jporter12

Get a room!

They hate the earth, and tree huggin hippies are about the only things I can come up with.

Doesn't care/have the time to deal with. At times I wish I could afford to have someone do the work for me, but then again, I don't know that I would be comfortable with anyone doing the work for me, since I know how.

Nice! Looks like fun!

My project has been a bit sidetracked. See the "Valve Problems" thread. What started as a simple timing chain tensioner job, has become a valve job! Prep and paint the Interceptor, on hold and probably not enough time now that I have to do major engine work. Starter clutch for the Ninja. Not even touched it. Paint the Ninja. Not even touched it. I REALLY need to tear into the Ninja to see exactly what I need ASAP. The rest is just changing some fluids, etc. that won't take much time or effort.

So, I pulled the head, and I also pulled the head off the parts motor, which is supposed to be the original motor for the bike. I found the SAME valve had the same problem, along with the cams and rockers being wiped. I talked to my friend that has a bike shop down the road, and he said to just bring everything over, he has all we need to do the valves, except for the valve spring tester. I'm thinking of just swapping everything from another cylinder of the parts head into that bad valve position. One other interesting thing of note was the presence of grey sealer on the head gasket of the motor that's on the bike, as thoughn it had been apart before, and not had a new head gasket installed.

Here ya go: http://www.conwaygreene.com/Whitehall/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0

I have a couple machine shop connections that are VERY good, and both have no problem with doing bike work. This is where I'm torn. Do I just do it quick, dirty and cheap, or go for the gusto and do it all. I don't have anything for checking everything. That's something we do from time to time, although we usually fill the chamber side. THAT is where the problem lie with these 500's. They're known to float the valves at high RPM's. One of the "guru's" over on VFRworld has talked about it a few times, and has seen it happen many times. The valve spring issues, coupled with the top-end oiling weakness, and the lack of sufficient hardening of the cam and rockers put the VF500's on the failboat express. Good luck finding anything aftermarket for the top end of these motors! I shouldn't have much in getting it all done right. I'm thinking a couple hundred in the machine work (if I go that route) and less than $100 in the gasket kit, IF they have them in stock now, it's been hit and miss when I checked before. Megacyclecams lists reground cams (using my cores) in the $500 range, and re-hardening of the rockers for something like $60 or so each. Add in the gasket kit, valves and springs, or even machine work on the parts I have, and it gets to be more than the bike is worth, and the springs are still an issue. Since I don't have the kind of money to be spending on something like that, and still have a weak link with the springs, I don't think I'll even consider that any further. The one thing that might make the cams worth it is that they will put a "race" grind on them. I just wonder what sort of HP they would make then! I guess the motor is rated at 76HP in stock form, which is pretty good for a 500 of that era!

That's funny, we had Chipotle from the Maxtown Rd location this evening! Now I'm home, fat and happy.

A few friends got tickets for this in Pataskala about 15 or so years ago. Myself and another guy just stepped back and sat on the steps next door where we were talking, and just minded our own business. The others were out near, or on the sidewalk with open containers, and got tickets. 2 of them ran, and almost made it a lot worse on themselves. This was during the street fair, otherwise I doubt it would've been much of an issue.

So tehre are a couple of us that learned that, then.

It would only NOT be legal if the vehicle is operated on the street. There is no REQUIREMENT to register a vehicle, unless it is operated on the street.

I have that stuff, but what about getting the seat to contact the valve face in the middle? It's def a case of needing ALL of the right stuff to do the job, really, unless it just so happens to be close enough that it can just be lapped in. Pics?

Newb this

Not many around here have respect for the little 250's. I like the one we have, but I don't think I want another one! Did you post that think on the ninja250riders.org forums?

Nothing for valve grinding and stuff. We don't do that sort of stuff, we send it out to be done as a more complete job, with resurfacing, tanking, pressure testing, etc.... I actually miss doing valves and stuff, almost! It's been quite a few years since I have done any valves on my own.

I found my fingers getting cold, but I wouldn't say numb. I DO have a decent pair of cold weather gloves, but they aren't heated, so the fingers still got cold. Then again, I didn't hit triple digits (not like the 250 would, even) since the roads are cold, and still not all the way dry. Call me chicken if ya want, I'm calling it being safe.

Well, lefty's ARE odd, I married one, so I should know! She'll let me have it when she reads this one....

I'm trying that one out! It's working pretty well so far! I know that it's bound to happen one day, though.....

I'm just hoping that with both sets of heads they can come up with enough to make it hold together for a few more years. I'm also going to check in over at www.vfrworld.com and see if Jamie D. over there ever got anything lined up for an upgrade. He knows all about these bikes, and how well they are know for dropping valves!