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86 VFR400R NC21 refurb, sure wish parts were easier to get in Texas...


atx

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I picked up another project just in time, and it seems like many of the same parts from my 86 VFR 700 rebuild are compatible if not very similar to what is on this 86 VFR400R. The previous owner road it around while teaching in Japan, and then imported it with a bunch of other stuff a couple of years ago. Lots of function over form type of fixes on this thing, like the wrong color scheme tank, weird custom brackets with welds and stuff to keep mirrors and the shifter alive, i sort of dig the ingenuity honestly.

 

Shortly after picking it up:

cDSwuwW.jpg

 

The idle is about 4500 rpm's, the battery is shot, fork seals gone, and lots of cosmetic issues, but otherwise not a bad start. Story is he took it to a shop to get the carbs "tuned up" and that was botched, so he got a refund and lost interest. My plan is to pull these carbs off and rebuild em using a viton o-ring pack assortment i've got coming, or if none of those fit order a bare bones nc30 kit as the float bowl gaskets are the same supposedly.

 

Quick test tide before taking this thing apart. Little sketchy thanks to the high idle, no rear brake, and front brakes covered in fork oil. 

Apologies for the vertical video, gf took that one and i had the thing inoperative before i could get a do over on it 😛

 

Never seen this before, some sort of foam jammed in to these bolts, my assumption is to stave off rust. I haven't pried it out yet because no need, just weirded me out and thought it was cool:

JIC1puw.png

 

Kickstand mod, it is actually pretty easy to kick this puppy out thanks to this contraption:

06v5VI9.png

 

Mirrors are being kept alive by Frankenstein-esque methods:

02b2wXO.png

WUueD78.png

 

As she sits now:

PNz1mZF.jpg

 

I actually did the last bit of work while on a zoom call for work. It was a non-mandatory happy hour video chat, so what better way to enjoy than in my own garage. I wheeled the laptop out on a standing desk i've got, and enjoyed their company while yanking this old thing apart.

bXigvpf.png?1

 

I just got this thing a day before the stay at home order in my town, and have already ordered a ton of parts that are rolling in about now. Using many of the same ones i've used before as i know what I can trust. NGK's, Motobatt AGM battery, mosfet reg/rec to get wired straight to the battery bypassing that damn red connector, clean and dielectric grease every ding dang connector, OEM fork seals, wheel bearings just so i can take that stuff apart and call it good, and the rest i'll order as needed because it seems good. Still on the hunt for either a muffler silencer for this weird JDM can or a stock one cause this thing is LOUD, as well as a front brake lever and windshield. I tried signing up over at 400greybike.com as searching that site has been hugely beneficial, but their admins are not responding and there is no contact link, so i'll keep twiddling my thumbs and install what I've got coming already. Shooting for a goer that I can start up and ride around at will, and one that isn't so pretty that I can't ride it around in any weather. 


 

 

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Howdy neighbor !

Looking forward to viewing your rebuild thread.  My '86 750 is in a long-term coma awaiting a rebuild some day.

My '97 is waiting for some RC45 fairings from Airtech; that could also be an on-going long-term project.

Brian

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Sweet project for some mandatory down-time. Gotta fix those bubble gum and gorilla snot repairs someone else tried to do....had an FZR400R many years back, and I'm sure that one is just as fun. Enjoy, and share the progress!

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So we've gone from VFR's with Frankenstein bolts to VFR's with Frankenstein mirrors! :laugh:  Actually I also like the home brew ingenuity to keep 'er on the road.  I must not be up on my 400's - I've always thought of them with SSSA's, vs a traditional swingarm - always something new to learn.  She sure sounds good - just like any other V4 motor.  I'll bet it's fun to wring the snot out it - listen to the rpm's comin' up and up and up.  Looking forward to more photos as you continue along with it. 

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Wow!  And I thought I was way out there, fitting a RC51 sidestand on a 1954 Gilera...

(Much to the horror of anoraks...)

