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6m459

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Everything posted by 6m459

  1. 6m459
    Thanks! This sounds like what I needed to know. Also did a comparison with pricing on the ViragoTech forum's classifieds. The bike I am looking at still seems like a deal. Cheers, Brian H.
  2. 6m459
    Hi I am going to look at an '87 Virago 1100, with 150kM / 93k miles, on Thurdsay evening. It sounds like a bargain, even despite its age, mileage and some mechanical issures. I just can't resist, even though I already have more bikes than I can afford to put on the road. I understand that the bike is aflicted with a starter problem common to the breed and that at present the starter does not engage at all. Also the bike has been in storage for a year or so and has no gas or oil in it at present. I am prepared for the fact that the bike needs some work but I would like to assure myself at the very least, that the engine is not siezed. What is the easiest way to do that at a pre sale inspection on someone elses turf when the starter is not available? http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad39/UxHamby/Virago1100/c1e731a4.jpg I am thinking that I could pull an engine cover to expose the end of the crank and then turn it with a socket wrench or I could get the bike rolling in an upper gear and pop the clutch and judge if it stops too quickly. Neither of these seem particularly doable away from home turf. If I put the bike on its centre stand, should I be able to turn the rear wheel by hand in an upper gear? Suggestions, advice, experience? Thanks, Brian H.
  3. 6m459
    Nice work! Sounds like someone might have too much time on their hands. I just sold my trailer. I found I never used it and it just sat about the yard full of camping gear. http://home.powergate.ca/~bjh/pix/bikeandtrailer.jpg A guy came along and offered me about what I had into it, so I sold it. I liked having a trailer and I liked the idea of being able to carry camping gear and stuff, but in practice it never got used. No one else in my family is interested in m/c camping so unless I feel like solitude, its a no go that never got done. As a utility, I found I could do things like take a propane bottle to the depot for a refill or take a car radiator to the shop for a recore or carry a lawn chair along to a concert in the park, but really it was more work than putting same into the trunk of the car and by the time I had the trailer on, the easy to park bike advantage disappeared too. It was home made (by someone else) and a bit Rube Goldberg but it towed really well and but for the rattles, I could easily forget it was there. Oh well, now I have some cash in hand for my next hair brained scheme. Hope you get lots of fun out of yours! Cheers, Brian H.
  4. 6m459
    Sounds to me like a picture is called for here. C'mon, lets see that bike. Brian H.
  5. 6m459
    Hi, Anyone have any info on whether 2 '84's could be parked side by side inside a Trike sized BikeBarn? http://www.thebikebarn.net/images/smartbarn_sidecar.jpg I guess what it comes down to is: can they be parked side by side in less than 72"? Which is the response from the good folks at BikeBarn. I am thinking I may need to use a nose to tail apporoach. My bikes are still in winter storage in my dad's garage so I can't run out and measure. I am looking for a storage solution for next winter, as dad's garage will not be available to me then. The BB and a bit of real estate in my side garden, is looking like my best solution so far. Thoughts, advice, experience, 2 bikes handy to measure? Thanks, Brian H. PS, there seems to be a free shipping sale on at BB till the end of March!
  6. 6m459
    I find a large bore medical syringe to be a very useful tool when bleeding m/c brake lines. http://gibdykelodge.co.uk/hypodermic2.jpg I (remove the needle) get a short length of plastic hose that will go over the bleed nipple at one end and the syringe flange at the other end and then draw out the bubbles with the vaccum created when backing out the plunger. Go slowly so as not to collapse the hose and watch the reservoir for low fluid, topping up as nessessary to avoid drawing in air. Hope this helps, Brian H.
  7. 6m459
    When I remove my airbox, I pull the vent hose off the "twinkie" while the airbox is out. Before I pull the hose out though, I tie a piece of string to the bottom end of it and then lift the hose upwards out of the engine V, drawing the string along behind it through the nest of hoses etc. To reassemble, I mount the hose to the airbox first and then use the string to pull the "twinkie" end of the hose back in through the nest of hoses in the V, as I lower the airbox into place. This gets the free end of the hose back close to its spiggot on the "twinkie". With a bit of trial and error I can usually get it right on and since the old hose has some memory for the contour of the spiggot, it pops on with just a bit of poking and prodding from the sides with tools and fingers and only minimal cussing and skinned knuckles. I rather favour my old hose over a new one for this very reason. Don't get me wrong, its not fun but its the easiest way I have found to do this puzzle. I have to say that I am not in favour of the mod that does away with the hose to the "twinkie", on the basis that it only vents the crank case to atmosphere, whereas the hose to the airbox actually puts a vaccum on the crank case to draw out and burn combustible fumes. I have faith that the original designers of the engine knew what they were doing. Thats how it goes at my place, hope this is of interest. Cheers, Brian H.
