Barnacle442

I thought I remembered a topic in here called "What did you do on your Venture today?" On Saturday I rode 576 miles from Palatine, IL to Norton, VA. On Sunday I rode 586 miles from Norton, VA to Palatine, IL. Got a hair up my fanny to go and I went. This may be the last time I do something this stupid but I enjoyed the heck out of it. I rode the interstate mostly as the question was, "Can I make it there and back in two days?" Kentucky 15 through the Cumberland Mountains was beautiful, 55mph and no potholes or traffic. Not sure how many miles but I was in the hills from 8am til noon. There was a big yellow dog on one long sweeping left hander that was just standing in the road staring at me. My '08 RSV, the SofaGlide, handled it perfectly. I couldn't have asked more of my pretty, gray Yamaha. The whole time in the mountains that I wasn't stopped for gas I was in 4th gears doing 55mph. The whole time I was on the prairie that I wasn't stopped for gas I was in OD with the cruise set at 75. Simply fantastic. What did you do on your Venture today? B The SofaGlide on Bart Campton's Mountain Parkway 150 past the Welcome To Virginia sign on Rte. 119

I have a question regarding the 2nd Gen clutch system. You all seem like learned men of science. I have done four clutch replacements, so far. I have installed that retaining wire four times, (If you have ever worked on one of these clutches you know the wire I am talking about.) What is the purpose of that retaining wire? That last plate isn't going anywhere. It is a royal star pain in the ass to get back in there but it has to have a purpose, right? I am tempted to leave it out but I have developed an allergy to stranding myself hundreds of miles from home.

I am currently running Metzler 888's on my bikes. They're quiet and handle great in the rain. God help you if you find a tar snake in the road though. I went through an intersection in Dubuque the other day that had lots of tar snakes and I nearly ended up in someone's picnic.

I have an 08 RSV. I replaced my stator two winters ago. While I had the whole left side of the bike off I thought I would take care of a pesky oil leak, so I replaced the shift shaft seal. That did not fix my leak; It actually made it worse. Last winter I replaced the shift shaft seal with a new one that was recommended by someone on this list. Still leaking. I know that the original shift shaft seal was leaking. I know that the OEM replacement seal was also leaking. I know that the new seal is not leaking. I suspect I exchanged the original oil leak for a new oil leak. When I was putting the new stator in, the rubber bung that wraps the wires and sits in the back of the engine cover did not feel like it was the tightest fit. I am not 100% certain but I am suspicious of it. It's hard to put eyeballs on and thus I have not actually observed this leak. It is next on the list. Do any of you have experience with this? If that rubber seal is the culprit, is there any remedy for it? Thanks Ben

I have two Royal Stars, currently, a venture and a boulevard, and the left rear carburetors are always wet. I can find no reason for this on either bike. I suspect that it has to do with the left rear carb being the lowest as the bike sits and cools down. As to the oil, the Royal Star takes a smidge less than 3 1/2 quarts. If there is more than this, the engine will suck the excess out of the crankcase through the breather into the airbox. On the Boulevard the air cleaner/air box is right on top of the carbs so I got to see this first hand when I pulled the carb bank. I haven't bothered to look on my Venture because I have not had cause to pull those carbs, and the air filters are up front in the cowling.

I use Barnett clutch plates in both of my Royal Stars and have the clutch spring replacement in one of them, soon to be both. Never had a problem.

Have you checked your bell? Sometimes the clapper fails and the tinkle goes away. When that happens, the gremlins can get into your electricals and Hoo-boy you got problems.

Done.

Has anyone here ever replaced a Gen 2 front fender with an aftermarket part? Last fall some nice old man introduced the back of his Antique Buick to the front end of my 2008 RSV S. Of course this fender is no longer available. I have a ready replacement but, that will leave me without a front fender on my other baby, my '99 RSB. So, I thought I'd look into something sporty and aftermarket.

WE HAVE A WINNER! Its's raining here so what better to do after a sleep study than tear apart a motorcycle? Seriously, though, The pump is not that hard to get at and the weather is warm. I took apart the back of the pump and my points are indeed roasted. I will again make an attempt at replacing the points. My last foray with these points did not come out well and in frustration I spent the 215 dollars for a new pump. I have a question for you, since you sound like you have greater experience than I with this. How do you get the cap out of the way past that rubber seal that the wires go through? Is there a trick? I don't want to leave it open to the elements.

I pulled the tank collar to look at the vent hose and inspect the vent. The hose is old crusty but not brittle. I blew through it and it is open. I looked in the end of the vent stem and there is a little valve there. It is a one-way valve. This is an overpressure vent. Vapors vent out of the tank through that vent, not in. I don't remember if the shop manual calls out whether or not the gas cap is vented but that is what I will check next. I have experience with that as I have disassembled and reassembled the cap on my 99 Royal Star.

I replaced the fuel filter last spring when I replaced the stator. Not knowing how best to get at all the electrical connections I pulled everything out of that center cavity. I looked at it when I pulled the side cover off the other day to check the pump. It's still clean. There is no rust in the tank. I never let the bike sit with a low fuel level. The first time this happened, Easter Sunday, I had been out riding around town the day before and so I only had about half a tank. The second time it happened I had a full tank. I originally thought it might be the petcock but when I drained the half tank of gas after Easter, it came out into the gas can just fine on both positions.

Thanks. Yes I have experience with the points set. Not good experience, mind. It's part of the reason I had to replace the pump last time. :O)

I checked the fuse. It's good. I also got her hot and checked the fan. Fan is working fine. I hope it's not the pump. It's only 2 years old and I don't want to spend that $200.00 again.

I'm afraid to take it out lest I be stranded again. But, I got it good and hot and the fuel pump is pumping away.