Magna Owners Of Texas

Firstly let me say a big hi from across the pond as I live in the UK. I found this great site the other week when as our summer is drawing to an end and the rain and snow of winter is on its way I thought what better time for me to buy my first bike in 15 years  :?  

So I am now the proud owner of a 1984 V30 Magna imported from the USA and am in need of advice from site members. It is losing water though not from any obvious leaks. The only evidence I can see is a watery/slightly oily deposit from one of the breather pipes that exit by the swinging arm (this leads to the breather system in the frame).

My first thoughts was head gasket trouble so the spark plugs were pulled out and sure enough one plug was sooty black whilst the other 3 were the correct biscuit brown, a compression test was done but it showed all cylinders at the same ratio 60 (uk) psi. Eager to sort the problem I pulled off the front head as that was the one that had the offending spark plug in it (front left cylinder when sat on bike to be  precise). With the head removed I'm now non the wiser, the front left piston is sooty and black whilst it's neighbour is the afore mentioned biscuit brown so obviously something is stopping it running correctly. The bores, pistons, valves, cams etc all show  no signs of wear at all. So I am now at a loss as to what is the problem as I couldn't see any sign of a problem when I examined the head gasket.  :?

I do so hate to just turn up asking for help but I figured that with such a huge base of Magna owners someone must have had this problem before and could perhaps offer a solution. I have ordered a head gasket set and am planning on putting it back together to see if that does cure it. It's worth pointing out that there is no sign of water in the engine oil so it doesn't look like its leaking water into the bottom end and as an ex mechanic I'm pretty savvy with engines but this one has me stuck.

Unfortunately I work away from home (truck driver) so wont have access to a computer until next weekend but I look forward to all replies and advice.  :D

Welcome to the MOOT Forum!  

I would say to first check the radiator cap they have been known to go bad occasionally.  When they do they allow fluid to be pushed past then routed out the overflow tube, sometimes this is routed to the swing arm area.

On the one black plug I would suspect that that corresponding carb could be set too rich, or that the coil possibly weak.  Especially with the good and equal compression checks and no visible wear.

Firstly thanks  for the reply and more so the welcome  :D  Sorry it's took so long to post but I've been busy with work. Anyhoo the story so far is thus.

I stripped the head down that had the rouge looking spark plug and though I couldn't see any signs of a faulty gasket one of the head bolts did have signs of carbon on it whilst the rest were clean. So after quizzing my local Honda dealer and finding no inherent faults relating to my problem I have fitted a new head gasket and will see how I get on. I've not had chance to run it more than a few miles since I rebuilt everything due to work but will give it a good run out tomorrow so I should know if all is solved by then. I don't think it's a mixture or ignition problem causing the fowled plug as it was wet when I took it out and not due to fuel.

Just one more question if I may, the Magna was never sold in the UK and the only ones over here are imports from the US and since mine is missing a side panel I'm having trouble locating one, second hand or otherwise. So I was wondering if there is a company that makes pattern ones in the US or even if new ones for the 84 model are still available, all links to web sites where I can get bits from would be very welcome as I can easily get serviceable parts such as gaskets, filters etc but I need a left hand side panel, a fork brace and perhaps a wind shield and some panniers all of which I can't source over here.

Try these for your parts. They are a large parts house for Vintage bikes and probably ship across the pond.

http://www.motorcitypowersport.com/default.asp

http://www.babbittsonline.com

Quote from: TLRam1Try these for your parts. They are a large parts house for Vintage bikes and probably ship across the pond.

http://www.motorcitypowersport.com/default.asp

http://www.babbittsonline.com

Great stuff thanks  :D  just had a quick look and they carry spares for the VF 500, now this may seem an no brainer of a question but I'm new to the model. On the parts list of one of the sites it lists a VF500C and a VF500F what is the differance and how do I tell which model mine is?

In edit: is there a PDF version of the owners manual available to download some place, I've located and downloaded a clymer manual but it's always nice (I think) to have a copy of the owners hand book if only for nostalgia value.

