Buying a 1985 VF500 Tomorrow Morning!

I'm letting it sit for a while. The battery isn't dead but how would I give a motorcycle a jump?

 

You can connect it to a car - just make sure the car is not running. A car battery can crank a motorcycle for hours, so you need not worry about draining it down.

...but it sounds like you've given up anyway.

 

thats very sad :frown:

 

I take NO joy in being proved correct about the dubious reliability of the average VF 500.

The last person who should ever buy a VF 500 is a new rider without previous mechanical experience who needs the bike for daily transportation.

But please let me hear immediately from anyone whose Chinese communist balls have broken all to bits. Then i'll smile !!

 

Sorry jamie, a little hot headed haha.

I have the manual and will clean my carbs on thursday. Any tips? Any cleaning supplies recommended?

again i have no a very vague idea as to what to do.

I will make this thing purr like it did back in 85 so God help me!!

And i just pushed it back home. 1.3 miles. on the verge of meeting the big man
Thanks reg71

 

Here is the correct process for removing and installing the carbs. Do not remove the airbox base plate or you will have created more problems for yourself.

Daugherty Motorsports - V4 Honda Carb Removal and Installation Procedure

 

I was able to get the carbs off and clean the outside (those black sliders were a little sluggish so i wd40'd them and now theyre on the dime) but Im stuck on how to remove the throttle and choke cables.

And for the actual carbs, do i just unscrew them and gut them out?

 

Carbs

I am in Sacramento, if you can get it here I will clean them and install while you wait and have a beer this weekend if you want. I have done this once or twice in the past. Or here is a link and you http://vfrworld.com/forums/mechanics-garage/22449-cleaning-carbs.html#post170019can give it a shot yourself

 

I pulled the carbs but the bolts on the floats were stripped to point of no return. there are four needles sticking out of the floats and 2 were clogged so i cleaned them out.

I changed the oil and charged the battery up and


SHES ALIVEEEE!!!!!!!!

SHES ALIVE

but still not idling =/
whats the best way of taking those screws off? so i can replace them?

and what kind of oil filter should i get for it?

 

I see this thread has died. You can take a dremel and make cuts into the screws to allow a screwdriver to bite into them again..

 

......OR grind the head off.

you can find replacement screws at Ace hardware.

 

If it isn't idling and the main jets were clogged, then your idle circuit probably has crap in it too. The gas tank liner likes to start flaking off and start clogging filters as well. I'd definitely get the filter Jamie recommended. There is nothing wrong with 500s. But older 500s of your age and milage start having issues. If you take the time to slowly find and fix all the little things that pop up from a bike with little use and old age, it'll last you until you are ready to step up and them some. Honda's like to be run, and not sit, so the more it gets used the better off it should be.

The biggest issue is the cams and rocker surfaces wear out right about the mileage you are at now. If you get the carbs sorted you should have at least 2 years out of before you have any big issues. That's enough time to learn to ride and move on, or add too.