Phishhead61

I had a Mustang seat on my 2000 Vulcan 800 and LOVED it! My current bike, 98 Royal Star Boulevard came with an Ultimate Driver & Passenger seat on it and a Corbin seat in a box of spare parts. I didn't like the shape of the Ultimate Driver's seat, but the passenger seat was extremely comfortable (larger, well shaped and padded). I put the solo Corbin seat on and never looked back. I hadn't ridden in about a year and spent almost 7 hours on my first ride with the Corbin and no pain or fatigue at all. If you like a firmer seat, Mustang &/or Corbin are the way to go! Rich PhishHead

Steven, That would be great! I appreciate it. Rich PhishHead

While fiddling with this, I found the exhaust pipe for jug #2 is not nearly as hot as the other 3. I'm also getting a lot more "forceful" (for lack of better term) and cooler exhaust coming from jug #2 . I assume I will never get to the bottom of what's going on with the idle and any issues with the carb/sync until I determine what is going on with the #2 jug. I purchased a laser thermometer and in the next day or so will confirm (with out burning the crap out of my fingers) what the temps are on the header pipes and move forward with addressing the issues with that first. Thanks, Rich PhishHead

...Idle speed (sorry). I have a '98 Royal Star Boulevard with the 28mm carbs and the 4 into 4 exhaust. A PO installed 4 pod K&N filters, Nasty Boyz 4x4 exhaust, and rejetted. I installed baffles and had to rejet. I found the thread for the Big Foot mod, and I used the setting they recomended (the needle clip setting, 17.5 main jets, and I already had what they suggested for the pilot jets). It ran OK...I did notice a couple of issues though. It seemed like the rpms would hang before dropping back down. I read that was a sign of a lean running engine. I would also sometimes get a "gasp" when I would be coming to a stop, but then didn't need to and gave it some throtle. I checked the jug #1 plug and it seemed to be just a tad (barely noticibly) white. I thought I would try the next size up main jets. I figured if it was too rich, I would see it in the plugs. I was also concerned that the 4 pods might be letting through more air than the one big K&N filter, so it was concievable that it needed the bigger jet. After installing the bigger jets (I didn't open or touch the slides/diaphrams or needle settings this time), with the carbs back on the bike and a carb sync performed, I now have a new issue. The bike is idling at about 1200 rpm and I have the Idle Set Screw backed out so far it's not touching the carb. Nothing is caught up in the choke mechanism. I noticed when I screw the PMS in on jug 3 & 4 I can hear the engine bog down, but not so when I do it to jugs 1 & 2. The engine doesn't seem to hang when rpms are dropping. Any ideas as to what could be causing this?

I spent some time today doing some trouble shooting. I'm testing this with the pump still on the bike. I took the points off and was comparing them to the first set and found a very thin paper gasket on the back side of the original points, so I transfered it over to the new points and put them back on. While doing so I made sure I caught the "grove" in the plunger with the point set. I tested the wires from the bike at the connector to see if there was electricity coming through. This was difficult as you only have 5 seconds after turning on the "run" switch. After several unsuccessful attempts, I got my daughter to flip the switch for me and I didn't seem to have any electricity coming through the black/blue wire. I tried using the ground side of the connector and grounding it to the bike. I checked (and tested) the fuses in the fuse box and they were fine. I then tried a jumper at the connector to the pump. This would activate the plunger and pull it out. When I disconnected the electricity, the plunger went in. I plugged the connectors back together and when I hit the "run" button, the plunger pulls out and about 5 seconds later the plunger goes back in (although sometimes it only took 2 - 3 seconds, but most of the time it was 5 seconds), so apparently I am getting electricity through the connector on the blue/black wire and the points work. My understanding is the electricity to the pump should be a constant on (yes, 5 seconds until the bike is running, but constant after that). The pumping action is controlled by the points and the electromagnetic field going on and off, and not by the electricity to the pump going on and off (why would you need the points if that was the case?). So now I'm stumped. Rich PhishHead

I know there's lots of threads about fuel pumps...I've read most of them. I have a question that I haven't seen asked: When you take the points off to replace them, should you be able to push/pull the plunger stem that sticks out of the body of the pump? I have a '98 Royal Star Boulevard with 50K miles and had the usual symptoms of a bad fuel pump. I assumed it was the points and ordered a set. I changed them today, and when I opened up the cap/top of the pump, the points were fine. When I put the two sets of points next to each other, the new ones were silver in color, and the old ones were a coppery kind of color...that was the only difference. No corrosion...nothing. They may have been changed already by a PO. I went ahead and changed the points, but now I get no clackety-clack when I turn on the "run" switch, and it won't start (it tries to, but just can't quite "catch"). I did notice the plunger going into the body of the pump would not move. I didn't know if this is an issue or not. If it's not, I guess I will start trouble shooting the electrical going to the pump. Thanks for any and all input, Rich PhishHead