 

IMG-20200318-WA0024.thumb.jpeg.f9304c961b542ff8cd381adc7ad05f83.jpeg

 

 

Keep up the good work atx!!!

 

 

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Standard heat gun on the boots and wrestle with the carbs for about an hour trick seemed to work. New boots on the way, but trying soaking these in silicon spray as a i read somewhere else that mayyyy soften them up? Just for giggles really, or if that order gets lost in transit and never shows up.  http://v4musclebike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13477

C5SjWUl.jpg

 

Found some sort of bracket in the valley, not sure where it goes though.

CNjqyI2.jpg

 

These things are filthy as all get out, and last person inside em used a ton of gasket sealant which could have caused blockages. Definitely badly in need of a cleaning. This is my goto: 

T2tt0M7.jpg

 

The throttle bodies aren't even close to setup the same everywhere, nothing a good bench sync won't fix to get me in the ballpark, and then my standard aquarium tubing sync tool while running should do the fine tuning. http://www.powerchutes.com/manometer.asp

http://www.400greybike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40719 

4evs7II.jpg

p6f2c4e.jpg

 

From what I can tell, these are the proper jets/tubes and everything for this year model, so nice to know that it hasn't been completely messed with. Someone did install a can though, would be nice if i could get some solid info on if any standard carb adjustments could be made here, but honestly I'd rather just source a stock/quieter can 😛http://www.400greybike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22317 

I did find that float height is 6.8mm, so that's something http://www.400greybike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21480 

m4fjUSp.jpg

 

I think I know enough to be dangerous here, time to knock these things out. Float bowl o-rings come in sometime next week hopefully, i think i can get it all done by then. I also have some electric work to attend to, and some valves that need adjusting...

 

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13 hours ago, atx said:

Standard heat gun on the boots and wrestle with the carbs for about an hour trick seemed to work. New boots on the way, but trying soaking these in silicon spray as a i read somewhere else that mayyyy soften them up? Just for giggles really, or if that order gets lost in transit and never shows up.  http://v4musclebike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13477

C5SjWUl.jpg

 

Found some sort of bracket in the valley, not sure where it goes though.

CNjqyI2.jpg

 

These things are filthy as all get out, and last person inside em used a ton of gasket sealant which could have caused blockages. Definitely badly in need of a cleaning. This is my goto: 

T2tt0M7.jpg

 

The throttle bodies aren't even close to setup the same everywhere, nothing a good bench sync won't fix to get me in the ballpark, and then my standard aquarium tubing sync tool while running should do the fine tuning. http://www.powerchutes.com/manometer.asp

http://www.400greybike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40719 

4evs7II.jpg

p6f2c4e.jpg

 

From what I can tell, these are the proper jets/tubes and everything for this year model, so nice to know that it hasn't been completely messed with. Someone did install a can though, would be nice if i could get some solid info on if any standard carb adjustments could be made here, but honestly I'd rather just source a stock/quieter can 😛http://www.400greybike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22317 

I did find that float height is 6.8mm, so that's something http://www.400greybike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21480 

m4fjUSp.jpg

 

I think I know enough to be dangerous here, time to knock these things out. Float bowl o-rings come in sometime next week hopefully, i think i can get it all done by then. I also have some electric work to attend to, and some valves that need adjusting...

 

FWIW, the wintergreen oil and rubbing alcohol work well. I've tried it on a couple of my first gens carb rubbers as they are no longer available. Worked the charm.

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check to be sure a synch spring isn't missing, and good luck on the project. you'll need to drain and FLUSH the fuel tank and derust if necessary then coat.

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There are some VFR400 enthousiasts here in the Netherlands. so should you ever come up empty handed in the USA, I can always enquire for you here.

 

I've enquired after the bracket's purpose; will let you know once I get a response.

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I had a vision daydreaming, it looks like it may be the speedo cable stabilizer to me. #5 in this pic that bolts to the brake caliper. Bah no not quite. It's close though 😄honda-vfr400r-nc21-100-1986-g-japan-fron

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