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NLAlston

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Everything posted by NLAlston

  1. NLAlston
    Timgray, Thanks man (and to everyone else, the same). I finally did get that manual downloaded and (this time) in about a third of the time that it took before. Also, it wasn't a damaged file - this time. I printed out pages 5-25 and 5-26, in hopes of them carrying me through the bleeding process, but have not gained the clarity that I had hoped for. So I see what you mean about the manual being in a deficit state, regarding detailed information on the subject. But I will certainly try my hand at some of the suggestions given here (the ones that I think I might be best able to manage), and see what I come up with. My bike looks a little anorexic, now, and (if some of you were to see me out on it) you might think..."dang, that's a weird looking venture" . Believe it or not, a strong wind blew my bike over, last season, and one of the side trunks got irreparably damaged. It didn't look right with the one trunk on the other side, so I did away with that one, too. I rode for a little while, with just the main (top) trunk on the bike, but grew with a preference to remove that one, also. It just didn't look right, to me, sitting there by itself. So now it is somewhat stripped down, and I can't WAIT to be able to get in the saddle again. We'll see how that goes.
  2. NLAlston
    Well, I went through that process of downloading the 83-85 Service Manual, that Juggler had posted up, but when I tried to access the PDF I received notification that Adobe could not open the file. There was also mention of the file (possibly) being damaged. We have FIOS broadband service, here, and I couldn't understand why this file (88+ megs) took better than an hour to download. But I would really appreciate if someone could post up the manual's page(s) that deals with bleeding the clutch system. Advanced thanks.
  3. NLAlston
    Dang...you mean that this might be all that I have to do, for that? If that's the case...WOO HOO. I don't have a manual for my bike, and will see if there is one available somewhere on this site. If not, I'll just see if I can get someone, from one of these bike shops around here, to tell me how to do that (I am not real mechanically inclined). But (whew) do I thank you for this info.
  4. NLAlston
    Hello all, Well, it is good to be back here - though I wish that the issues were different. I have something going on that I hope someone might have some helpful info on. It has been a very busy time for me, of late, and I just got around (earlier today) towards attempts to get my bike ready for its first outing. It is VERY rough starting, but I am assuming that a tune-up might be the cure for that. The largest issue is in the regards of my clutch lever. It seemed to be very loose, but I attempted engaging it (with bike running) and proceeded to shift into first gear. Upon doing so, the bike gave a lurch, and then just died out. I then knew, for a certainty, was much more than just an imaginary thing. As I think back on it, the bike was a little hard shifting - just before I put it up for the winter. Now, though, it appears that there is something definitely wrong with the clutch mechanism. Has anyone experienced such as I have explained here? And would such a repair, to correct this problem, be a real 'cost-hungry' one? If the latter is the case, there is a very good chance that I won't be riding, this year. And I truly hope that this would not be the case.
  5. NLAlston
    Thanks to all for being thoughtful enough to share this very helpful info with me. Absolutely everything given, here, has been taken under advisement, and my confidence level has already been boosted by it. I know that actually doing the job will be a much different story that reading about what to do, but I honestly do feel better armed now. We'll see how I make out .
  6. NLAlston
    Hi Squeeze. Mine is not really an issue of indecision - in and of itself. If I could find someone local - or near local - who might be setup to do this kind of work, then the determining element would be the cost factor involved. I haven't, as yet, been able to zero in on anyone who might be able to do it, so it appears that I will be applying my own hands to the task. It doesn't have to be all that good looking. I mean, I can live with job that isn't blotchy - and that doesn't show any runs. I'll just take my time with it, and live with the results .
  7. NLAlston
    Guys, I had forgot to mention that the only thing I will really have to paint "on" the bike would be the fairing & fenders. The side panels and tank cover could be painted in my basement (woodworking) shop. If I do wind up having to do the job myself, how long should I let the paint cure before I take the bike out for its first 'after-paint' job?
  8. NLAlston
    Carl, Thanks much, man. More info than needed? Perish that thought . You provided me with some very helpful information, and I am truly grateful. I surely would have messed up, because I would have let all coats dry completely - before applying additional coats. Not was your info against doing that very helpful to me, but so was everything else that you gave to my attention. I don't know how this bike is going to look, when I finally get into the job & finish it (if, indeed, I have to do the job myself), but - as I told Squidley - it's all about me getting back to riding again. With the trunk and side bags off - as well as the part under the front of the fairing, which wraps around the bottom of the radiator (that is cracked, and will have to go) - my bike is going to look rather anorexic . That's also another reason why I think that the black color would look a lot better.
