Help me with my VF500!

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by tjwor, Feb 28, 2008.

  1. tjwor

    tjwor New Member

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    The Silencer? Like on the exhausts? If so the exhausts are having good pressure coming out, and I don't think that could be the problem...


    My next question is... Could it be the after market coils need a different spark plug and the fact that I put the stock type plugs in the bike it is causing it to not fire right? The plugs that the previous owner had in are different than the new ones I put in...

    Thats just my thoughts, on a side note I drained the oil, cleaned out the radiator system, and ran it in my drive way and there is no contamination of the oil and no loss of coolant...
     
  2. Fizz

    Fizz New Member

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    The leak may not start until the engine gets to a certain temperature, riding in your driveway isn't a sufficient enough indication.
     
  3. tjwor

    tjwor New Member

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    well, I finally got my bike into a shop, my GF's dad owe's me a favor for making him a website, and he had a guy that owe's him a few favors, so he got my bike in, the guy is gonna tear it down and let me know what all it will need to get it running, I'll have to pay for parts (some of them my gf's dad will help with) and then if it is worth it he'll put it all back togather for me, along with carb sync, valve adjustment, and everything else to make it run good! I'm pretty pumped!


    Where are the best places to look for parts when I need some?
     
  4. JamieDaugherty

    JamieDaugherty New Member

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    Pretty much your local Honda dealer is going to be your best bet. Tell them you are doing a lot of work and see if they will set you up with a discount. This will almost always put your price cheaper than any online source. All dealerships do discounts, you just have to ask.
     
  5. tjwor

    tjwor New Member

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    well if that is the case, i'm guessing the guy doing the work will be able to get them cheaper than me, he does tons of work on older bikes and i'm about positive he would have set up the discount... I just wanted to see if I could get the stuff cheaper than the local dealership.

    Thanks Jamie!
     
  6. Alaskan

    Alaskan Member

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    You can often find cheap parts on eBay. Right now there is an entire engine listed. It depends on what you need and when you need it.
     
  7. Longerfellow

    Longerfellow New Member

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    Best of luck to you. You've been through a lot with that bike so far.
     
  8. loopsandlogic

    loopsandlogic New Member

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    I replaced my front head gasket when the PO put it on backwards.

    Later I found out that he replaced both of them at 5,000 on the clock.:mad:

    And later found out, because of the front pair of cylinders "cams" weren't torquing right when I was using the plastic gauge, that he switched them up!!.

    Long story short, putting new head gaskets is easy, but setting the cams is NOT! They are very hard to set properly when even using the OEM shop manual for a newbie. There's 4 cams to set!

    I went with the lowest torque values from the book, and with no clicking but just smooth sound, I think they've been set right.

    I've just gotten to starting her up, and everything from the top down sounds fine!

    Checking your plugs is the cheapest way to see if your burning water. Period!

    I still have to see if I'm leaking water in my oil. Pray for me:pope2:

    And Good luck!
     
  9. Rev

    Rev New Member

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    +1 for eBay; been lots of old school VFR parts on there lately
     
  10. tjwor

    tjwor New Member

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    does anyone know if the pistons, cams and rockers are the same between the magna and interceptor?
     
  11. Longerfellow

    Longerfellow New Member

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  12. tjwor

    tjwor New Member

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    Well, we are almost there!!

    I have purchased 1 cylinder head (with rocker arms and valves), 3 pistons, and all 4 camshafts! Plus I found a full engine Gasket Kit with front and rear head gaskets!

    If we can get 4 of the 8 rocker arms that were on my bike and the piston rings to do the trick, it'll be up and running by this week!

    I'm pumped to get it back on the road!

    If anyone has the front cylinder head from a vf500 let me know! I may be interested in purchasing!
     
  13. JamieDaugherty

    JamieDaugherty New Member

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    I might have a front head, drop me an e-mail off list and I'll check in my pile-o-spares. Do you need the whole head or just the parts?
     
  14. Longerfellow

    Longerfellow New Member

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    You are one persistent guy! I for one commend you and wish you luck on your project.
     
  15. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    ^^^^^I second Longerfellow's remarks.
     
  16. tjwor

    tjwor New Member

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    Well tomorrow is supposed to be the day of the rebuild...

    It took the following... new cams, rockers, valves and springs, pistons and rings, piston rods and rod bearings, crankshaft and bearings, with a gasket set... the last of the parts were supposed to be in today, so if all goes as planned [don't see much else that could be wrong with the engine...] It will be put back together tomorrow!

    Wish me luck :) I want my F-ing bike back already!!
     
  17. JamieDaugherty

    JamieDaugherty New Member

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    Good luck!!!!
     
  18. tjwor

    tjwor New Member

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    Ok, the bike is back in my garage, running but still has not had the carbs synced. Nearly everything internally in the bike has been replaced. My mechanic was too busy with work and other projects to finish up (within the time I was hoping) so I got the bike back to finish it. I didn't ever get to talk to my mechanic about the break in on an engine rebuild, so I figured i'd ask here. What do I need to do to properly break it in?

    Also, I have access to a dual carb synchronizer, am I correct in my thinking that it will be fine to connect this to the #1, and 2, then 1 and 3 then 1 and 4 and make sure everything matches up to the #1, or do I need to get a tool with 4 readings on it?

    Also, I'm not real sure on what all is with the tool, what type of fittings are needed to hook up to the carbs?
     
  19. matt1986vf500f

    matt1986vf500f New Member

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    damn howd did i miss this thread?? no joke you are Dedicated guy, aww hell id do the samething to my bike anyday, good luck bro :thumbsup:
     
  20. 243Win

    243Win New Member

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    Jeez, I'm impressed with your persistence. I'd have pushed that bike off into the brush a long time ago. Despite a 500 Interceptor being the bike I always wanted as a penniless 21yo at the time. I will humbly return to the garage and finish my rear cam chain tensioner replacement without complaint.

    Wow, that is all I can say.
     
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