Yamaha mechanic anyone?

[fyxxer32]

Ok, for once I'm outta my league. I haven't ever worked on a motorcycle or even BEEN on one in 20 years. I got a wild hair up my ass at a friends garage sale who had this old Virago 500 cc bike for sale. Asking $500, it didn't sell , lets just say I got it for less than $200. Hadn't been run for about 2 years. Needs , I know, a battery, tires, carbs are being soaked right now. But what I want to know is whats a good book to buy to tell me how to work on this thing.I can do small engines but mostly its been mowers , weed eaters etc.. And I am going to take a motorcycle safety class. Money well spent I think. Am I crazy?

[Knothead]

Yes. You are crazy.

[Knothead]

lol, just kidding, Fyxxer!

You can go to a Yamaha shop and pick up (or order) the specific Chilton manual for that bike, it has step-by-step instructions for EVERYTHING (although they do tend to have small errors here and there, but you can get through those,).

May I also recommend you talk to a mechanic about resuscitating such a machine...you will find it will have unique problems due to its inactivity. (Shellac-like stuff in the carb venturis, etc.)

But for $200? Nah, you can't go wrong!

[thekingofpain]

Haynes or Chilton manuals are good, but the factory service manual made by Yamaha would be alot better---itl probably be 3 times the cost of a Chilton but have a TON more info regarding the deeper innerworkings of the beast...

[Mntsnow]

TKOP mentioned the Factory service manuals and I swear by mine for my snowmobiles. They are awesome (my wifes srv manual was around 75 bucks where as the chilton was like 30 but having seen the chilton and seeing my yamaha factory manual I'll go with the factory one!

[Ed_S]

Definately get the factory service manual if possible, if not go with a professional's edition. There's no comparison to the consumer-level.

[fyxxer32]

Right now I have it at my buddys sons house. When my buddy(he's a Harley rider) went with me to pick it up , he said , "We ought to take it by my boys house, he's a scooter mechanic" so guess where it is? I think I'll have him get it running and tuned, tell me what I need to do.
I'll do some checking on manuals.

[Siliconjunkie]

This is going to sound like an odd question, but how big a guy are ya? When I worked at a Yamaha dealer a 500 Virago couldnt get out of its own way with my big (270ish) butt on it. But, its a good starter bike for around town. Hard to get into trouble speedwise.

Goto your friendly Yamaha dealer and see about a Clymer manual for it. Its pretty noob friendly. The factory ones are really expensive and assume you have a ton of special tools.

Once you get the carbs back together, take it to a shop and get the CO (mixture) set and the carbs synced.

When you do the carbs its a good idea to spring for a new needle and seat and bowl gaskets. Take a good look at the diaphram on the top and make sure it is perfect, along with the needle at the bottom of the cylinder. Some shope will let you bring the carbs in off the bike and they will do em.

Change the motor and shaft oil (cant recall if the 500 had a shaft or chain). Buy a new battery. New Tires. Clean and lube the throttle/clutch cables. Change brake fluid. Clean the tank out real good, unless there is really heavy rust there shouldnt be any need for coating it. Yamaha makes a tank cleaner thats pretty good.

If you don't have a Yamaha dealer close, you can get just about anything for it from any dealer that sells aftermarket.

[fyxxer32]

I'm 5'7" , 165 lbs. LOL its my size. It is a shaft drive. the tank (from looking down the fill door), appears not to be rusty. This is a starter bike for me. All your suggestions are sound and will look it over very well. If and when I get it going I will post back and put up a pic!

Hard to get into trouble

Thats what I need!!!!