[iPod install on 87...]

I just installed an ipod on my '87 yesterday. It's easy.

 

Buy a cassette adaptor at WalMart for $10.

 

Insert adaptor into cassette player and plug into ipods earbud plug.

 

Press play and enjoy!

 

It's really that easy.

 

The cassette player makes some noise with the adaptor but no more noise than any other cassette make when it plays.

[My new ride- the 86 VR will have to go]

When some people of high intelligence and good taste (second gen owners) began telling them about the modern technology available in todays highly engineered lightning fast very stylish motorcycles they began calling modern motorcycles the dark side.

 

Last I heard, your "technologically advanced modern motorcycles" have a cassette player just like my "ancient" (and faster:rasberry:) machine.:stirthepot::stirthepot:

[rear diff questions]

Well, I sanded down the brake pads. That seemed to do the trick for that part. While I was at it, I changed out the fluid for the clutch and the rear brakes. Gotta say, that's a CHORE!

 

Got everything back together and today Bigin and I went out to see if the noise was gone.

 

The noise he heard the day of the Eureka meet isn't as bad, but there is still something there. When we swapped bikes so I could listen to it, it sounded like a buzzing noise at 60mph. Kind like it would sound if something were rubbing on raised white letters at that speed.

 

Whatever it is, it can be heard when running about 3' behind and to either side of the bike.

 

Any ideas?

[Does anyone know anyone who succeeded in one of these?]

I could name a few who I know that made a LOT of money in direct selling.

 

But if anybody tells you it's easy, their liars.

[Originallity]

I know flames and skulls are overdone, but I'd still like to have this on my side bags.

 

 

I wouldn't exactly consider that paintjob "flames". That my friend, is considered artwork.

[A Scary Thought]

no time to pay attention to whats going on around them,they have other things to pack into their driving time.got to eat, talk on the phone ,yell at the kids, put make up on,read the paper,etc. sure is scary.

 

I passed a lady on the way into work one day that was cruising through morning traffic at 75mph doing a crossword puzzle while driving. I have my doubts as to whether she really knew what was going on around her.

I used to be concerned about the people talking on their phones while driving but after seeing that, and another lady reading the paper while driving, the cell phones really don't bother me as much anymore.

[Originallity]

When I still had my paint shop open a few years back I got VERY frustrated about flames as well. I would get all sorts of people coming in to my shop wanting to customize their scoot. 99% of them wanted flames. I painted so many flames that I could probably do it with my eyes closed.

 

I saw nothing original about flames. It's what everybody wanted.

 

I have a friend that wanted his new HD to stand out from the crowd and asked me what he needed to do with it to accomplish this. I told him to leave it stock. He did, and it stands out from the crowd just like he wanted. It's plain.

 

I'll admit, my own HD has flames. But all the other paintwork makes the ghost flames even harder to see. They disappear into the paintwork. Which was what I wanted. Flames that only show up under certain lighting conditions.

[rear diff questions]

Hi,

 

Did you test the Bike in 4th Gear as you described in your second Posting ?

 

 

Yup, sure did. Everything sounded just fine to my ear.No odd noises that I could notice except the diff whining on decel. I'll let Bigin follow me to confirm this though.

 

Before I did all this, in 4th gear I could pull the clutch and the wheel would just stop. It wouldn't even make 1 revolution before it stopped. Now, even with the brake pads dragging, I can clutch it in 4th and the wheel will freespin several revolutions before it stops. So I at least feel that I am making progress.

 

 

I'll pull the pads off tomorrow morning and sand w/ a little 180grit and try it again. I'm also going to double check the gear oil in the rear diff. Little nagging voice in my head (no, it isn't my wife's voice:whistling:) tells me to double check before heading out.

 

 

Ed

[rear diff questions]

Got all my new bearings and seals this morning. New tire mounted and balanced.

 

Installed new bearings into hub along with the new seals. Geased the ever loving p-wadding out of DS splines, hub 'fingers', and every other part I could find that was supposed to have grease but didn't.

 

Installed everything on bike and tightened it up. Changed rear brake pads and then filled rear diff w/ fresh oil. (it's been draining for 6 days now - I believe it is probably empty:rotf:)

 

So I take the bike off the lift and put it on the center stand.