I have had headlight modulators on all my bikes. I think they are the # 1 safety feature you can add to a bike. I had one on my first cruiser, but I put it on at the same time I put on louder pipes, so I didn't know how effective the modulator itself was. People definitely stopped pulling out in front of me, but I wasn't sure if it was the pipes, the modulator, or a combination of the two. Then one day I was in my car and saw a bike with the headlight modulating and you couldn't help but see that bike. I've put one on every bike I've bought since then. PhishHead

I have to replace my boots also. I'm confused by the discussion about the "O" rings at the bottom of the boots. I have a '98 Royal Star Boulevard, but I looked at the parts diagrams for mine and a 2004 RSV and I don't see any additional "O" rings to order. I also looked at a picture of the boot and it appears to have an "O" ring built into the bottom of the boot. I don't want to pull it all apart again until the boots I ordered come in, but I don't want to wait on more parts after I pull it all apart, SO the question is, when you are discussing "O" rings, are they the ones that come on the boot, or are there additional "O" rings that need to be ordered (and if so, what are the part numbers...I can't find them in the spec sheets). My boots were cracked through at the tops and causing issues. They are 20 years old and after removing and replacing the carbs a couple of times they split through. Just as an FYI to anyone having the issue with the boots splitting at the top, I used a product called Seal-All on all the cracks. I followed the directions and put 2 coats of it on and it held for 3 days of riding. It's still holding as far as I can tell, but I will replace them as soon as the new boots get here. Rich PhishHead61

Update: it was the vent hose. I'll explain more when I get to the motel. Update: so I thought it was probably the vent hose, but I didn't bring my hex set with me. The vent on my bike is under a chrome cover that surrounds the tank mounted speedo. It's held on with 3 hex bolts. Long story short, I waited for about an hour until it was completely cooled down and rode it back to the gas station I had bought the gas at. The mechanic there took off the chrome cover and low and behold I couldn't blow through the vent hose. He gave me a piece of hose and I put it on and tucked in in out of the way and was on my way. My guess is I pinched that hose or someone that called me suggested the gas stirred up something that clogged it. Thanks to the several people that called me! Great people on this site! I posted in the watering hole also, but I have gas coming up from under the gas cap. The tank is not over filled. Every time I try to ride down the road gas comes squirting out from under the cap. I'm on the side of the road... Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Rich PhishHead61

Update: it was the vent hose. I'll explain more when I get to the motel. Update: so I thought it was probably the vent hose, but I didn't bring my hex set with me. The vent on my bike is under a chrome cover that surrounds the tank mounted speedo. It's held on with 3 hex bolts. Long story short, I waited for about an hour until it was completely cooled down and rode it back to the gas station I had bought the gas at. The mechanic there took off the chrome cover and low and behold I couldn't blow through the vent hose. He gave me a piece of hose and I put it on and tucked in in out of the way and was on my way. My guess is I pinched that hose or someone that called me suggested the gas stirred up something that clogged it. Thanks to the several people that called me! Great people on this site! The title says it all. I was on the highway for about 45 minutes, got off on a back road, road about 10 minutes and stopped to fill up. I didn't over fill it and even if I did, enough has poured out that it shouldn't be an issue. Got a half mile down the road and had gas coming up from under the gas cap. Stopped an took the cap off and the level in the tank rose up and poured out and then went down and it bubbled like air was being released, then it rose up again. It did this 2 or 3 more times and the I shut off the gas petcock and it stopped. I got back on and got 50ft down the road and it did it again. Went through the whole thing again. When it stopped I tried to ride it again and I got about another 50ft down the road again and gas came pouring out From under the gas cap again. I'm looking for answers in the tech area, but can't seem to find any thing. I have limited tools, but there are some houses around. I'm riding a 98 Royal Star Boulevard. Thanks, Rich PhishHead61

You've probably already found something by now, but in case you haven't, or to help someone else reading the post years from now, here's what I used: Fair warning...My bike came with the spot lights so I have no idea what brand they are. I tried the sealed beam replacement (not the exact bulb recommended above but very similar) and found it wasn't quite big enough to fit into the housing of the spot light. What I ended up using was this LED H3 bulb: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXJAI6T/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Rich PhishHead61