VF500C Cruiser   (The Magna is a Cruiser.)

VF500F Interceptor   (Sports bike or sometimes referred as a crotch rocket  )

Quote from: Luke 22VF500C Cruiser   (The Magna is a Cruiser.)

VF500F Interceptor   (Sports bike or sometimes referred as a crotch rocket  )

:oops:

Thanks I thought it'd be along those lines but wanted to be certain.

Here are a couple on your side of the pond...
http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/

http://www.cmsnl.com/

One more in the UK....
http://www.johnoldfield.co.uk/

Cheers for the links  :D  a couple of em I had stumbled across and the David Silver site has turned out to be quite cheep when sourced the gaskets I needed for my cylinder head. Speaking of which I managed to get a lengthy test ride in on Saturday and apart from the hose clip I forgot to tighten working lose and spraying hot water all up my leg (I was riding along thinking my jeans had caught fire) all seems to be cured on the water loss front.  :)  All that was left to do was recheck the valve clearances and also adjust those on the rear head that was quite noisy and I'd not had chance to look at. I wish I hadn't looked now as I've just found one wrecked cam and all the other bits that go at the same time including the cylinder head being chewed up.

Not to worry I'd rather get the bike all sorted now so when it is put on the road proper I know it'll be relatively trouble free.

<<<<< Now off the search all websites for cylinder head and camshaft parts.

Sure hate to hear about the rear head problems, especially after all the work being completed on the front head.  Either way, you seem to have a good handle on the issue and the talent to work through it.  It's always good to see an old bike get picked up by somebody that will take the time to go through it and make it whole again.  Let us know if we can help in any way from here in Texas.

Quote from: John LuttrellSure hate to hear about the rear head problems, especially after all the work being completed on the front head.  Either way, you seem to have a good handle on the issue and the talent to work through it.  It's always good to see an old bike get picked up by somebody that will take the time to go through it and make it whole again.  Let us know if we can help in any way from here in Texas.

Thanks for the offer of help and I'm certain I'll be of need of technical advice at some point in the future. The story so far is thus.............

I've hunted high and low for a second hand cylinder head as I can get a new one but the price is way too high for me  :(  I did find a complete bike on e bay and won it at a cheap price only for the owner to inform  me the day I was due to collect that it had been vandalised the night before so he had decided to sell it locally  :?  Not quite sure what to make of that story. Any hoo after a quick examination of the head and cam I've decided to rebuild it and run it until I can drop on a second hand head. It's not the main bearing part of the cam or head that's worn simply a 1/8th of an inch on the very end. It's not oil fed under pressure so it won't cause a loss of oil pressure and the main bearing/journal on that part of the cam seems ok. So I think it'll be fine until I can locate a decent head.

So I ordered a head gasket only for it to come as the wrong size another was ordered only for this to be the same. So after plenty of phone calls I find out that I can't locate a rear cylinder head gasket in any place in Europe. I get plenty of front ones but not a rear one. I was just debating on making a front one fit when I managed to locate a top end gasket set in Holland so hopefully that should do the job. So all is on hold until that arrives. But I've not been idle it's been polished and polished so it shines like a new one now. It's not proving the most straight forward ownership of a bike I've known of but non the less it's keeping me busy and I'm quite enjoying my labour of love. I'd enjoy it even more if I could ride the thing again.

I would not hesitate to reuse the original head, based on what you described.  Hang in there on the gaskit issue, they are still out there to be had.

English Magna, fill out your profile so we know where you ride out of.

Thanks

Quote from: TLRam1English Magna, fill out your profile so we know where you ride out of.

Thanks

England  :)

Quote from: John LuttrellI would not hesitate to reuse the original head, based on what you described.  Hang in there on the gaskit issue, they are still out there to be had.

Thanks John it gives me great peace of mind to find someone else would take the same steps as me in this situation. I will change the head when I find a good second hand one but to me I didn't see the point in keeping a great bike off the road for something that can't cause any further damage to any other part of the bike.