I’m helping a friend who has bought a project bike for complete resto. It’s a 1985 “B” reg in UK. VF1000F. Engine number SC15E-2005182. Non runner. Kph speedo. My initial research suggests it’s German one.
Question is re carbs - which I am stripping and cleaning and rebuilding. I like carb jobs and have done a few sets for my old FJ1200 which I completely restored. But gosh these V4 ones are complex just in terms of linkages and how they connect together! Lots of video and photos have been taken on disassembly to assist on reassembly!
carbs are stamped as 85EAYG Keihins
jets all seem to be original Keihin ones with the Keihin star stamp on them
Pilot jets are marked 38 and float valve seat 2.4 and those both seem to accord with specs I see in workshop manual
my confusion is re main jets. What is fitted is 110 Keihin mains in all 4 carbs.
research is confusing me. Workshop manual says 150 front and 145 rear. And in brackets (for different counties I presume - 138/135). Looking at Keyster kit for these carbs on NRP website they say kit contains as standard 145 and 115 mains and if you have an FF 1986 model then it’s 145 and 150 mains.
I’m confused!
Oh and to answer the question you might be asking - exhaust seems to be a replica of standard one - not sure the make - but not any fancy 4:1 race one or anything
Would really appreciate if anyone can shed any light on what model this bike really is and what jets are right for these carbs
wht size of mains would you chaps recommend when I rebuild them? Don’t want to keep them as restricted! I’m planning on using Keyster rebuild kits. But do I get the 145/150 version or the 145/115 kit?
I fitted a Factory Pro kit to mine, 145’s front and rear….but the kit had different needles too. If you find it running a tad lean in the higher rpms, you can fit small shims under the needles to lift them slightly. I’m very close to sea level where I am…if you’re at a decent altitude, you may want to use smaller mains.
Unless you are going to de restrict them totally I would stick with the original jet size.
These carbs vent to atmosphere as Don has said,unrestricted carbs that do this run 115 mains,only the early model carbs that vent into the plenum use 145s.
The Germans were sticking to a 100bhp cap at the time so they aren’t that far away
Ah ha. Bif - that’s really helpful info. Thank you so much. And apologies for not having checked the forum posts earlier and spotted your additional reply. Much appreciated. Michael.
Hi Bif - Glasgow was my home town but I now live further north - between Lochgilphead and Oban. I’m in Glasgow loads though and my friend who’s bought the VF as a resto project lives in Glasgow. From a surf around this fabulous forum it seems that you are the font of all knowledge on all things VF and it’s really kind of you to offer so much of your knowledge and expertise to other members. Thanks! I’m sure I’ll have more questions as this resto project progresses and I chip in to help my friend with bits and pieces. Michael
Very kind Michael,although I have owned and worked on VFs for over 20 years,the collective knowledge and experience I have found on this forum far outweighs my personal experience.PAJ has done a great job of making this accessible to everyone,without him I would still be tinkering away blissfully unaware of the existence of so many talented enthusiasts
