Marcarl

That's always good news... now we wait for Monday and make supplication in the mean time.

Take off the air box, squirt some carb cleaner or brake clean into each cylinder and then turn it over. If it fires then you know you have spark and your issue is fuel related. If it doesn't fire then check out why it doesn't spark.

It's not me that was confused,, it is the rest of the world. 😃 It's not easy being me, but somebody has to do it!! 🙃Glad to be of help!🤪

So now you admit you are confused,,,, welll, that's good news! You know of course that the first step into getting better from something is to admit you have a problem in the first place. Good for you!

They are called that way because they first became popular on the first gens, because they passed everything in sight and it was best to have lots of light on the scoot so those whose were being passed had enough time to notice what had taken place. Later they were used on the 2nd gen and then became known as driving lights, for reasons that should be self explainatory. At least that's what I heard and I got it right from the internets mouth so to speak.

Are you saying in a round about way that Ben was going squirrelly?? I noticed you had the Spyder part right anyways.

Another issue, along with the wind factor, would be the length factor: Drivers sees MC, wait for it to pass but never even considers the length of the trailer. Might be a sad day for the canoe and anything attached to it, even if the other driver only caught the last 2" of it.

Actually?? Really?? If my memory serves me correct Baloo and Mike were having a discussion and Baloo was indicating to his master that a ride on the Spyder might prove to be an interesting option, he sure did like the color and all!!

My favourite van, thought then and thinking now that it had the nicest profile of all vans. You got a good start, hope it works out well for you.

Just some thoughts. A lot of us small business guys go into business so that we can look after the customer in our way and get away from the boss who's only focus is to make money. We have to come to understand though that it will not continue on forever, there will be an end to our relationship with the customer, sometimes by health issues, climate issues or many other things that would get in the way. In your case, age is something to be considered, and yet you would like your customers to be looked after,,,, so you need a successor. At this point in time all your business is worth to you is the money you can still draw out of it by working it. Should you have to quit then you would have nothing, unless you can find a buyer who pays you cash today. Don't take back a loan or payments, that would be a false hope and not be relaxing at all. Whatever cash is offered is then a bonus over what you would have should you have to quit tomorrow.

On our constant prayer list, good to have a report. We can't get enough of those reports eh!

When in MC training the one thing our instructors harped on constantly was: the throttle is your friend. Meaning: What to do if you encounter an obstacle in your path that you can't avoid. You grab some throttle, all you got, hold the bars straight and ride over it. Yah it might bump some but two things take place. 1st you take pressure off the front to help it across and second you add traction to the rear to keep the bike up right and then help it across. If you grab the brake instead the opposite takes effect and you will most likely end up going down. I know it works, experienced it 2 times with no ill effects. Now on steering, try this: while cruising down the road with no traffic, sit absolutely straight on you bike, stay that way, don't lean one way or the other. You should be in the left track on a 2 lane. Now slightly, just slightly push on the right handle bar, no,, not the left, the right one and see what happens. Don't lean, look straight. I think that you'll find that you move over to the right hand track. Now push on the left bar to do the opposite. As you experience this you can get more aggressive and through the coming days you should experiment this more often so that it becomes part of you. It may save your life, it did mine!! You'll discover you no longer need to expend energy to lean the scoot into a turn or to wrestle with it down the highway. In fact as you travel you can just sit back, relax and gently guide the bike from one area/track/road to another and then arrive at your destination fully rested.

Just thinkin. If you're corporate, you could sell the shares, with no tax issues. Check with your accountant. If you are not corp, then consider how much you might make on the business in the next 5 years. That maybe a stretch seeing as you'll quit before that, but if you get that much proceeds from the sale of the business, you're even Steven or ahead, and you didn't have to spend time working for it, so you could have been doing something else maybe.

Good picture of Mike I'd say.

