Guest Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 Hi,For ages i have wanted the Honda VFR 400 as a 'bigger bike' and after recently looking at auto trader it seems i can get a working one for 1k odd. From there, i'm thinking of doing something fully stripping it down, giving it a good clean up & service etc, fit a restriction in it (33bhp) and put it together ready to ride for once i pass my test (hopefully later this year / early next) The thing is, i have virtually no experience with engines nor motorbikes... and wondering would i just overwhelm my self and totally cock this up ? I have a mate with some engine experience (his dad has been worked on car engines for the last 30 years odd) so he has offered to help out...I have a decent sized garage i can use and some tools (plus some spare money in case ) The only real problem is that i have nothing to work along with (for example a guide)... and i don't know how in depth an Haynes manual goes? Anyone have any information or guides / tips or anything to give me (i.e. don't even attempt it )I'm just chucking some ideas round here, nothing is set in stone! Thanks in advance!! Dont be afraid to tell me i haven't got a chance either ! Quote
rennie Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 It all depends on the state of the bike!And what needs doing to it,VFRs are notoriously diificult to work on!You'd negate most of this problem as you're goingto strip bodywork etc off anyway.depends how bad you really want one!they're getting a bit old now.good bikes when right though!safer bet would be a newer in line 4but!, no pain no gain Quote
Guest Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 It all depends on the state of the bike!And what needs doing to it,VFRs are notoriously diificult to work on!You'd negate most of this problem as you're goingto strip bodywork etc off anyway.depends how bad you really want one!they're getting a bit old now.good bikes when right though!safer bet would be a newer in line 4but!, no pain no gain Well ever since i saw one online I've wanted it! And a 'newer inline 4' ....insurance is a biatch I understand they are getting abit old, but i dont mine working on something, the satisfactory feeling at the end is awesome The main problem is knowing what to put back together in the right order i guess EDIT: oh and what to do with it once its apart Quote
rennie Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 Fair enough Chris!, you have to go with your heart sometimes one thing I would suggest is that you try to get a sit on one first!I don't know how tall/big you are but VFR400's are tiny! The v four engines are very reliable!Electrics seem to be the biggest problem!especially reg/rectifiers, as with most Hondas Quote
Guest Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 a haynes manual or google will be invaluable.. so will a cup of tea, when everything seems to be going wrong.. go for it.. Quote
Guest Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 Well i am about 5'7'' ish so I shouldn't look like a monster on it I have been looking through the internet and have found quite a few sites. I would link them but im unsure if im allowed so i wont. Its a detailed diagram of the engine. That + a Haynes i should be flying (and a few many hours later) Well i shall keep you posted once /if i get the bike. Thanks Quote
Bill_on_a_bike Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 by strip, how far in to the engine do you want to go? If it was me, unless it had an issue I wouldn't bother. If you want to strip the top that's probably a fair amount of work to be worrying about. But an engine like that it's going to be a right fiddle.If you wanna learn how to do it though I completely understand, you'll definitely need a haynes manual and any diagrams on the internet will help. If I were you, I'd read though the relevant bits of the haynes manual over and over until you've got it as clear as you can what the order of events is, and roughly how it all fits together. You are gonna have ALOT of bits that need to be kept safe or in order, worth organizing lots of containers and post-it notes. Cylinder head studs, get an old pizza box, and stab as many holes are there are studs through both sides, in the shape that they appear on the engine, mark one side of the box "front" and put all the studs in their corresponding holes. Keep lots of news paper and rag to hand, things often seem to have oil in them in places you didn't even know were there, and as soon as you tip them up, out it comes all over something important no doubt. I hung my cylinder head over a bowl for about 10 minutes to let the oil drain out. Some specialist tools are an absolute must, a valve spring compressor for example. And a torque wrench.I've only done this with a single cylinder engine on my old 125, and learnt ALOT. The VFRs gonna have 2 cam shafts per bank to worry about, and 2 cam chains, which are buried in the middle of the barrels. Obviously it's possible but it'll be a fiddle i'd imagine. I wish I had a grand and the time to do this kinda thing, i'd love to do it just for the learning curve.And if at the end of the day you're too big for the bike, trust me, when that engine fires up after you've stripped it down and rebuilt it, you won't care. Just sell it on, mentioning that it's got fresh pistons/rings or whatever you've managed to polish up. Quote
Guest Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Haynes manual, good toolbox, small hands and patience Have fun! Quote
Guest Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Thanks... Well im still considering the VFR at the moment, and considering doing a full strip (to the engine) or just leaving the engine. I'm talking with ragdoll at the moment too about her CBR. But i wouldn't strip that down (but give it a good clean ) Quote
Guest Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 I'm talking with ragdoll at the moment too about her CBR. But i wouldn't strip that down (but give it a good clean )thats no way to talk about Raggers... Quote
Guest Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 OOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooerrrrrrrrr Quote
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