Need help with 83 honda ft500 ascot

[ft500ascot]

just got the ascot a month back and having to search and find parts for it, runs great, looks very good. just some brake issues and somthing with the cylinder head leaking i beleive. need some ideas fast about what to do. also wanting to know of where to download a workshop manual and as well as compatible bikes that i can use the parts from. please help! i wanna be able to ride this bike!

[markk53]

Odds are you can buy 90% of the parts you need from about any Honda dealership. The engine was extremely common due to the XR and XL line. The dual piston brakes were a staple on Hondas over the years so seals and pads are no problem either.

The only thing that would be a pain would be finding body parts. The parts are out there, but you have to look.

If you do fork seals or brakes, stay with OEM. I don't care the cost, the parts just plain always work. Aftermarket just isn't as promising. I saw too many aftermarket fork seals leaking in less than a few hundred miles when I was working at the bike shop. I remember one set of the Leak-Proof seals were leaking before the forks went out the door. Just not the quality of OEM.

The only compatible parts bikes would be for engine parts in the XR and XL 500 non-radial four valve and a bunch of Hondas for the brakes. All else will likely be different. Just the nature of bikes.

I think Supertrapp used to make a pipe for the Ascot. I do know the double wall headpipes can go bad, the inside breaking apart and rattling. The solution is a new head pipe set. You could possibly make a new set with mandrel bent tubing of the right diameter, which can be had from JC Whitney, Jeg's, and other sources. You buy bends, cut them up and piece together your pipe set you want. Just need a good TIG or MIG welder to do the nice welds. Then get the pipe coated if possible, paint never holds up.

The starter gear line can be a problem area too. All you can do is get the parts needed. I don't know if the electric start from the XR650L was the same or not. I doubt getting the gears should be an issue. Of course maybe the kick start parts from an earlier XL or XR 500 will fit it too.

Should be a fun ride once you have it right.

[Squisher]

XR500 kick start parts can be adapted, but I think it's a bit of work. Plus you have to machine the head for the compression release. The starter gearing is a known issue, the best advice is to clean/lube the starter mechanism at every oil change.

These are notorious for leaking from the valve cover. There is no gasket because the valve rocker arm pivots in the cover, so any gasket would mess with clearances.

Hylomar or some other adhesive type sealant is recommended as well as ensuring that the valve cover bolts are torqued correctly.

Mine appears to be leaking from both the valve cover and the head gasket, which means I get to take it a good ways apart :(

But at the same time, it's a dead simple design so it's not like it will be hard. There is an FT500 Ascot Yahoo group that has TONS of information about these bikes that I highly recommend you join.

And if you really want to make it go, even if your airbox/exhaust is stock; rejet the carb. Go to at least a #58 pilot (mine is a 60 or 62 i think, but I have a gutted OEM muffler) and a 150 main. (52/140 is stock IIRC). It really wakes it up and you'll gain MPG to boot!

[Captain Eric]

Anyone have a problem with the rpms hanging up a bit after you close the throttle? When I bought mine a few weeks ago, it was fine. It only had 3k on the clock. I ran it down to reserve to test it and it started to backfire on hard deceleration, and it would either hang up, or sputter and die. A local shop cleaned the carb and replaced the needle. It ran great for about 30 miles, and then started the rpm hang up again....any ideas?

[Squisher]

What's the inside of your tank look like?

There is no screen on the petcock "straw" so if there is any loose particulate rust at all in your tank it will run right into the carb. Because of that you should think about installing an inline fuel filter if you don't already have one, even a cheapy (mine was nothing more than a screen) is better than nothing.

Basically you have described lean running conditions, either caused by fuel delivery issues or a vacuum leak. If your tank is nasty then you're looking at both cleaning the carb and cleaning/coating your tank. Thankfully with a single, it's nice and easy for the carb and the tank is no more difficult than any other.

I'm located in south/central Indiana, if you're close I'm willing to help you fiddle with it.

[Captain Eric]

Thanks. I'm wondering about what size inline fuel filter to use. I'd like to do that because I'm betting the tank will never be pristine again.

[Squisher]

Google for POR 15 motorcycle tank kit
Comes with pretty much everything you need to clean and coat the inside of your tank, which if you have rust issues is highly recommended.

Otherwise, even with a filter (just a small inline jobby will do) you'll be constantly either replacing or flushing it.

[Captain Eric]

Thanks. I'll check it out.