  8. 6m459
    Well I for one would like to see a photo of the parts involved in this non OEM setup. Brian H.
  9. 6m459
    Stock fuse box is a piece of CR4P and needs to be replaced ASAP. [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showpost.php?p=332429&postcount=4]Here is what I have done with my two '84's.[/ame] Gives me 10 fuse circuits. Lots of miles on now no probs at all. I used a pair of Littlefuse part #03500417XP's ganged together. http://home.powergate.ca/~bjh/pix/P0002238.JPG Hope this helps. Brian H.
  10. 6m459
    There is but it is still somewhat experimental. [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40414]http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40414[/ame] Keep us posted on your results and experiences if you go this route please. I'll be getting one when some time and $ comes available. Brian H.
  11. 6m459
    Well, I am 53 and feel every year of it by the end of most days. Both my 25 y.o. Ventures ages added together don't add up to mine . Yet. I also find I am having more and more Victor Meldrew moments these days too. (BTW isn't this a tech forum for tech questions and help?) I habitually ride and drive old vehicles by choice out of cheepness. I never did see the point of getting a flashy new vehicle to try to make myself look good. I rather prefer to think I can drive old stuff and I make it look good. Well we all have our delusions. Brian H.
  12. 6m459
    Here's mine: (at a particularly and uncharacteristically tidy moment) http://www.filesanywhere.com/FS/M.aspx?v=9171668f999ca3b8a79c Not a patch on those fancy ones, but my happy place none the less. Brian H.
  13. 6m459
    I took my red '84 up to my dad's place for winter storage yesterday. Now, I am too cheap to pay to plate and insure both bikes so RED hasn't been used at all this year except for the occasional run around the block to test out my brake & electrical repairs etc. Basicly she is a hot spare for old BLUE, just in case. Anyways, the trip is about 25 km / 15 miles. I was pleased with the way she ran till about 3/4 of the way there when I turned onto a secondary road and hit a bump in the road. I suddenly had a quite alarming noise like you describe from the front end. I got off the throttle immediately and slowed down to plan a stop to take a look, but when the speed came down to about half the 80km/hr speed limit, the noise suddenly stopped. I resolved to press on, since I was so close to my destination and not strictly speaking street legal, but a bit further along, I had the same thing happen all over again at another bump. It sounded like something was rubbing on the front tire but I have examined it since and find nothing like that going on. I am reasonably sure it wasn't the speedo so I have concluded front wheel bearings. I have experienced w/b noise in cars and it doesn't come on suddenly like this, and yet it had all the characteristic sounds of a w/b. I did notice that out on the highway, before turning off onto the secondary road that the bike did have a bit of a tendancy to wander. I wondered about the health of the w/b's as a cause of that too but rationalized that the different feel from Old Blue might be due to RED being equipped with an aftermarket super fork brace. Ironically, I have a fresh set in the RHS dash pocket that I never got around to installing this year. Has any one else had front wheel bearings suddenly go noisey like that? Thoughts / opinions / wild speculations ? Thanks, Brian H.
  14. 6m459
    My local dealer quoted me $400CAD (2 yrs ago) for a new OEM Yamaha stator. I got one on ebay c/w cover for $15USD plus shipping. Didn't really intend to use it but when the aftermarket one failed it was either give it a try or park the bike while I argued about warranty replacement. I got lucky on it to be sure but it saved my a$$ and is still going strong. Hence my uncharacteristic devotion. My aftermarket one turned out to be an Electrosport one. A local manufacturer was reselling them and not being fully forthcoming with the source details. Electrosport did honour the warranty but it took a month round trip for the replacement to arrive. The riding season is short enough in these latitudes without loosing a month! Hope this is of interest. Brian H.
  15. 6m459
    Hi, My bike behaved as you describe and my original stator passed all these resistance checks handily, but was bad anyways. I even borrowed a fancy a$$ed low range digital ohmmeter to check the winding resistances. They all LOOKED good but a replacement stator cheered things up immediately. Suspect this is your problem as well although all the checks as suggested here are definitely worth doing first. Based on experience, I would only buy an OEM Yamaha stator as a replacement, even a used one from ebay (which is what I am currently running with), over so called hi output aftermarket ones. I am sure others will disagree but this is my advice. Pix of my stator replacement job round 1 are available HERE in case you are interested to see whats involved. In THIS pic you see my original one RHS, ebay OEM unit middle and an aftermarket one that only lasted 1 month in service on the LHS. BTW, welcome to our group. Much good advice is to be had here and please keep us posted on your progress and allow us to learn from your experience also. Also btw, are you aware that there is a UK based group of Venture enthusiasts? See HERE. Hope this is of interest. Cheers, Brian H.