Fire it up and run it through the gears.

 

1st - great

2nd - great

3rd- great

4th-great

5th - vibration @ 4500rpm

 

Pull in clutch

 

Holy Moses what the hell is that whining coming from the rear end?!?!

 

I've never had a whine in the rear like that with the old grease in it.

 

Any thoughts on that?

 

I also noticed that the new brake pads are dragging a bit. I'm hoping that after a few miles they might wear enough to allow the piston some room so they can actually release. With the new pads, I had to completely compress the pistons in order to fit new pads over rotor. It was tight to say the least.

 

Anyhow, it's together, but I'm not going to test ride it till tomorrow. I have commitments tonight which do not allow me the time nor pleasure of going for a ride. I'll do it tomorrow. (I'm supposed to go for a ride tomorrow anyhow)

 

So that's how that went. Anybody have any ideas?

 

Ed

[brake pads ?]

I thank eveybody , fa123 and fa23hh is rite

fa123 on ebay are about 25.00 a lot better than my stealer

i hear the hh are better , i am going to look around and see how much they are , i cked pepboys on line , no luck

 

I just bought a set of FA123 pads at the stealer today. $28 out the door. I opted to not use the HH as I have been told that they tend to make more noise and wear out faster. Or so I was told. We'll see.

[Paint Help.]

You can get the self etching primer in rattle cans.

[Rate of failure?]

Still chasing ghosts here. While I sit and wait on new bearings, I can't help but wonder about other things. It's become an obsession that is driving me bonkers.

 

On the first gens, specifically the '87, what is the frequency of failure of the middle drive gear and/or its components?

 

While I'm hoping that replacing the bearings and greasing eveything up real good will solve my issues, I keep overthinking any other possible causes of my noise. I know it's in the drivetrain, just not sure where. If the failure rate of the middle gear is very low, I'll quit worrying about it so much and possibly sleep tonight.

 

Ed

[rear diff questions]

well, I've got all new bearings and seals for the rear wheel coming, along with a new tire to replace my threadbare Conti. Should be able to put it all back together either Saturday or Sunday. Hopefully.

[rear diff questions]

ED,

 

Do you hear anything from the driveline when its on the center stand?I remeber you saying your buddy could hear something from your bike going down the road while riding beside you?sorry forgot his name.How does the final drive oil look like?black and chunky or clear and brownish color?

 

 

buddy

 

When I had it on the center stand, I finally got it to make some noise around 3500RPM in 4th gear. Kind of a growling sound.

 

When I drained the diff the grease in it was dark. Not chunky though, and no metal that I could see. Megnetic drain plug had some sludge on it, but nothing major.

 

I did notice the splines in the driveshaft had grease on them, but it looked old and dried up. More like cosmoline than grease. There was a slight bit of rust on the splines as well. I'd say they have not been greased in a long time.

 

Wheel bearings, The conical bearing needs replaced. Period. When I stick my finger in it and spin, I can feel it dragging. I don't know if this is normal or not, but I can also pull the inner ring out slightly with my finger. The bearing on the other side feels fine, but i am going to replace it anyhow.

 

I've got a few days to gather up bearings and such. I'm waiting on a new tire. My little lockup incident on Hwy 7 did my tire (already bald mind you) completely in. I now have a really nice view of the cords in the tire.

 

When I ran into 4th on the stand, if I clutch it the wheel just stops. No freespin at all. It just stops. Brakes might have something to do with that though. Not sure yet.

 

Ed

[rear diff questions]

I know it's probably a silly question but I have my reasons.

 

On a 1st gen ('87 VR to be specific). With the differential removed from the bike, driveshaft attached to the diff, how hard should it be to turn the driveshaft?

 

Also, with the bike on the centerstand, run up into 4th gear. Idle in 4th gear and pull in the clutch. How long should the rear wheel continue to free spin?

 

I'm chasing ghosts and hopefully your answers will help me to nail them down.

 

 

Thanks in advance,

Ed

[Eureka Springs]

Thanks for all the great pictures! Even though I was there, The pictures bring back memories of one of the best get togethers and rides I have been on in many years. It already seems too long ago. Can't wait till next year. I'll start scouting more roads once I put the VR back together.

