Okay, Christian - my youngest, (MiniCarver to you guys) is ready for his first track day. He selected the screen name to screw with me one day while I was at work and he was on here looking for a VF500F to sacrifice as his newb wheels.
He was riding well and showing steady improvement when his bike crapped the bed on him recently, now we want to do Tally on July 10-11. So we have to get this[image: Posted Image] 2010-06-10 17.04.21.jpg
track ready by then.
Kevin (KWR8728) has two spare engines he has been working to make one runner and I have been searching for gaskets. I learned today that unless we find some NOS gasket sets we are SOL. Extreme Power Sports (makes me want to yell SUNDAY! SUNDAY!! SUNDAY!!!) in Columbus has a gasket die cutting machine and the original Honda templates computer loaded but they can't do head gaskets (because of the metal) or the case gaskets (too large?) and said the could do the clutch cover or stator cover gaskets for about $10 each. I spoke to their service manager and he told me to use Permatex black for the cases, be careful of the oil passages and the blue silicone stuff of rthe other gaskets. he suggested that I reuse the best two head gaskets of the four...what do you guys think of htese suggestions?
I think we have enough carb parts to get a set ready even if it means his older brother will have to do without a little longer. :biggrin:
Regarding the stock, 25 year old suspension, we have rebuilt the front and stiffened it up a little, but I need help with this. [image: Posted Image] 2010-06-10 17.05.07.jpg
Is this a CBR600 rear shock? I think it a shock that I pilfered for them to upgrade their bike. If so, other than correcting for length and mounting is there anything else I should to it before mounting? Chris is 6'2" and about a buck 45. :fing02: Must I change the spring rate looks like a stock Honda black spring :goofy: or does the Miniceptor respond well to more rear ride height?
We will post more as we continue to wrench and prep for the track. Any advice on getting this thing ready is welcome, any actual help will be promptly repaid by beer or pizza and or other negotiable notes. :beer:
I have a brand new clutch side gasket if you need it. I bought it preparation for painting the side cover but the installed gasket stayed intact. Let me know via PM or email gnemish at nycap dot rr dot com.
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 10 June 2010 - 06:17 PM, said:
Regarding the stock, 25 year old suspension, we have rebuilt the front and stiffened it up a little, but I need help with this. [image: Posted Image] 2010-06-10 17.05.07.jpg
Is this a CBR600 rear shock? I think it a shock that I pilfered for them to upgrade their bike. If so, other than correcting for length and mounting is there anything else I should to it before mounting? Chris is 6'2" and about a buck 45. :fing02: Must I change the spring rate looks like a stock Honda black spring :goofy: or does the Miniceptor respond well to more rear ride height?
Yes, that is a 1994 CBR600F2 rear shock. Not only will it need to be lengthened, but the spring is also too light. Even at 145lb he would need a 950lb/in spring and that shock has a 750lb/in spring on it now (the stock VF500F spring is ~800lb/in, FYI).
Yes, the early VF's respond very well to additional rear ride height. When I convert shocks for them I almost always include additional length.
You can make your side cover gaskets from cereal boxes, save your money for the head gaskets!
Thanks for the lead Sebastian. I just spoke to Chris at Cometic. They have the gaskets, $57.16 each...those damn V-4's gonna bust the budget and get a set.
[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 11 June 2010 - 01:59 AM, said:
I have 2 rollers if you need anything, sugar-pants.
ooooooo, did it just get warm in here?
thanks for the offer Timmy! He is trying to scare up a set of F2 wheels before the track day...I think he should wait until after (for his budget) and we should have everything we need if we can find a few parts for the carb linkage.
[image: View Post]JamieDaugherty, on 11 June 2010 - 06:38 AM, said:
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 10 June 2010 - 06:17 PM, said:
Regarding the stock, 25 year old suspension, we have rebuilt the front and stiffened it up a little, but I need help with this. [image: Posted Image] 2010-06-10 17.05.07.jpg
Is this a CBR600 rear shock? I think it a shock that I pilfered for them to upgrade their bike. If so, other than correcting for length and mounting is there anything else I should to it before mounting? Chris is 6'2" and about a buck 45. :fing02: Must I change the spring rate looks like a stock Honda black spring :goofy: or does the Miniceptor respond well to more rear ride height?
Yes, that is a 1994 CBR600F2 rear shock. Not only will it need to be lengthened, but the spring is also too light. Even at 145lb he would need a 950lb/in spring and that shock has a 750lb/in spring on it now (the stock VF500F spring is ~800lb/in, FYI).
Yes, the early VF's respond very well to additional rear ride height. When I convert shocks for them I almost always include additional length.
Keep us up to date on the progress!
Thanks Jamie, PM sent.
How much additional ride height? He (nor anyone else who may ride this bike) have an issue with reaching the ground. Freaks. :goofy:
I think you had some F3 calipers and master for sale recently. Would those work on the 500? I have a spare VFR750 (2nd gen) front wheel with rotors....I think the wheel may be too wide for the 500 to handle neutrally but am thinking about upgrading his brakes.
