[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

So, Situation Normal, All Fouled Up!

 

While I appreciate that each individual task that I have performed on the XVZ12 has been easier than it looked to be, I am frustrated to no end right now.

 

The more I dig into things the more surprised I am that this bike ran at all, let a lone as smoothly as it did. I wonder what the PO sacrificed to what god to make her run till he found me?

 

The battery box, TCI and coils came out quick and easy. The vacuum line on the advance module was not connected to the engine. The connections on the TCI look like they have spent a good bit of time under water, as does the coil/tci mounting bracket. To top it off, the coils all check within spec off the bike. The one that was showing open had been checked 2 or 3 times with the plug wire removed before I pulled them.

 

I have a feeling the TCI is fragged but I cleaned it up and reinstalled it with the new coils anyway. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I was going to put her back together with the best of the eight wires I have, but now I think I'll wait til the new plug wire shows up.

 

Where is the vac line from the advance supposed to connect up on the engine? One of the intake vac ports?

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

The new(used) coils all check within spec! A roll of new plug wire is on the way.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

The Colortune adapter and a set of used coils from fleabay arrived in today's mail. Hopefully I'll have her up and running this weekend. Then I get to finish making all the little repairs to the plastics and track down all the various missing fasteners.

 

There wouldn't happen to be a comprehensive list of fastener specs for the body parts, would there?

[WTB: Chrome turn down exhaust tips?]

MM482, Couldn't tell you about fitment. I'm still brand new to this series. If someone can confirm the exhaust compatibility, I'd be interested in it.

 

My rear skirt doesn't occlude the straight exhaust but the turn down looks much better. I'll just keep my eyes open!

 

I did order a set of coils on fleabay. Hopefully between them and the ones my new acquisition is sporting, I'll be able to cobble together four in working order.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

I haven't used it on the Venture yet, but it's an absolute necessity for the XJ engines. I do have the 12mm adapter coming. Some have said they couldn't get a good read through the smaller adapter but then, quite a few say the same thing about the 14mm kit too. I have no problem tuning the Hitachi carbs on my XJs to the perfect, just rich burn with the Colortune.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Wishes don't fill fill the hand as fast as what?

 

I've got several multi meters and when I finally got around to using one of them I discovered that I have 2 bad coils and one on it's way out.

 

Well I needed the experience pulling the carbs and now I know it's a relatively easy job. I'd have had to pull most of the fairing to get at the coils anyway.

 

I am surprised that the bad coils were sparking bright. One of them is completely open on the secondary and the wire is shot as well. The other is well over spec at 55Kohm secondary and another is at 42Kohm. The fourth is text book at 36.5Kohm.

 

I gues it's time to do a little research on the C.O.P. conversion.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Well, the right bank carbs had the pilot adjustment screwed in tight and the left bank had the pilot adjustment out about 8 turns. I thought I'd read that two turns out was a good starting point?

 

I just finished up a quick and dirty clean up on the carbs. Not nearly a complete job but as I don' have any parts on hand, I just gave them a quick fluff and buff to see if anything changes.

 

I think the pilot settings may have been the major culprit.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

I pulled the carbs today. I'll get started on them tomorrow. I'm going to strip the rest of the plastic and get the valve check out of the way now too since I had to take most of it apart to get the carbs off anyway.

[Thanks For all the Post and All the Help!!]

snyper316,

I'm very new to this forum but I can tell you, for the most part any group who gets together due the love of "something" will be a close knit, supportive group. This one would appear to not be the exception. I am and have been part of several different motorcycle forums. XJbikes.com, katriders.com and others. All have been supportive and helpful in the extreme.

 

What it comes down to is a love of riding and a love of the machine. It really doesn't matter which machine(though mine is the best, obviously!) only the fact that there is a machine that requires an attentive master and a loving hand at the wrench and control.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Battery's strong, newer AGM battery. The charging meter shows 14V.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Thanks!!

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

To steal a phrase from the Warmernistas, "It's worse than we thought!"

 

Looks like she's only firing on 2(left side)cylinders at idle! I can pull either front or rear plug wire on the right side with no discernible effect on the idle. Pull one of the left wires and she dies.

 

At 4krpm, pulling the front right wire causes a stumble/hesitation. Pulling the right rear has no effect.

 

What are the coil and wire supposed to ohm out? All four had what looked to be strong spark but I'd feel better once I measure the coil/wire resistance.

