Jump to content

Wesley G

Expired Membership
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    23

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Wesley G

  1. Wesley G
    Thanks a lot for all those links and the other information. It will definitely help once I can find the time to start and finish this project. I just got to thinking and I realized I probably have a half dozen projects around the house that are half done...
  2. Wesley G
    When it happened on Saturday and I was worried I wouldn't get it going there was probably a little less than half a tank. Today the fuel light will be coming on in 15 miles or so. Anyway it could be a clogged fuel filter? I've only had the bike a couple months so I'm not sure if its ever been changed. Heard its a pita to get to though... Also, from day 1 I've noticed that this bike is just harder to start. I've often had to hold the starter button for 2 or 3 seconds before she fires up.
  3. Wesley G
    Yeah I figured if it was the kill switch then it wouldn't turn over at all. I just went for a short ride to the beer store and came back 5 minutes later and it acted like it didn't want to start again. This time I put it in neutral and it fired right up. I also turned the fuel off 1/2 mile from the house to drain the bowls. When I turned the key back on it clicked much more than usual so who knows... I just gotta figure this out cause I'm going from Mississippi to Colorado (1500 miles each way) and I sure would hate to be stranded... Thanks for all the help and hopefully I can start troubleshooting as soon as I get some time.
  4. Wesley G
    Well I've been researching for a little while and it seems like the points are the problem in most fuel pump failures. Is there a way to clean the points? Also, is it difficult to replace the points? I read somewhere that you have to solder them, I'm no good at soldering... I also saw a thread that said most fuel pump failures occur in 2006 and new models, they suggested a possible change in manufacturing. I also read that if you replace the fuel pump with a cheaper option than stock like an ebay one or Mr. Gasket that you MUST shutoff the fuel or you could end up having hydrostatic lock (or something like that) and engine damage. (I'm not exactly sure what that means...and I never shutoff my fuel so that would be a hard habit to start). I have 4 months until my trip so I have time to play with it and figure things out. I just know I DO NOT want to get stranded. Any suggestions on things I could do to give myself a little just in case insurance?
  5. Wesley G
    Ok so the clicking when I turn the key on is the fuel pump then right? Seems to do it for longer the longer the bike has sat (about 5 seconds or so). So this is normal right?
  6. Wesley G
    My 04 RSV sat idle for about 2 weeks while I waited on a new seat that I traded my old one for. Once I finally got my new seat installed I started her up no problem and rode about a mile to Lowes to pick up some bolts and whatnot. I was in Lowes for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and I come out and I can't get the bike to start. She just cranks and cranks with no firing. I let it sit for a few minutes and tried it again with the same result. Then I flipped the kill switch a couple of times (I leave it in the run position and kill the engine with the kick stand) and tried it again. After that it started up just fine. I rode about 70 miles, hung out for 4 hours or so and rode 70 miles home yesterday and all was well. Any ideas why I had such trouble getting her started on Saturday??? I'm planning an iron butt ride in about 4 months and just want to be sure I have all the kinks worked out by then. Thanks.
  7. Wesley G
    Yeah removing the little chrome covers was easy. I just can't figure out how to get the throttle cables loose now
  8. Wesley G
    Yeah I sure am hoping the head bolts are just loose. I'm still looking for time to dig into it. I've only had the bike a couple months and still haven't had the tank off yet. Right now I'm trying to figure out how I can reroute my throttle cables since I just installed the baron risers.
  9. Wesley G
    I installed the Baron risers and like many others I have binding in my throttle cables now. I've taken the throttle housing apart and tried to take the wires off to reroute them. I can't for the life of me get them out though. I've loosened the risers and lowered the bars for more slack and tried to pry the cables out where they're attached with a tiny screw driver to no avail. Is there a trick to getting them loose?
  10. Wesley G
    Awesome! Thanks for the info. I'm going to try to tackle it as soon as I have some extra time.
  11. Wesley G
    Thanks for the schematic, that should make things easier. Can I get to all of the bolts to remove the chrome cover and tighten the valve cover bolts by just removing the tank? Or will I need to take more stuff off?
  12. Wesley G
    I know changing the gasket out and checking the valves would be ideal. However, I'm not sure I'm up for a job that in depth, especially the valves. Is there a way to stop the leak without having to pull the gasket? Maybe one of the valve cover bolts is loose??? Also, how bad would it be if I just let it leak for the time being as long as I keep a close eye on the oil level?
  13. Wesley G
    Ok so I've looked and looked and looked and done so research too so now I'm 99% sure my leak is coming from the valve cover gasket. Worst part is the outer corner of the rear left cylinder. What's the best/easiest way to fix this?
  14. Wesley G