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 11 June 2010 - 03:32 PM, said:
Seb,
I think you had some F3 calipers and master for sale recently. Would those work on the 500? I have a spare VFR750 (2nd gen) front wheel with rotors....I think the wheel may be too wide for the 500 to handle neutrally but am thinking about upgrading his brakes.
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 11 June 2010 - 08:56 AM, said:
How much additional ride height? He (nor anyone else who may ride this bike) have an issue with reaching the ground.
I normally add 3mm at least, more if desired. Luckily the VF500 linkage allows for quite a bit of increase before it binds. Since this is a track bike I would suggest starting at +6mm and see what happens. For reference, the VF500 linkage is roughly a 4:1 ratio so +6mm at the shock is about +25mm rear ride height.
[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 11 June 2010 - 04:05 PM, said:
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 11 June 2010 - 03:32 PM, said:
Seb,
I think you had some F3 calipers and master for sale recently. Would those work on the 500? I have a spare VFR750 (2nd gen) front wheel with rotors....I think the wheel may be too wide for the 500 to handle neutrally but am thinking about upgrading his brakes.
keith
just so you wont get your hopes up........gone.
Yup, they are gone. Sorry! I think all I have left for 500 parts is a gas tank, the upper fairing, nice radiator with fan, maybe a couple other misc bits. Timmy got the frame with front and rear suspension on it(gravity racer!).
I have an F3 front(floating rotors) and 900RR(5.5") rear painted in matching gold for sale, but that rear isn't gonna fit in the babyceptor...
[image: View Post]JamieDaugherty, on 12 June 2010 - 08:57 AM, said:
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 11 June 2010 - 08:56 AM, said:
How much additional ride height? He (nor anyone else who may ride this bike) have an issue with reaching the ground.
I normally add 3mm at least, more if desired. Luckily the VF500 linkage allows for quite a bit of increase before it binds. Since this is a track bike I would suggest starting at +6mm and see what happens. For reference, the VF500 linkage is roughly a 4:1 ratio so +6mm at the shock is about +25mm rear ride height.
Cool, we will start with 6mm at the shock. Thanks Jamie. maybe I need to make a macro that says "Thanks for all of the help".
Wait, no way. That means I am older than I thought.... :computer-noworky:
Too funny Chris.
Anyway, what you want to do is try to stay perpendicular to the ground while leaning the bike under you, especially in the off camber, decreasing radius turns at Little Tally :goofy:
The head gaskets should be here by Wednesday. I am not yet decided on what to do with the rear shock....still looking for a 950 in/lb or 17 mm/kg spring to fit that rear shock we scored.
Chris doesn't work again this week until Thursday so I told him without significant progress this week, we can't confirm the Tally track day. We will be looking for something in August if it all falls flat for this one.
I have talked him into waiting on the radial tire conversion until he has a few more pay days under his belt.
If I had to guess right now I would say we are 80% for this track day.
cornercarver, on 11 June 2010 - 04:32 PM, said:
Seb,
I think you had some F3 calipers and master for sale recently. Would those work on the 500? I have a spare VFR750 (2nd gen) front wheel with rotors....I think the wheel may be too wide for the 500 to handle neutrally but am thinking about upgrading his brakes.
keith
Cornercarver,
If you are still interested in the calipers & master, I picked them up & have so far only used the galfer lines. ????
Ok, Chris talked to Kevin last night ans he feels that the engine he has been working on will never be a runner. We havent been able to locate a complete gasket set that would allow him to split the cases and check the lower end.
The upper end is looking very good, so Chris and I are heading up today to get the engine and spare parts from Kevin. We will attempt to put the heads that Kevin did on the bottom end of the engine that was most recently running in Chris' bike.
Still need some carb help.
The Novice Class is full for this Sunday but still open for Saturday. Right now we are shooting for Chris to ride novice on Saturday and me to go Intermediate for both days.
May have more info later tonigt (and possibly some pics).
Don't go home without getting a/some left hand drill bits! You might get away with an Easy Out since it's been moved recently, but I grew to hate those things quickly!
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 08 July 2010 - 10:03 PM, said:
If anyone knows a shortcut to getting the cams timed on a first gen VF500 specfically shoot me a PM.
That's usually what causes the problems. Be very patient and time both banks together and you should be ok. If anything doesn't look quite right - start over. It's not easy but you'll know when you've got it right. Good luck!
Turns out we were doing okay timing the cams. And still we couldn't get a complete rotation from the engine by hand. We removed the cams from each head and then removed the cam chain tensioners.
Still the engine will only turn over about 210 degrees by hand.
Removed the heads, same issue. Removed the clutch, made certain the transmission was in neutral, removed the starter gear.
What to do next? remove the water pump? turn the engine on it's side and remove the oil sump for a look inside?
We didn't split the cases on the engine that kevin was working on for us because we had no joy in finding a gasket kit during our two month search. We got what are apparently the last three VF500 head gaskets in the US from a Honda shop in Petaluma last month.
I can make a sump gasket from a cereal box but I am not so sure about splitting the cases...
I'd pull all of the clutch parts completely off the engine and try it again. Don't forget the rotor on the opposite side too. If that doesn't do the trick then it's time for a splitting-the-cases party.
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