Ascot Owners forum - Page 2

CharlieT · 03-18-2011, 06:21 PM

Here's what I did to my '82 FT500 Ascot a few yrs ago:

Replaced the airbox with a clamp on cone filter. Replaced the stock exhaust with an cone reverse cone megaphone and also took about 40lbs total off the thing. The lighter weight with the open ed up intake & exhaust woke that little sleeper right up!!

truck6driver · 03-19-2011, 07:34 AM

Do you still have the bike? Looks like you were making a fun little curve carver to me.

Ray

CharlieT · 03-19-2011, 09:42 AM

Yup, still got it. And your right it is fun in the twisties.....especially on the back country dirt roads.

FT500 · 03-21-2011, 02:42 AM

I bent 4 valves when the cam busted. waiting on a new set, if anyone has some, they want to sell, I am keen as mustard to get some and hit the trails

Let me know eh?

christoz · 03-22-2011, 04:12 PM

If my C would have looked as sweet as the ascot, I never would have chopped it up

wcimb · 03-23-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truck6driver

My Ft has started weeping oil from the head gasket area on the cooling fins. No compression loss but I started to smell it one day and a week later saw the evidence of oil. I just cleaned it off and kept on trucking. Is the head gasket a problem on the FT as I have heard nothing about the old XR500's having issues. Maybe it satt in the barn too long before I got it.

Ray

Are you sure it's from the head/cylinder junction and not from the head/top cap junction? When I say top cap I mean the part that holds the tach drive and rockers.
Mine leaked from there when i got it. I took the top cap off and found the PO had stripped a couple of the bolt threads in the head causing it to be loose and leak oil.
I re-threaded the holes and used larger bolts, then cleaned everything up and sealed with hi-temp silicon. Been oil free ever since, however I do check those bolts periodically.
I let my 19 yo son ride mine for a while until an unlicensed driver turned in front of him and he hit the rear fender of the car, folding the forks back against the engine (he was bruised but OK!).
We decided to rebuild it in to something of a street tracker. New forks, round headlight, cleaned up the front a bit, shortened the rear bodywork, new LED tailight and lic bracket, and some flat track handlebars.
It's not fast, but it is fun to ride and usually draws a lot of attention. Best of all I have very little money invested!

,

RuckedUp · 03-24-2011, 10:32 AM

Good to see this thread start up. I bought a Ascot for the wife's first bike here in Bama and she loves the little Honda. I's a 84 model and clean for the most part. Im a little worried about the rust on the inside of the the tank and since I have just packed it up and sent it off to Germany there is no telling how the tank will hold up on the boat. I know these have had problems with rust in the tank so I'm guessing I may need to cut my losses and get a new tank fitted when we get set back up in Europe.

FT500 · 03-28-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FT500

I bent 4 valves when the cam busted. waiting on a new set, if anyone has some, they want to sell, I am keen as mustard to get some and hit the trails

Let me know eh?

Think i sourced some and they hopefully are on their way.

Might Helicoil the rocker cover bolts whilst its appear to avoid the weepy oil problems.

I fixed the other big issue of the starter, managed to find a Brand new starter gear :)

truck6driver · 04-01-2011, 07:13 PM

Cool. any pics

Ray

FT500 · 04-05-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FT500

Think i sourced some and they hopefully are on their way.

Might Helicoil the rocker cover bolts whilst its appear to avoid the weepy oil problems.

I fixed the other big issue of the starter, managed to find a Brand new starter gear :)

Helicoil done.

Kit was cheap, task was Easy. Happy Trail. Now to wait for the new Valves to get it registered and hit the road

Then, I'll take some photos. Lots of Photos... Photos of one in bits in the Garage isn't cool

Hughlysses · 04-06-2011, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuckedUp

Good to see this thread start up. I bought a Ascot for the wife's first bike here in Bama and she loves the little Honda. I's a 84 model and clean for the most part. Im a little worried about the rust on the inside of the the tank and since I have just packed it up and sent it off to Germany there is no telling how the tank will hold up on the boat. I know these have had problems with rust in the tank so I'm guessing I may need to cut my losses and get a new tank fitted when we get set back up in Europe.

Good tanks are nearly impossible to find for the VT500FT, much less new ones. The best thing you can do is figure out somehow to save the tank you already have.

