rhoderage

11 years later, the truth lives. Quick backstory - bought my 02 VFR used in 2012. When I installed a K&N, I noticed the airbox velocity stack bolts were all stripped... odd, what did the PO do under the airbox? A year later I installed a PC 5, had to go under the airbox - first extract the stripped screws [one was so bad I actually dremel'ed off the velocity stack for better access] no sign of damage or any other ham-fisted repairs/'upgrades', so who knows... forget about it. To present - front CCT has been clacking off and on for a couple of years, seems to be getting more frequent. "Just get on with it" - ordered a replacement. I was all worried and worked up about dropping the damn 'cap' off the old CCT into the engine. I got all set up, wires and hoses out of the way (TB still left on the bike)... put the ratchet on the top bolt of the CCT, removed, and the sealing washer falls off and under the TB/hoses where I simply can't get it. Damnit. You know its aluminum so a magnet won't work, but no worries, I check with local Honda and they actually have one in stock! $2 and I'm back in business, ready to attempt the next day. Put the ratchet on one of the two bolts which hold the CCT to the engine case, start turning, no resistance (thats weird, it seems loose already) and this is what I get: "3 - You could tighten the two CCT bolts by hand, BUT Don't be a lazy bestid and use the torque wrench." Methinks the PO had replaced the CCT previously. [metal CAP was pinched on TIGHT, had to pry it off... very confident this had been replaced] Methinks the PO did not use a torque wrench, look at the stretch on the intact bolt! The head/cap literally just twisted off the first bolt, the second fortunately came out properly. Methinks this is when the bonehead probably did the damage to the airbox bolts... ah well at least now I know. I was deathly afraid of scratching/grooving/damaging the mounting surface. I was deathly afraid of drilling in crooked and catching the threads... I know thats not an 'end of the world' situation, but its one I have never dealt with, and its the top of the engine case! Its also summer so I don't want the bike to be down for days/weeks/months... and I did NOT want to pull the TB and cooling hoses and start having to replace gaskets and seals and washers etc [that is a winter project next year when I have a garage instead of a driveway for a workshop]. Fortunately my Dremel fit between the frame and TB and let me get a drill bit on the stub. I drilled off and on for part of 2 days, SLOWLY, CAREFULLY, with 2 different sized bits and the mounting surface taped off to minimize chance of damaging it. In the end I was fortunate and got the bolt out without doing any significant damage [pic shows some of the metal flakes from removal still around the hole, I have since cleaned that up with a Q-tip soaked in brake cleaner]. It was beer-o'clock so I had to stop there and do a victory lap. Today I finish the CCT change. I enlarged the gasket pinhole to 2.5mm so hopefully that helps this one last longer. DON'T OVER-TORQUE YOUR BOLTS!!! 😃 Update: all back together

Yep that was my solution and still holding strong years later. THe only reason i had to chop into the battery tray was that with a passenger on the bike, i found the reservoir [mounted in same location but prior to cutting the battery tray] was pushing on the brake lines. This solved it. Yeah i should really invest in some nicer clamps instead of zip ties but when you are standing looking at the bike you barely notice it. pic from a couple weeks ago

Odd that he would have needed a new clutch pack at that mileage. May see if he would have the new tires installed or use that to haggle the price a bit as it will be an immediate expense for you Everything else is just the stats on a VFR, so hard to say what shape the bike is in... do pics look good? Has it ever gone down? Clear title / no liens? etc Hard bags are a huge plus and as noted above the VFR is a great all-around bike! I've had my 02 for 8 years now and I don't see myself ever parting with it.

I bought my hard bags used, these included... work great

the wife has almost the identical jacket but its mostly black with white accents. Looks great on the back of my white/black VFR

lol isn't that always the way good identification and fix of problem!

well you didn't answer... can it cut grass? Personally I think its awesome... IF it can cut grass!

Grum - I wanted to buy an 09 because I loved the white/black scheme... but I found an 02 locally that the PO had repainted in that colour scheme, and I got it for thousands less than I could find an 09 at the time. So yep its an 02 with 09 colours.

I have an 02 as well and I dont know if the PO ever touched the stator... all is good with charging system at the moment... but one of these days(years?) I'll pop the cover off for a look. How would i know if its been replaced with the 2003+ model? Does anyone have measurements of the bigger flywheel or another visual way to confirm? I figured when the time came I would sent my stator off for a re-wind for ease's sake... but if the current stator lets go in the middle of the summer, I may not be patient enough 🙂

I just replaced the seals in my clutch slave, 2002 model. Bought the replacement seals from local Honda dealer, individually... maybe $20 total for the 2 seals? Didnt swap out the spring or piston, cleaned up the slave, installed the seals, back on the bike, bled and good to go.

I bought one of Jamie's rebuilt CBR shocks before he started making his own... and also sent him my forks to have the internals replaced... was worth every penny, I think its been maybe 4 riding seasons and all good. Can't wait to test again this summer!

Looks great. Those CF parts are $$, good find

removed the front and rear but left the ones on my honda luggage, and on the luggage frames themselves when the bags are off (the reflectors are on a projection from the bracket, would probably look a little odd if taken off... and i ride with bags 95% of the time so you dont see them. I wish they weren't on the luggage itself but they are drilled through so its just what it is) 6gen

Great work, thanks for sharing and please keep the updates coming

You can also buy a replacement red plastic connector now on ebay or amazon, places like that