  9. NLAlston
    Thanks Suidley. I appreciated your thoughtful offer, which means as much to me as if you had lived close enough to help me with the paint job. I have no experience with painting, and do not have proper equipment. So I may have to go the route of spray bombs. I do happen to have a Porter Cable Pancake Compressor, but it isn't sufficient enough for spraying paint. I know that professionally-painted bike jobs can run well in excess of a thousand dollars, but I wonder if such cost outlays would be indicative of an owner having specialized/custom work done. With someone wanting just a straight-black paint job done (minus trunk & side bags), I wonder how much cheaper it might be. Oh well...I'll work it out somehow. The important thing is that I get rid of this color - as fast as I can, so that I can get back to riding - as soon as I can .
  10. NLAlston
    Thanks Muffinman, but I've gotten rid of both those side bags. The bike was on supported by the kickstand, and was blown over from that side of the bike. Consequently, it was the right-leg side bag that was damaged by the fall. I really had a very hard time getting the left-side bag off, and really damaged the the two support lengths, which served as the means by which to secure the bag to the body of the bike. The trash man took both of them away, this past Monday. So now I am left with just the main trunk. But I appreciate the offer, and definitely would have considered buying it from you - had I not messed up the one bag.
  11. NLAlston
    Hi again. I am getting rid of the main trunk that was on my '83 venture. We had a bad period, this past winter, and my bike (outside, but tarped) was blown over by the very strong winds. One of the side-trunks was damaged, in the blow over, and its twin was damaged in my efforts to remove it. My bike doesn't look right with just the larger/main trunk behind me, so I am letting it go. I am open to cash offers, or even willing to trade for a fairing windshield that is in better shape than my pitted one. The color of my trunk is pinkish/red - and I can try to post a picture up, if anyone shows interest in it. I live in Amherst, NY, and wouldn't mind traveling a 25-mile radius (before I start painting my bike).
  12. NLAlston
    Hello all. I have decided that it is time to paint my bike. I don't know if many of you remember, but my '83 Venture is pinkish/red in color. It was the only first-Gen Venture I could find, and it just happened to be that color (which I really don't like). Anyway, I am going to paint the bike black. The concern is over my having to paint the certain components of my bike, while yet intact (particularly the fairing & fenders). I have no other choice, and realize that the painting will not look (in any way) even near professional. But that's all right. Being that I have to go about the job as described above, what might be your opinions as to the type of paint that I should use. I was thinking of some spray cans of Enamel (or Urethane, if it comes in such cans) by which to get the job done. I have never attempted such a thing before, and any help in this would be much appreciated.
  13. NLAlston
    Hey man, I wish that I could do just that . The winters here can be brutal, and I can only remember seeing ONE rider who rode his bike through the winter. As long as the streets were relatively clear of snow, this guy would (no matter HOW cold it was) would ride his bike to work. I am sure that this was born out of necessity - as he owned no other vehicle. This fellow worked in Orchard Park, NY, and was living in Buffalo, NY. He had no special riding gear, and would often pull up to the filling station (where I was employed, at the time) with just a short leather jacket (and not a thick one), jeans and a knitted scull cap. It would be so cold, just opening the window to receive his fuel payments, so I don't know HOW IN THE WORLD he did it. That's some kinda work ethic, isn't it? .
  14. NLAlston
    Thanks much, guys. You have all been so very helpful to me.
  15. NLAlston
    Thanks, Squeeze.
  16. NLAlston
    I haven't been having any issues with the clutch slipping (as I thought that I might), but I have noticed, just a few times though, how it is hard getting the bike into neutral gear. It's been a very infrequent thing and, in fact, has only happened about three times. But I wondered as to what this might be due to - or a possible precursor to.
  17. NLAlston
    I just read some posts on 'Winterizing' our scoots, and am clear on all concerns except one: Having the wheels off the ground. Now, I don't have any such equipment that would allow the raising & holding of my bike, a few inches above ground so that its wheels aren't making contact with the ground, and I was wondering if it would be all right to place a length of wood beneath the wheels so that they aren't contacting the concrete floor. Please inform.
  18. NLAlston
    Hi Jeremy, My bike had what used to be an intercom , as evidenced by the embedded photo. The only thing that works, on this, is the radio. No, I haven't done anything regarding my wife's gear. It has been decided upon that we will wait until next year. I will either have gone through my bike, enough, to have raised my confidence level in it - or (God willing) I will have been blessed enough to get myself a new bike. There are just so many issues with my present scoot, and (to be honest) I am not at all certain that shelling out the dough (even if I had it like that, right now) to get it "really ready" would be the thing to do. It wouldn't be such a pressing matter if I were to be riding by myself. But my wife wishes to ride with me, again, and I need to make certain that all is totally right - on whatever machine to be considered. I would yet like to keep this bike, but try to find myself a good deal on another (either new, or much less aged) motorcycle. We'll see.