FT500 · 05-02-2011, 11:49 PM

Just picked up a pair of Sprockets, seals and pistons for the rear caliper, new exhaust gaskets and bolts, new head gasket. Now all I need is valves and I should be back on the road.

n8dawg6 · 05-03-2011, 06:08 AM

a friend has one that i like to borrow once or twice a week. believe it's an '82. surprisingly quick little scoot.

i'm actually looking to purchase one, if its within a reasonable distance (i live in MS). if you have a lead shoot me a PM. black or red doesnt matter, but the closer to stock the better

jrflanne · 05-03-2011, 09:23 PM

I always thought those were really fine looking bikes. I used to work with a guy who raced one.

FT500 · 05-16-2011, 10:27 PM

Mines back on the road

Now to get some gaskets to fix the oil leak. Might need a new clutch

03-18-2011, 06:21 PM	#16
CharlieT old school Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Kalamazoo Oddometer: 1,042	Here's what I did to my '82 FT500 Ascot a few yrs ago: Replaced the airbox with a clamp on cone filter. Replaced the stock exhaust with an cone reverse cone megaphone and also took about 40lbs total off the thing. The lighter weight with the open ed up intake & exhaust woke that little sleeper right up!! __________________ A good bike mechanic only needs two tools, WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move, but should, use the WD40. If it does move but shouldn't use the duct tape. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Checke...22319847810910

03-19-2011, 09:42 AM	#18
CharlieT old school Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Kalamazoo Oddometer: 1,042	Yup, still got it. And your right it is fun in the twisties.....especially on the back country dirt roads. __________________ A good bike mechanic only needs two tools, WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move, but should, use the WD40. If it does move but shouldn't use the duct tape. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Checke...22319847810910

03-24-2011, 10:32 AM	#22
RuckedUp Studly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: Ansbach, Germany Oddometer: 859	Vt 500 Good to see this thread start up. I bought a Ascot for the wife's first bike here in Bama and she loves the little Honda. I's a 84 model and clean for the most part. Im a little worried about the rust on the inside of the the tank and since I have just packed it up and sent it off to Germany there is no telling how the tank will hold up on the boat. I know these have had problems with rust in the tank so I'm guessing I may need to cut my losses and get a new tank fitted when we get set back up in Europe. __________________ My SPOT tracker link: SPOT AKA extsieg 09' Dyna Low Rider 10' KTM 450EXC

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03-19-2011, 07:34 AM	#17
truck6driver ^OP The Fireman Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Hope Mills, N.C. Oddometer: 5,796	Do you still have the bike? Looks like you were making a fun little curve carver to me. Ray

03-21-2011, 02:42 AM	#19
FT500 Honda FT500 - 'Ascot Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Oddometer: 28	I bent 4 valves when the cam busted. waiting on a new set, if anyone has some, they want to sell, I am keen as mustard to get some and hit the trails Let me know eh?

03-22-2011, 04:12 PM	#20
christoz Adventurer Joined: Mar 2011 Oddometer: 11	If my C would have looked as sweet as the ascot, I never would have chopped it up

04-01-2011, 07:13 PM	#24
truck6driver ^OP The Fireman Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Hope Mills, N.C. Oddometer: 5,796	Cool. any pics Ray

05-02-2011, 11:49 PM	#27
FT500 Honda FT500 - 'Ascot Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Oddometer: 28	Just picked up a pair of Sprockets, seals and pistons for the rear caliper, new exhaust gaskets and bolts, new head gasket. Now all I need is valves and I should be back on the road.

05-03-2011, 06:08 AM	#28
n8dawg6 krunkin' Joined: Apr 2011 Location: MS Oddometer: 145	a friend has one that i like to borrow once or twice a week. believe it's an '82. surprisingly quick little scoot. i'm actually looking to purchase one, if its within a reasonable distance (i live in MS). if you have a lead shoot me a PM. black or red doesnt matter, but the closer to stock the better

05-03-2011, 09:23 PM	#29
jrflanne Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2008 Oddometer: 125	I always thought those were really fine looking bikes. I used to work with a guy who raced one.

05-16-2011, 10:27 PM	#30
FT500 Honda FT500 - 'Ascot Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Oddometer: 28	Mines back on the road Now to get some gaskets to fix the oil leak. Might need a new clutch