 

I'll have to see if I have a 12mm adapter for my compression tester and check that as well. I did order a 12mm adapter for my Colortune today.

 

I will probably pull the carbs this weekend. Once more into the fray!

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Thanks for the great pic and information yamagrl!

 

I stopped by my local Yam shop with the Venture today. Turns out the service manager is a Venture buff and was happy to see another '83 in good shape. He told me it was the smoothest running 3 cylinder venture he'd ever heard!

 

Turns out it is only hitting on 3 at idle and mid. WOT smooths out on all 4 so its a partially clogged jet or emulsion tube. He suggested running a couple tanks of gas with Engine Med additive before I tear the carbs out, so I picked up a few bottles as they are cheap.

 

The good news is it appears that the diaphragms are good. All four pistons spring back with a "suction delay"(?) I mean they don't just snap back quickly which would indicate a bad diaphragm. I'm saying this poorly! DoesyaknowwhatImean?

 

I also changed the plugs and checked the spark, all four look hot and steady. I didn't shock the bejeezes out of myself so the wires are pretty good too!

[Harley Hack]

Vetter did the Factory fairings for the early Gold Wings and a couple other bikes. I'm not sure if they ever did a factory fairing for Harley Davidson or not.

 

Here's a great web site with tons of info on Craig Vetter and his designs/inventions

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Vetter_Fairings/Vetter-Fairings-main.html

[WTB: Chrome turn down exhaust tips?]

My new XVZ12 is missing one of the turn down exhaust tips. Nothing on ebay unless I buy the muffler/silencer. Anyone have or know where I can get one?

[Harley Hack]

That sure looks like a Windjammer but the logo is wrong. Maybe a copy or newer repro. The original Vetter has been gone for quite a while. I'm not sure if anyone is reproducing them or not. The cool thing about the Windjammer series is any fairing will fit any bike. Just have to have the right mounting bracket. I bought a Yamaha XJ750 Maxim with a WJ2 and picked up a mount for my GS850 from ebay and it bolted right up.

 

Tha bad thing about the Windjammer series is that you have to remove the factory head light and turn signals.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Ahh, I'll dig in a bit and get her figured out someday!

 

Fuse box is done and all the accessories are now fuse protected. The PO (or PPO?) had just wired the cig lighter and some other "Stuff"(unidentified as yet) directly to the battery.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

So, the YICS chamber on the XJ series is integral to the head. I just assumed these were similar. I kind of questioned doing a valve sync. without blocking the YICS ports. What I'm understanding from these comments is that the YICS chamber on the Ventures is a separate entity and connected via the intake vacuum nipples?

 

All the vac nips on mine were capped so the YICS is disabled. Is that a correct assumption?

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Got everything put back together and took a longer ride today. It's still not perfect. The hesitation is gone but it's still popping loudly when going from >4.5krpm to closed throttle.

 

I just need to bite the bullet and do the valves and clean the carbs. Not a big deal but still a PITA. I really should know better by now than to expect an '80s bike to be turn key road ready!

[What did you do to your venture today?]

Synchronized the carbs and started on some of the many minor repairs the plastics need.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Doing some repair work on the plastics now. I'll tackle the fuse block next week. It's hotter than a two dollar pistol out there!

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Got the idle trimmed down to 1krpm+/- and took a short run(No tags yet) and it looks like the popping on decel is gone. Didn't get out of second gear so it's not a for sure yet but it sounds much better. The idle isn't as smooth as my in line fours but it's not erratic, just a bit staccato in comparison.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

Synchronized the carbs today. They weren't really that bad. Both sides were tolerably close front to back but they were way out left to right. Now they're perfect. Well as perfect as can be without verifying the valve's are in spec.

 

Now I need to let it cool down enough to reset the idle to 1k with out burning the bejeezes out of my hand. I'd like to get the name of the engineer who designed the idle control knob!

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

PDF manuals are great and all but I'm an old school kinda shade tree mechanic. I want a dogeared greasy book laying on the gas tank when I'm trying to unscrew the inscrutable.

[Working the bugs out New(to me)'83 XVZ12t]

cowpuc,

PM in bound.

 

Thanks for the link to the sync procedure.

I had not found that thread. It's just as I had sussed out but pointing out the idle adjust knob is great. I looked for quite a while and did not see it(though I knew it was there somewhere!).