  19. NLAlston
    Thanks. I will do just that. I didn't get a chance to do anything to the bike, just yet, because of some other demands that surfaced, and the rain that came about (my scoot is outside) when attention to those demands had been addressed. But the installation of a new set of plugs sounds like a very good idea. I remember how some posters mentioned the high probability of the need for plugs, after the usage of that Sea Foam. earlier on, I had followed someone's suggestion of using an entire can of Sea Foam in a full tank of gas, and I wonder if maybe the plugs are now in a fouled position due to the loosening properties of that fuel additive. Whether that was the case, or not, a set of plugs is a small price to pay for any degree of betterment. From the smell which now emanates from the exhaust pipes, I believe that new plugs are indeed of the order.
  20. NLAlston
    Thanks Randy. You have made me feel a WHOLE lot better about things, and I really appreciate it. Thanks.
  21. NLAlston
    Thanks Robert. You know, I may have been a little outdone by the whole thing, but I can assure you that I would NOT just give up on my bike. I fell in love with one of these, about sixteen years ago, and always wanted one. Even if I had the money - right today - to buy a brand new one, I don't think that I would consider parting with my scoot. And if I ever get it running as right as it should, I wouldn't even THINK of trying to buy a new bike. I don't have to have the newest thing out there, and my '83 VR (despite its age) is STILL (IMO) one of the sharpest looking scoots out there. I can't tell you how many times I have been stopped by others, when I have left a store, and asked what kind of bike mine was. That query was always followed by expressions of how nice the bike looked. No...I won't get rid of my scoot. She's a little ill, right now, and needs a little doctoring. So now it's about me donning the appropriate garb; outfitting myself with the necessary tools & manuals, and doing all that I can to make her better. She'd done very well for me, on the few outings that I have had with her, and it is now time for me to return the favors . I know how that may sound a little crazy, but that's how I feel about my bike. Maybe one day I will have the much desired opportunity of meeting some of you - with my 'baby' in a much healthier manner of being.
  22. NLAlston
    I just came back to say that I went out to grab a smoke, a few moments ago (don't ever smoke in the house), and I just stood there looking at my scoot. Something told me to (just for the heck of it) to try starting it again. I gave it one shot, and it cranked right up. It was a little 'spotty sounding', but smoothed out with a little coaxing from a few throttle twists. I was wondering if this smacked, to any degree, of a fuel filter issue. Regarding the 'stator' concern, allow me to ask a question. If the stator is indeed going bad, will it exhibit a steady downward (problematic) progression, or will it sometimes work right - and sometimes not? I am now about to search for that stator repair information, to see what I can do about checking it out.
  23. NLAlston
    Thanks Steve. This is good info. If I can determine that the stator is indeed defective, I will most certainly look to where you have suggested. It would be a far cry cheaper .
  24. NLAlston
    SilvrT, There is absolutely no need for you to be apologetic behind anything that you have said. There was nothing in any way offensive about what you expressed. In fact, you spoke of nothing but realism & truth. Yes, I know that there are many good used vehicles out there. It's just that I have had my share of the problematic ones. I went to the dealer, thinking that I might have gotten a fairer shake. But I am of the mind that I just might have gotten a much better deal had I bought from a private owner. $2500 for a problem-clothed vehicle (especially within the first month of having it) is kind of a bitter pill to swallow. But, as I said before, I have no one to blame but myself. I went into this whole thing in a backward manner, and am now paying the price for it. But I will tinker around with it, and see what I (myself) can come up with. It doesn't look like I'll be riding any more, this season, but (if it's God's will) maybe next season will find me on a new bike, or even on this one being in much greater shape. Thanks.
  25. NLAlston
    Hey there, Robert. Yes, I was kinda fearful of that. If the stator does happen to be the offender, then I am definitely done for the season (can't afford the $700-$800 that I hear being quoted for a new one). About the replaced battery; all I know is that I saw them pull one from a sealed box, and show it to me. It wasn't a maintenance-free type, and I was informed that they would have to fill it with electrolyte - as well as put a 12hr charge on it. And I picked my bike up on the next day I do honestly believe that they knew of a greater problem, with my bike, and that the cheapest 'band-aid' they could apply was another battery (much cheaper than a stator, or trying to zero down some other electrical drain). I will never buy anything from FWC again (I gave initials only, for not knowing whether or not spelling out the whole name would be permitted). I, also, will never buy used again. If I am blessed with another bike, it will be a new one. And I won't have to worry about inheriting someone else's problems.
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