Restoring a (second) BLUE '87 VFR700F2H

Another quick update......got #2 working great! Last carb now soaking. Learned something new today and will keep in mind using this product going forward. I've known about it for years and in fact mine has been sitting in my garage for 2-3 years waiting for me to use it. I just got carried away with the U/S Cleaner and hitting the carb with the aerosol cleaners.

This last carb rebuild - I didn't even use the aerosols. Just degreaser to start with then the U/S Cleaner then soaked the jets in carb cleaner and then bristle brush and air.

 

Looks like you caught the oring landing for the fuel sender just in time.

Good news on the carbs. Just make sure to finish with something that will help remove any moisture, but it sound like you are. Sometimes it's amazing what you can bring back.

Nice work dude.

 

Thanks, Capt!

Yeah - when I first took these carbs off the Yellow bike and the throttles wouldn't budge, I thought they wouldn't be restorable. Stowed them away. Only after finishing the Blue bike's carbs did I drag them back out - mostly to grab that spring I needed, but then said WTH....let's tear 'em down! One thing led to another.....

Guess it's true....it's the journey - not the destination!

Speaking of fuel senders......the one that came out of that tank has a toasted wire connection. Probably repairable - but I also have a spare. Different angle though. Will trial fit and see if it clears the inside.....

 

Ran by my storage units this afternoon to check on my bikes. Wanted to run the (other) Blue bike to make sure it still ran OK. Started and ran fine but dang gas coming down from under the fuel tank! Carbs were just rebuilt less than a year ago so I'm thinking maybe something with the fuel line. Will bring my tools over tomorrow and check. Conversely.....the red-wheeled '86 did NOT leak! Then I couldn't get the 500 to even stay running. Hoping it's just not getting fuel (petcock not positioned right or just low/out of fuel).

The Red RC36 started up and ran OK as did the White '86 RC26.

I want to get the blue fuel tanks swapped by end of week so we'll see.

As much as I LOVE all my bikes........stuff like this reminds me of the advantages of having FEWER machines!

 

I didn't realize were coming up on a year since I started this bike's restoration. Talk about time flying!

Not surprising because starting in September through this Spring I was beset with family and health situations plus took on some new bikes the last few months spending time with those while this baby patiently waited for Daddy to get his keister back on the job!

So I'm back on track (finally) starting today - the first task to remove the tail fairing to repair the broken mounts.....and the headlight fairing so I can pull the radiator to get easier access to the front plugs, which I will pull as well as the rear plugs to throw in a little MMO. I want to make sure the engine turns over as the next step of restoration.

And just when you thought this would be just another restoration....boom. I remove the headlight fairing and see it's a Charles Crites creation! Woohoo!

This makes two Blue bikes purchased in consecutive years.......each with a fairing from Mr. Crites!!!

What are the odds?!?!

 

Took the fairing apart and washed it up a bit.......anyone who has handled these products know how well built and sturdy they are!

 

Got the radiator removed - looks pretty good!

One of the front plugs wires wasn't even plugged into it's plug. Tried to remove the f fender but one of the reflector/brake clasp bolts is just spinning so the f wheel is coming off to get to that. Wheels have to come off anyway.

I gave each plug a shot of Kroil and will remove tomorrow and then squirt some MMO into each cylinder.

Hey this is exciting, huh?

Still have some cleaning up to do before installing the carbs. Get that done, install carbs and a battery, hook up a fuel bottle, and off we go!

 

Good news.....the engine turns over by hand smooth as silk! I removed the plugs and squirted a healthy dose of MMO into each cylinder. Then removed the engine cover and turned her over. Yippeee!

Oil, coolant, and plugs all look good so gotta feeling this bike is going to be a runner!

Next up will be wheel removal and a thorough cleaning and some repainting. Also replacing some of the rusted stuff with better versions in my stash.