Dead on Highway :(

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by Ironhydroxide, Jun 1, 2013.

  1. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    well, crusing on the highway after some errands today and i get a nice TICKTICKTICK WHRRRRRRRR power loss, complete. Instantly i clutch in and the bike dies. (RPMS to 0 and Oil Press Light comes on).

    Well bummer. Once I stop i try the starter for shitsandgiggles, just a tick, rotating assembly bound up.

    Recently i've rebuilt carbs (not related I know), Replaced the clutch frictions and springs, adjusted the valves, and all basic maintenance.

    After adjusting the valves the bike quieted down quite a bit, much less ticking. but I still had some slight ticking, which i attested to me being an oaf with the feeler gauges. figured i'd adjust them again when i had the tank off next.



    I'm in fear that I've lost a timing chain. the interesting whrrrr at the end lead me to believe the chain snapped, and the whrr was the sprocket jumping on the chain. and it being bound up now is a result of the chain being folded up in the bottom of the case.

    I haven't pulled the valve covers yet to confirm (just happened today).

    my main question(s) is (are)

    is the bike an interference type engine?
    how difficult is it to replace the chain? (probably whole engine dissasembly i'm thinking)

    whats the likelyhood it's something else?


    Thanks for any and all replies.
     
  2. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Pull the valve covers and have a better look...Far as I know, no, its not an interference set-up...so valves make contact with pistons and things brake/bend. You get the picture...Good Luck, keep us posted
     
  3. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    so, it is interference (where the valves interfere with the piston) or a non-interference (where valves can't touch piston unless overextended/dropped). ?? confused.
     
  4. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    I believe a CBX is capable of bendig 16 valves with a broken cam chain
     
  5. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    this isn't a CBX, this is a VF500F. (for clarity. sorry for leaving it out of the first post)
     
  6. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    It's not uncommon for the 500 to drop a valve.
     
  7. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    Well no dropped valves, cam chains are in good order....

    Broken Rocker arm, luckily didn't get into the chain.


    what i still can't figure out is why the entire engine was bound up. Had to put the bike in gear and jerk the tire backwards till the engine moved slightly, then the starter was able to spin the rotating assembly. It spins without issue, no clicks, thumps, grinds etc. so. WTF?
     
  8. captb

    captb New Member

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    I've seen engines drop a valve seat (usually when hot) and act like that, then you move the piston that's pushing against the valve, then the valve is free and can push the seat back in place and the valve can close again clearing the piston. Not saying that's your problem but if you hear a loud clatter in that area and the valve clearance changes on that valve it's a possibility.
     
  9. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    After reading that, i decided to go double check. :/ It would seem that i've got at least one dead head. due to 2 valve seats (1 intake 1 exhaust) not being seated. Valve springs aren't the same distance from the heads, MUCH further than just basic machining tolerances.

    [​IMG]

    hard to tell from the pictures, but the right spring is about 1/8" up from the left spring.

    same story with the exhaust side, but probably 3/16"
     
  10. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    Sorry for your loss.


    But, NO, not another fickle little whorebitch breaking a young man's heart and part of his bank account too, again, please !!!

    Bunky, if your 500 blowed up, do yourself a BIG BIG favor and just maybe find a newer bike, cuz tryin to fix it isn't a good solution on that tired ole gal.

    It was good while it ran but has passed on now to the over-populous 500 graveyard of broken hearts and motors. And all the 500 devotees whose bikes still run can now plausibly believe theirs is just a bit rarer and somehow more special, gor blessem for their loyalty.

    Picture 037.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2013
  11. captb

    captb New Member

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    I've had a couple heads I worked on and with the valve lapped and sealing perfectly if you put fluid in the combustion chamber and blew air in the port you could see bubbles coming out from around where the seat fits in head. Indicating that the seat is probably loose and could drop out, leak or move around, more chance of a problem when hot.
     
  12. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    Yeah, so, it's either head rebuild (both if it's gonna be done)


    or Sell it/Part it. And i thought she was gonna be a good bike..... :(

    looking at getting a loan for a BMW F800ST, if it comes through, then this bike is definitely for sale. (though i'm definitely saddened by its passing)
     
  13. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Valve seats coming away from the head is pretty rare as they get hammered into position everytime the cam rotates. The rocker arm failing like that is unusual too but not that unusal as you have found out. Assuming your valves were adjusted correctly then it's hard to explian why a rocker arm would fail like that. It suggests the arm that failed was transferrring more load than it should for quite a while and hence failed in in fatigue. If the clearances were set correctly than this wouldn't be the case so I can't explain it unless they were set very incorrectly before you checked them?

    As to what to do, IMO it depends on the overall condition of the bike. If it is in good condition and you like it then consider repairing it. There are still plenty of bits on Ebay for the 500. You would need to find out why the valves are sitting at different heights first though.
     
  14. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    well, I decided to try and fix it.... Found this

    [​IMG]

    Yeah, pretty much not gonna be able to fix it.
     
  15. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Commiserations. Stating the obvious here but that head is toast. You dropped an exhaust valve I'm afraid. You found (one of) the Achilles’ heels of the VF500.

    Be very useful to us all if you could tell us the model year and mileage on your bike.

    A secondhand engine is your best bet if you still have any feelings other than anger towards the bike.
    Otherwise part it out.
     
  16. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    For sure !!
     
  17. Ironhydroxide

    Ironhydroxide New Member

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    18752 Miles..... way to young a life for such a bike. but, being as it was neglected many years of it's long life. I can't blame it for throwing in the towel.


    That said, if anyone needs VF500F parts, i got some ;)


    OH, and this
    [​IMG]
     
  18. drewl

    drewl Insider

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    whoa

    Sad. Sorry.
     
  19. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    I've often wondered if any Honda engineers ever check out this forum or others like it. Be interesting to hear what they think about the fragile top end and pictures like that. Doesn't quite fit their recent "Power of Dreams" marketing theme.
     
  20. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    I always liked the gimic slogan, "you meet the nicest people on a Honda."

    Maybe Asimo was the iron collared worker assembling the bikes engine? I think all the engineers have their heads up their arses personally...

    Loved the Emerald Isle when I was there...Cheers
     
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