    I thought 20W50 was a little thick too but the guy I bought the bike from has been running it for the entire 64,000 miles. Despite the minor leak and smoke problems this bike is a beast and runs like a scalded dog. I'm going to stick with that oil for now because I figure why change at this point. Plus I was given 8 quarts of the amsoil 20w50 by the previous owner.
  15. Wesley G
    The smoke was white with a little bit of a blue hue to it. I dumped the oil filter again but it still seems to be a little over half way up the sight glass. I'll probably dump it one more time and try to get it as close to half way up as I can. I'm going to keep a close eye on it and see how it goes. Hopefully it won't be anything major or serious. Thanks for all the help. This board is great.
  16. Wesley G
    The smoke is coming out of the exhaust pipes. It was about 45 degrees when I started it earlier. I shut it off and then started it back up a few minutes later and rode about 30 miles with no smoke. It smoked the same way right after I changed the oil a couple weeks ago. Maybe it has something to do with starting the bike without any oil in the oil filter. The oil seems to be coming from the rear outer corner of the head on the rear left cylinder. Looks like where the head meets the block. I saw a few drops of oil on the exhaust header just under this a week or so ago. Also, my oil level is still about 3/4 of the way up the sight glass when the bike is level. I might not be giving that thick 20W50 enough time to drain all the way down. Maybe I need to drain a little more oil. Any other thoughts or suggestions?
  17. Wesley G
    I've had my 2004 venture for right about a month now. I noticed a little oil under the crank case breather tube and discovered it was probably because the oil level was too high. I changed the oil and put a little less in than it had when I got it. Although it was still close to the top of the sight glass when the bike was level. The crankcase tube leak has stopped but now I've noticed twice during the past week or so oil dripping from near the left rear cylinder. Last night I pulled the oil filter and drained a little oil hoping that would solve my problem. I cranked the bike again just a little while ago and now its smoking pretty bad. Any thoughts or ideas on what could be causing the new leak and smoking? Advice on how to remedy this problem would be great as well. BTW this bike has a little over 64,000 miles now and I'm still running Amsoil 20W50 just like the original owner has for the life of the bike. Thanks
  18. Wesley G
    I bought my 2004 Midnight Venture just 3 weeks ago for $4,500. It was a 1 owner bike with 63,000 miles. It's in showroom condition and has almost every STAR accessory that was offered back in 2004. It's got the luggage rack and led light bar on the trunk, plus pipes that sound awesome! It has passing lamps and the corbin seat made specifically for the venture with driver backrest, plus highway pegs. It has the chrome accents on the tank, inner fairing and trunk which really add to the looks in my opinion. It also has all kinds of extra chrome which really makes it pop. I've counted at least 12 pieces of chrome on the bike (not including accents) that don't come stock. This thing even has a trailer hitch on it. Oh and it has the different links which raised the rear end for improved handing as well. On top of all of that the guy I bought it from gave me 8 quarts of Amsoil, 2 oil filters and a spare set of K&N air filters. I think I got a steal on this one and I'm super happy with it.
  19. Wesley G
    Well turns out it was just the headlight fuse. Fixed all of my problems. Thanks for all the help. I'm definitely going to look into putting in a relay in the future.
  20. Wesley G
    Well I don't have time to mess with it right now because I'm just about the leave for this ride. But a quick update on the symptoms. Of course the headlight, passing lamps, and power outlet are dead. Blinkers, flashers, radio, cruise and all indicator lights except for the high beam light work. I just realized that the brake light and led light bar on the trunk aren't working either. Y'all think I'm just looking for a single fuse under the left side cover or could it be multiple fuses? I'll check back tonight after I get back home. Thanks for all the help everyone.
  21. Wesley G
    Where can I find the main fuse? Also, everything else works, radio, cruise, and other indicator lights.
  22. Wesley G
    Well there's a little push button switch right next to the power outlet in the fairing that turns the passing lamps on and off. It looks factory but I'm pretty sure it's not so I think whoever installed the lamps and the switch knew what they were doing. All I can figure is that they put the headlamps/switch, power outlet and headlight all on the same fuse.
  23. Wesley G
    Okay, I've been lurking for a while but I finally had to join today. I bought my 2004 Midnight Venture 3 weeks ago with 63,000 miles in near showroom condition. I absolutely love it and couldn't ask for more. Anyway so onto my issue. I'm going on a ride with my club later today and was hoping to show the ole girl off. I was adding some air to the tires with my compressor plugged into the dc/cigarette outlet and all was well. Until I fired the bike up while the compressor was running. The compressor stopped immediately and now I have no power to the DC outlet, and worse my head light and passing lamps are out. I'm guessing I blew a fuse but I'm really not sure. Any help would be great. Looks like I'm going to have to take my old bike after all because we're going to the coast and will be riding back at night. Also, I'm not sure if this is the correct place for a post like this...
×
×
  • Create New...