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Posted by Zoar
- February 14, 2017, 09:35:12 AMQuote from: Old Drifter on February 14, 2017, 08:45:54 AM'Last I heard the topic was scheduled inspections, paint, etc. It does not seem to me that there is a new 800 Drifter owner.Is there a new owner of an 800 Drifter yet? This thread seems to go on and off topic...I lost track. Did I miss it???
I can tell the almost 800 Drifter owner that I started mine and let it run and I listened to the music of its deep voice and admired it lines all with the garage door open and snow on the ground outside and not for a minute have I ever regretted buying my 800 Drifter.
It is enjoyable art and music even when it is winter in NY State.
Posted by Old Drifter
- February 14, 2017, 08:45:54 AMIs there a new owner of an 800 Drifter yet? This thread seems to go on and off topic...I lost track. Did I miss it??? 
Posted by Tfrank59
- February 14, 2017, 00:39:23 AMWell a little feedback on the header wrap painting... The stuff I used underneath the wraps, which was supposed to be some sort of ceramic high heat paint, didn't really do the job and cracked away up near the flanges. And of course with the many heat cycles from riding a few times the white wraps are now more like tan/brown, but they look OK and stopped stinking once everything got fully cured. All in all I'm pretty happy with the job, but if/when I do it again I won't put more than one coat of header paint underneath the wraps.
Posted by Tfrank59
- February 01, 2017, 23:10:18 PMQuote from: greenbarn on February 01, 2017, 19:40:17 PMYeah there are basically two choices one is to try and seal them from water and stuff with high heat silicone and the other is just to give the wraps longer life with high heat paint I'm going to go with the latter.turned out nice.... What do you use to paint the wraps with??
Posted by CDNRatMan
- February 01, 2017, 20:15:46 PM 
duh paint of course....lol......heat resistant......
Posted by greenbarn
- February 01, 2017, 19:40:17 PMturned out nice.... What do you use to paint the wraps with??
Posted by Tfrank59
- February 01, 2017, 14:21:51 PMOkay, here's the skinny girl with the new custom exhaust. budget for this project: $200. Actual cost (so far): $180. Thank you ebay. Just need to paint the thermal wraps.
Posted by Zoar
- January 31, 2017, 12:55:14 PMQuote from: CDNRatMan on January 29, 2017, 21:09:27 PMWow, I always wondered what that third hand was for!Once you break the seal, you then lift and move it to the right and it slides right out, if you have three hands it can make it really easy................
Posted by CDNRatMan
- January 29, 2017, 21:09:27 PMOnce you break the seal, you then lift and move it to the right and it slides right out, if you have three hands it can make it really easy................
Posted by Tfrank59
- January 29, 2017, 20:55:02 PMQuote from: CDNRatMan on January 29, 2017, 11:09:51 AMOk set the record straight, The manual calls for the first inspection at 30,000, second at 60,000 I bought my bike and at 30, 000 did the inspection. The engine does not have to be taken out of the bike. You need to remove the seat, and the fuel tank. I am doing my 60,000 valve check today and will take pictures because really it is simple, if you can find TDC on the piston you can do the job and it takes less than an hour once you have everything ready. When I did mine last time everything was bang on so a simple check.
Also in the manual there is a chart that tells you which shim to use in each case required, so simply take one out replace it and start your check over till it all mets up and is correct. The rear cylinder cover is the only hard part and it just requires a little finesse to get it out. But the engine does not have to come out........
Well that's a relief because I got to looking at that rear cylinder and it sure looks tight. Who wants to take the motor out just to check valve clearances?!
Posted by CDNRatMan
- January 29, 2017, 13:52:35 PM My mechanic buddy had a family emergency today. So we will be doing the Valves either Sat or Monday. I will make a picture document of the steps required, now that being said I am not a mechanic nor even close to one, but the last time we did this Dave came over and read from the manual for me and I did the work. I just have a hard time with finding TDC and he told me that there is a really simple way for doing that on a VN 800 engine. But the steps are fairly simple,
remove seat;
remove tank;
there is 2 rad hose bolts on each side of the engine need to be loosened or removed so the hoses can be moved around;
remove the hose connecting the two covers;
remove spark plug;
remove the three bolts from the cover;
you might need to tap the covers, not hard DO NOT use a screwdriver here, there is a rubber gasket that is reusable.
it is like opening a jar you need to just tap the cover to break the seal.
remove the covers;
open the inspection plugs on the engine left side to check for TDC
then with your manual see that the shims are the correct ones with feeler gauges,
there is an o ring that needs to be greased inside the cover were the spark plug comes in.
Best way to remove the spark plug is with the tools from the tool kit,
in fact this whole job can be done with the tools from the tool kit other then feeler gauges.
The covers come off and with a wee bit of finess they will slide out to the right side of the engine,
when you replace the covers make sure the gasket is not twisted or pinched, it is visible.
I will be making a picture document of the steps involved shortly.
Posted by Old Drifter
- January 29, 2017, 11:19:25 AMGood info CDNRatMan! When I saw this post, I knew you'd respond since you've done it before and are doing it again soon.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- January 29, 2017, 11:09:51 AM Ok set the record straight, The manual calls for the first inspection at 30,000, second at 60,000 I bought my bike and at 30, 000 did the inspection. The engine does not have to be taken out of the bike. You need to remove the seat, and the fuel tank. I am doing my 60,000 valve check today and will take pictures because really it is simple, if you can find TDC on the piston you can do the job and it takes less than an hour once you have everything ready. When I did mine last time everything was bang on so a simple check.
Also in the manual there is a chart that tells you which shim to use in each case required, so simply take one out replace it and start your check over till it all mets up and is correct. The rear cylinder cover is the only hard part and it just requires a little finesse to get it out. But the engine does not have to come out........
Posted by Tfrank59
- January 29, 2017, 10:37:31 AMI think the idea with the 6000 miles on valves is to check them, and if they're out of spec to adj with shims. I have 13k on my 06 and don't plan to do anything unless engine performance or valve train sound changes.
Posted by UGLY
- January 29, 2017, 10:06:54 AMI ride a 1500-99 Drifter. Four days ago looked at a 800 . AT 75 I still put 2500 up k on my bike in b.c and alberta.during the summer the 800 has shims to adj. valves and I understand has to be done every 6000 miles with the engine taken out. expensive if not done oneself. Wow sure like the looks of the800 c/l Kelona b.c.