'86 VF500f build (pic heavy)

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by Luthercorp, Feb 9, 2018.

  1. Luthercorp

    Luthercorp New Member

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    Hello!
    I saw this bike on craigslist a while back and immediately loved it. Rather, I loved what it could become. It was in a city 5 hours away so my buddy and I decided to make a road trip out of it. As easy as it would have been to rent a bike trailer from U-Haul, I consider myself a bit of a frugal bastard so I started doing some math. Fun fact: the 1986 VF500f without the front fairing will clear the liftgate roof on an '05 Honda Oddesy by 2"
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    She said it was running a little bit ago but wouldn't start. Ok, well let's see what the fluids are like.
    They could be described in a single word: absent.
    As I am a moron I forgot to bring a toolkit with me for a better inspection so without knowing anything other than it ran within a month ago, it looks pretty cool, and whoever laid it down caved the tank in with their head,
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    I decided that this decision was best left to the gods. I grabbed my trusty 20 sided die (a moron and a nerd) and asked my buddy high or lo and rolled to reveal my destiny.
    It was high so I paid her $500 and loaded it up into the van and took off. It started raining yesterday when I tried to take it apart but I have some more pictures of it that I'll just put up to give you some project envy ;)
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    This is the fantastic security system/ pushbutton start they installed :Confused:
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    No motorcycle cover? No problem! Just use an old pallet cover :)
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    A picture of from the drive back because Idaho is a beautiful state.
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    I'll keep y'all up to date as it gets worked on.
     
    Mind_Surfer likes this.
  2. RllwJoe

    RllwJoe Insider

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    Looks like a "labor of love" project. Keep taking pictures, and keep us posted.
     
  3. Luthercorp

    Luthercorp New Member

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    Didn't take any photos yesterday because it was so damn cold (25 F) but I flushed the radiator, replaced the oil, and bled the brakes and clutch because the previous owner let them run dry. It turned over, but won't fire up. My hands were numb at that point so in the next day or so I'm gonna check for spark and go from there.
     
  4. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    They can be hard to start but as long as you have fuel and everything else is about in the right place you should get something. I started a VF500 engine yesterday that I had had in a shed for 7 years and prior to that had been stood outside at s scrapyard for a very long time. Took a while but it ran. A big battery helps.
     
  5. Luthercorp

    Luthercorp New Member

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    Thanks Jeremy, I just had it hooked up to my car to jump it cause the battery was toast. It's about a ~90A alternator (just an Accord.) Could that be causing it to not spark? I won't have any time to mess with it until tuesday, so I was planning on picking up plugs before I worked on the bike again just in case.
     
  6. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    As long as its getting volts from a battery you should get a spark. In my experience the problems with hard to start VFs are nearly always carb related. If the carbs have not been touched in a while they will most likely be full of gunk. But if it was started recently as you say, then you might be lucky. Lots of volts, fresh fuel and you should get something, even if it is just a stumble.
     
  7. Luthercorp

    Luthercorp New Member

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    I was planning on taking the carbs off to check them and clean/ balance all four, I was just trying to see if it'll start without doing any cleaning to see the level of cleaning/ rebuilding I'll have to do. For cleaning the carbs would you recommend getting a rebuild kit before taking them apart for cleaning?
     
  8. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Just follow the guidelines on this site and VFRdiscussion. Loads of info out there. I wouldn't spend another cent on the bike until you have checked some fundamentals. You need to check the cam lobes for pitting and you must make sure you have compression in all 4 cylinders. The fact it is turning over at all is a good sign. If you don't have a compression tester, just remove the plugs and stick your finger down the hole to seal it as it turns over. You should feel the compression. This is just a quick test for a dropped valve, something that can afflict VF500s unfortunately. No offence but these bikes need TLC and yours doesn't look like it has had much..
     
  9. Luthercorp

    Luthercorp New Member

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    Hahaha I hear you on the TLC, this bike looks like it's been rode hard and put up wet more than once. Thanks for your help
     
  10. forgriffindor

    forgriffindor New Member

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    I pulled an '86 out of a shed a few months ago, I would check the carbs and all the gaskets/rubber bits on the carbs. Especially the carb boots, they like to rot and crack.
     
  11. Luthercorp

    Luthercorp New Member

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    Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been busy with work and fixing up an old slaughterhouse into a shop so I can wrench without fear of frostbite. I should have it decent enough to start working on the bike again in a few days.
    Thanks forgriffindor, I've been expecting to be displeased with the state of the carbs, but just looking over them they don't leak- which is either good or really bad lol
     
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