 

I had a great time meeting all of you. Sorry some had to leave before I could get there though. Next year I'm saving a vacation day or 2 for this!

[State Laws]

My trip will take me into Florida,Illinois, Kentuky,Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

 

I REALLY dont wanna change my bike all around and have to buy new bars and risers and exhaust...my question is- how vigorously do these states enforce these laws.

 

I've ridden my HD with 18" Apes and straight drag pipes through each of the states you mentioned above (w/ the exception of Louisiana and Mississippi)and have never been given a second glance. I'm sure as long as you obey traffic laws and don't make a nuisance of yourself you will make it through with no problems.

[How hard is it.......]

actually, I fixed the rattle in mine without removing the collector. I'm not taking credit for how it was done though. It wasn't my idea but it worked.

 

Picture this if you will.

 

Bike on sidestand. Floorjack under bike. Put the jack pad roughly under the left side center and jack up until the collector bows inward just a little.

Do the same on the right side center.

 

Bingo. Not a rattle since. My thanks go to Bigin for this idea. Don't know if it was his idea, but he's the one who shared it with me.

 

If nothing else. It stopped the rattle for now so I can deal with it during the 2 week 'down season'.

[Help finding carb. sinc. tool.]

JC Whitney has a four gauge set for about $54.

Goose

 

and it is backordered until 7-10 business days from 9-20-07.

You also have to make sure you manually enter the catalog part number vs. the website part number. There is roughly a $25 difference between the two.

 

I bought a carbtune instead. Should be here any day now.

[How hard is it.......]

I thought this was a Venture site. Here we are talking about working on rusted bolts, cutting open something and then welding it back, and working on starters after you about dismantle the bike. How did that HD get in here???? OH, we are talking about a FIRST GEN !!! Well, that explains EVERYTHING !:rotf::rotf::rotf:

:080402gudl_prv:

 

Easy there hotrod. I seem to remember that shortly after the FC Rally there were an awfull lot of 2nd Gen riders posting about parts falling off their bikes while riding down the road.

I was beginning to think that Yamaha had done an exceptionally good job of copying the HDs.

 

You claim it's a lie?

Let me refresh your memory.

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12261&highlight=fell

and

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13295&highlight=fell

and

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11079&highlight=fell

and

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11001&highlight=fell

and

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12815&highlight=lost

 

Well, you get the point.I could go on, but I'll stop there.

My collector may rattle, but it rattles because even the broken parts are still attached.

 

And just for the record, in the past 130,000 miles, The only thing to fall off my HD was a girl on the back fender who couldn't comprehend the meaning of the term 'HANG ON'.

 

I still think that half of the 2nd Gen used parts on Ebay are picked up off the side of the road.:rotf::rotf::rotf:

[How hard is it.......]

Never heard of that. Is it primarilly for loosening rusted things? What about acting as a water/moisture inhibitor/repellant?

 

I learned about it while working in a Freightliner Bodyshop. The bolts on those trucks take alot of abuse and rust up. PB Blaster was what we would use to loosen them. It would loosen things that WD wouldn't.

 

As for its qualities on moisture.....not sure. Never tried to use it in that way.

 

Once you remove it, the starter is fully open to be able to work on it.

 

Who's working on their starter? My starter works fine. It's my collector that's driving me insane.

[How hard is it.......]

OK, so I sprayed all the bolts down with PB Blaster (I like it better than WD-40 ) and I'll spray it down again in the morning before I leave for work.

 

I'm just going to ride the 'other' scoot in tomorrow.

 

In the meantime, does anybody have a left side,front pipe laying around they want to part with? I didn't realize it till I was spraying the bolts down that at some time in the past a previous owner apparently curb checked the front pipe and it is caved in about half way.May as well replace while it's off if at all possible.

 

 

Ed

[How hard is it.......]

My collector has started rattling and it's driving me insane.

How hard is it to remove this little critter so I can take it to work with me tomorrow and gut it?

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Ed

[Thanks to all]

I too had a CB900. Decked out with all the hondaline goodies. My wife has been upset with me since I sold it 7 years ago. I gotta say, while I liked the 900, and miss it. I LOVE my VR and this site!

 

You're going to have a ball on your Venture!

 

Ed