VT500 question

A work colleague has just bought a 1988 VT500E and it seems in good nick
apart from a front brake that needs stripping. I find it hard to believe
but he assures me that it is almost impossible to remove the wheel and
the local Honda shop quotes it as a 2 man, 2and a half hour job. He
isn't totally mechanically incompetent but assures me he can't for the
life of him see how it's done.

Anyone have any ideas I can pass on to him?

Apart from the usual angle grinder type answers that is.

 

It has a horrible inboard enclosed front disk design, one of Honda's worst
design disasters. The quote is probably about right for an old dirty seized
up front end.

 

Well yeah, we spotted that but I can't believe that it takes two men
that time to take a wheel off - that makes front tyres pretty bloody
expensive. Why two men - do you really need four hands to do what should
be a straightforward job?

 

Alan says...

There is actually a method of doing it that requires less work, it was
printed in one of the motorbike mechanics mags. It did save a lot of
time (it's the same set-up as the CBX550 discs) but I'm buggered if I
can think of a way to explain it.

--
Lesley
ZXR400SP
SBS#11[with oak-leaf cluster]
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18

Un-cork me to reply

 

Previously on usenet, DangerScouse said..

It's called rip the complete front end out and fit a VF500F one.

--
Lozzo : The anti-Timo
ZZR1100D, GPZ500S, CB250RS x3
BOTAFOT#57/70a, BOTAFOF#57, MIB#22, TCP#7,
ANORAK#9, DIAABTCOD#14, UKRMT5BB, IBW#013, MIRTTH#15a/16,
BotToS#8, GP#2, SBS#10, SH#3, DFV#14, BONY#9.
Url for ukrm newbies : http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmscbt.html
http://www.glfuk.com/ for MJK Leathers in the UK.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

 

I was gonna write this from memory, but decided to nip outside and
physically do it before I spouted misleading crap at you. 15 minutes
later and I'm back with one stripped front wheel.

Here goes;
Bike on centre stand.
This method does not require the brake line to be disconnected, making
pumping pistons out for cleaning simple.
Remove 4.no 8mm bolts on top of front mudguard and slide the mudguard
off.
Loosen 3.no hex key bolts on LHS (caliper side) outer rim of hub.
(Just to get them started)
Loosen 1.no hex key bolt in centre of caliper. (Just to get it
started)
Stick a crate, block, or jack under engine for support.
Loosen 2.no 14mm pinch nuts on bottom of RHS fork leg.
Loosen and remove 1.no 17mm front wheel spindle and spacer from RHS.
Turn bars to Right lock, lift forks out of retaining slot in hub, and
wiggle wheel out towards the rear of the bike.
Remove the 3.no hex key bolts on LHS (caliper side) outer rim of hub.
(previously loosened)
Slide the outer rim up the brake line out of the way.
The ventilated disc is now visible, located on 3.no rectangular lugs.
Stick a bar between the disk and wheel hub at various places close to
the lugs, and lever the disc and caliper unit away from the wheel.
Remove the 1.no hex key bolt in centre of caliper. (previously
loosened)
Hold the caliper in one hand with the disc facing up.
Hold a large hammer in the other hand, and bash the disc out of the
caliper. The seized pads will come out with the disc.
Pull the caliper off the 2 supporting lugs on the hub.

Job done.
People moan about the VT's front brake setup, but IME it needs very
little attention unless it's left standing for 6 months or more.

HTH

1st post BTW, hello UKRM!

--
Cammo

VT500 Rat
GSX750SE Katana
GT250-X7
GT380
cammo at bikers-engine dot com

 

Oh well, thanks anyway. I'll have to see if I can dig something up
elsewhere.

 

Umm? You can't have killfiled me already surely?

--
Cammo

VT500 Rat
GSX750SE Katana
GT250-X7
GT380
cammo at bikers-engine dot com

 

Wow, I'm impressed. You'll do well on here young man

 

Sorry, I replied to the negative responses before I saw your post
Mucho thanko for your trouble - I'll pass on a printout to my colleague
tomorrow.

 

Hehe, it was fun, and you're welcome.

--
Cammo

VT500 Rat
GSX750SE Katana
GT250-X7
GT380
cammo at bikers-engine dot com

 

Lozzo says...

Nope.

--
Lesley
ZXR400SP
SBS#11[with oak-leaf cluster]
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18

Un-cork me to reply

 

Indeed. Quality introduction, that - sweet.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip

I didn't see it. It just sort of faded into the background. Weird.

 

I'll email it to you, if you like.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip

I do believe I've just whooshed the hairy one...

 

--
Cammo
VT500 Rat
GSX750SE Katana
GT250-X7
GT380
http://cammo.webs.bikers-engine.com
cammo at bikers-engine dot com

 

Thanks for your info Cammo, matey got the wheel off and stripped the
caliper OK. Pistons seized solidly in position so he took it to local
bike breakers who got them out and cleaned the thing up for him, new
seals for £9 and I advised him to chuck the hydraulic hoses and get
braided ones. The disc was a bit rusty but not scored or badly corroded
so no major cost involved. Should be sorted by the weekend so once
again, ta very much.

 

That's good to hear. I'm glad I could be of some help.
On a side note, my disc _is_ badly corroded, rusty as hell, and the
pads have worn a groove at least 2mm deep into it. Thank Honda, The
Man never gets to see it, hidden away as it is. Heh.

There's a pic of my ratty VT on my webpage (in sig) if anyones
interested.

Thanks again for the feedback Alan.

--
Cammo
VT500 Rat
GSX750SE Katana
GT250-X7
GT380
http://cammo.webs.bikers-engine.com
cammo at bikers-engine dot com