If your battery is dead, check the output of the stator. Check the battery voltage with engine off and the check with engine running at 1500rpm. You should have at least 13.9v. If it doesn't come up, check the connector on the left side of bike, has 3 large white wires. Take it apart and check for burning or corrosion. Solder the wires if the connector is gone. No check again for voltage.

If memory serves me right: false air will cause a lean issue and because of the mixture going into the combustion chambers is too lean not all the fuel will burn and so some will be exhausted out the tail pipe causing a smell of unburnt fuel, making one think that there is too much fuel.

Check your other hoses and caps for cracks and make sure they are seated well and proper.

If it's that black plastic duey then you can just remove it and cap off the intake ports that hook into it. When I did mine I then took rubber tubing and linked the ports 4 & 1 and 3&2. Don't know if it did anything but it stayed that way for I didn't notice it do any harm.

Maybe a dumb question, but how do you know you have oil getting into the combustion chamber?

Keep in mind that the carbs tend to pop out of their boots on the one side as you seat the other side, and then all the clamps have to be placed properly so that they seal the boot to the carb, sometimes all that looks good but then on final inspection you might find that things are't as seated as you thought they might be. The carbs will actually make a popping sound/action when they seat properly, so if you don't get that, then keep pushing, and then check and check again.

Achhh do not worry about that too much, things will smell nice and clean and all will be happy. Might have to clear out the clean smell though.

Get a mixture of water and original tide (you know, the stuff you do laundry with) mix well, bring it to a boil and dunk in the parts. Probably 1 hour on simmer will clean up those parts fantastically.

I can agree with what you said Don, but have some added thoughts. I have a feeling this could be a long one, so get a coffee. Yes, I think that traffic is down somewhat, but that can be explained maybe. When you first started the site there was no information locally (on site) available, so many questions were asked and opinions delivered, which would increase traffic and also comradeship. Today there is a load of info available just by browsing so no need to expose oneself to the opinion of others, not that that is a bad thing, it just keeps a person in the shadows. There is also more info available on the net. I even checked out the FB page, but didn't find that it was overly busy either, actually quite the opposite. Yes, we have lost some good longtime members and we will continue that trend in the future, none of us are here to stay forever, but we also have plenty of members who step in to help out whenever somebody needs help, so I don't think that not getting the help needed is an issue. Do miss those members though. Times change and so do our needs and interest, so the demographics of this site might also be wrapped up in all that. We started out as a site to be a help for others, then it became and 'family', rather close knit, who we chatted to on bike related topics and so then we got together to find out who we actually were and our other interests. Now we've been locked out and down for a while and maybe that has an effect on our need for other Venture people because we are focusing more on those close to home and finding that isn't so bad either. For myself, I haven't been riding as much as I once did. We, Marca and I used to put on 10-15,000 k per season. Last year I don't think I even got to 2k, so that does change my needs and interests, as I'm sure others have the same things happening. Part of the problem last year was Covid, some was the weather, and some was related to having other things to do that couldn't wait any longer. On the other side, I don't think there is anything you have done, or should have done. This site has been a blessing to many and for some it was just too much to bear. You have put together something rich and wonderful. It may continue to grow slowly, but that maybe the best thermometer. You have given many of us a forum in which we can help our fellow man (or woman) and for that we are very grateful. Many of us I'm sure would pay more to make it better financially. As far as the cancer thing is concerned, you will be included in our prayers to the Great Physician. He hears all, sees all and controls all, after all He created it all, as you well know. He will keep you and bless you and let His face shine upon you. Looking forward to Kentucky already!!

Closely check the pilot screw to make sure it doesn't have a indent ring close to the end where it might have made hard contact with the seat. If there is a ring it would be suggested to get one that is in better shape. Will it run with an indent? Probably but not as nice as it should. As you install: with the carbs out and upside down install the return cable, then flip them over, shove half way into position and install the pull cable. Make sure that the return cable is on the right side of the shaft with a nylon spacer on it. Do not install the cable to slide on the nylon spacer.

Lookin good! Make sure to put some locktite on the shifter bolt.