  16. 6m459
    Hi, I got my TCI out intact, without taking any farrings off. Once the battery box and the air box are out of the way, I also undid the 4 bolts that hold the battery box mounting frame strut in place and removed it. then I undid the 4 bolts that hold the frame strut that the TCI is mounted to. It wasn't easy to move these 8 bolts as I had to sneak a box end wriench around from inside the frame to the outside to do it. Fortunately some kind family members, last xmas, had given me a set of box end wrenches with hinged box ends. They saved the day for me on this job. ONce the TCI's frame strut is loose, I was able to pivot its aft end up by 45 degrees and then could get my fist in and a stubby screw driver onto the 2 screws holding the TCI in place. Before pivoting the TCI frame strut, I couldn't get a tool on those screws to save my life. Once that was done, I re rounted the wires to connect my TCI on top of the air box. Now I can change one in 5 minutes flat. Hope this helps & good luck. Brian H.
  17. 6m459
    Thanks Todd ! Brian H.
  18. 6m459
    Holger, thanks for the report. I am glad to hear you have revived your dead Venture! Your English was entirely understandable and quite easy reading. I certainly couldn't do such a report in your language. Please keep us up to date about your further testing and your Germany speed tests. Please keep it safe. Cheers, Brian H.
  19. 6m459
    "Forward, the Light Brigade! "Charge for the guns!" Into the valley of Death Good luck in the valley of death. I have a problem with ebay too but I am looking for a 12 step program to deal with mine. I had some email back from the cz outfit. They sounded quite alright. I said I'd wait till I heard from the other member here about his experiences with their unit. All seemed quite cordial. Suggest you cut them some slack. Cheers & keep us posted, Brian H.
  20. 6m459
    Also Ebay auction #110439235686 Yamaha XVZ13 Venture XVZ12 Good Running CDI Box 1984-89 Removed from a good running 1987 Yamaha XVZ13 Venture 1300. Will fit 1984-85 Yamaha XVZ12 Venture 1200 and Venture Royale. Will fit 1986-89 Yamaha XVZ13 Venture & Venture Royale 1300 as well. Includes used CDI box as seen in pictures. All connections are in good shape. No breaks or cracks. Hope this is of interest Brian H.
  21. 6m459
    See Ebay auction #280399991639 # THIS AUCTION IS FOR ONE USED IGNITOR FROM A 1984 1200 VENTURE; # MOTORCYCLE HAD 124000KM ON THE CLOCK, APPROX 70000 MILES; # HITACHI TYPE TID14-28 41R-10 SERIAL NUMBER 312; # GOOD WORKING CONDITION; I have bought from this guy in the past no probs. I am otherwise uninvolved but thought you might be interested to know of it. Cheers, Brian H.
  22. 6m459
    That does look yucky alright. It doesn't mean it can't be repaired though. I'd be swapping out those diodes and looking for bad solder joints / broken traces to resolder if it were mine. I wouldn't write it off at least till that has been tried. If you want to send it my way, I'll take a look at it but I have no special equipment to test and diagnose it with. I'd do all the physical repairs I could find and then use my own bike as a test bed. Good luck with it. Brian H
  23. 6m459
    I agree. A replacement is a good idea. I bought one on Ebay and got lucky. Despite the sellers assurances, I wasn't really sure till I hit the starter button. That said, they aren't making these any more, so there are only a finite number. If your original can be repaired it is worth doing as a spare. As long as the special proprietary IC's under the sub PC boards are OK then it should be possible to repair it. Good luck with it. Brian H.
  24. 6m459
    Did your TCI look like [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=39805]this[/ame]? This one was brought back from the dead. Suggest you take a picture or two of your TCI innards and post them for comment. Apparently all parts on the Printed Circuit board are still available EXCEPT the large IC's that are under the sub PC boards. As long as problems are with available parts it should be possible to revive it. There are 8 small glass diodes that are quite fragile and seem to disintigrate over the years. The first step in TCI rehabilitation is to swap them out with modern 1n400x diodes. The traces on the PC board loft off pretty easily so a lot of care is needed while working on it but I think there could be hope. Hope this is of interest. Brian H.
  25. 6m459
    Has she had any SeaFoam lately? Brian H.
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