Hey Gang, I have a '98 Royal Star Boulevard (XVZ13A) which a PO did a lot of work to. They installed K&N pod air filters, Nasty Boyz 4x4 exhaust, and re-jetted the carbs. I have added baffles to the exhaust due to how loud the aftermarket exhaust was. This is causing the bike to run VERY rich. I have to re-jet, but in order to do some calculations as to what to re-jet to, I need to know how big the exit hole in the back the stock muffler is. Could someone run out to their garage/shop/shed and measure the diameter of the exit hole in their stock 4x4 exhaust? Thank You! Rich PhishHead

Just a follow up on this thread. I made the ride Saturday! Here are some things I wanted to post here so if anybody in the future finds this thread they will be forwarned. There's 3 parts to the clutch hose; the upper hose that goes from the clutch lever to the right side of the bike just above the rear brake fluid reservoir (I won't be referring to this hose at all as I didn't replace it), and the lower hose that is split into an upper half (that connects from the upper hose to a connector behind the #2 cylinder exhaust pipe), and the lower half that connects from there to the clutch slave cylinder. The part number for the lower half of the clutch hose is the same part number for the '98 Royal Stars and the '07 (and probably all years, but I didn't check others), so I bought a used '07 rather than a used '99 I had found. I figured I should replace it with the newest part I could find. Even though it was the same part number, the '07 was shaped a little bit different. It fit, but did not run through brackets that secured it to the bottom of the engine correctly. For the rear most connection point the hose was running a little too high, so I secured it with a zip cord to the bracket. For the forward bracket, I probably could have connected it properly, but there was a plastic connector that crumbled to pieces when I removed it, so it got zip corded in place too. I found the upper half of the lower hose was a completely different shape, so I kept the one that was on the bike, since it wasn't leaking. I disconnected the upper and lower hoses at the connection point above the brake reservoir, disconnected the 2 clips holding the upper half of the lower hose. I did all this to give myself some slack in the hose because I ended up disconnecting the upper and lower halves of the lower hose in place on the bike. I wanted to pull the whole lower hose off and change out the lower half of the hose on the work bench, but I couldn't find a way to get the whole hose out in one piece. There was very limited space to work (behind the front left exhaust pipe), and it took many, many small incremental turns of the wrench to get them apart (and even more to get it back together again). Just go slow and easy...I also put shop towels over all the chrome in the area to limit the amount of damage a slipped wrench could do. Make sure when you start the job to order/get everything you need. I didn't think about the gasket and copper washer that needed to be replaced when removing the alternator/generator cover. I almost didn't get them in time since they are OEM parts (at least the gasket is). I did order banjo washers (after market) and brake fluid ahead of time. I got everything back together late Friday afternoon, took it for a test ride for an hour or so Friday evening, and made it to the ride Saturday morning and had no mishaps. Thanks for everyone's input and advice! Rich PhishHead

Much of that is on the list for this winter, including removing, cleaning and probably rejetting the carbs. I figure since I'm already going to have the carbs off, I might as well check the valves too. BUT...I'm trying to get this hose changed in time to make it to a charity ride this Saturday, so everything else is going to have to wait. After that, I don't care if the bike is down for the winter.

Condor, Thank you! I think it's beautiful! The hard bags are Mutazu. I don't think they were added in '98...I'm thinking probably in the last 3 to 5 years. Du-Ron, I see where I was confused. Your parts sheet was for the upper part of the (lower) hose, and I was looking at the (lower part of the) lower hose. Part #17 on your part sheet is the part that has to get snaked up behind the radiator. I'm still undecided as to if that part needs to be replaced. Once I get into it I'll have to decide. I had thought there was another connection spot on part #32 on my parts sheet (across from bolt #30 ), but I looked at the bike (and the parts sheet) again and it appears to be another spot that is "cushioned" to go through another mounting bracket on the bottom of the engine. So that was my original question...could I disconnect it there (across from bolt #30 ), but now that I've looked closer at the bottom of the bike, I see it can't be disconnected. My secondary question was do I need to remove/replace part #17 , and I'm still not sure on that. There's not a whole lot of space where the 2 hoses come together, so it may be easier to replace all of it rather than trying to take it apart at that connector. It's behind the front left exhaust and it's a really tight squeeze. Thanks for all the info. I kind of feel bad about wasting your time, but I do appreciate the help. Thank You! Rich PhishHead