jamie Dority for Honda parts .He has an amazing amount of info for the 1st gen bikes..Mike.R..

 

Below is a scan from the '84 VF500F FSM regarding float levels.

The '84/'85 has a 6.2mm float height, the '86 has a 7.3mm float height.

 

Thanks ic, the graphic is easy to understand, unlike my Clymer manual.

 

Glad this is of help.

If I could suggest, head on over to eBay and pick up a used FSM - these are heads above the Clymer manual.

 

On the topic of adjusting valves here is a little light reading from a previous thread. The two feeler gauge method seems to be the choice of champions.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/1st-2nd-generation-1983-1989/30834-valve-clearances.html

 

I did find that thread, good stuff. I tried both the DD method and the two feeler, the latter worked best for me. I was happy to see that when one feeler was removed, the other did not loosen up which indicates to me that the rocker shafts are in good condition, would that be a valid observation?

 

I would tend to agree that this would indicate the rocker arm i.d. and rocker arm shaft o.d. dimensions are within spec.

 

Thanks. You guys have been terrific with your info and help, it is all much appreciated.

 

Great to see a VF500F being cared for.

Kudos on putting the time in on proper maintenance before twisting the throttle. Have fun!

 

I probably wouldn't worry about a .001" discrepancy in the clearance - that's really not going to hurt anything.