Freebird

Missing it THERE but not here. Yesterday it stormed. Actually, today is beautiful though.

This is really neat. Not cheap, abut $700.00 but cool. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4vGcH0Bk3hg?rel=0

I never had a 400 but I did buy a 750 Hondamatic a few years ago. Found it locally at a price that I couldn't refuse. Road it home, about 20 miles, and one more short ride and then found a buyer for it. I was actually fairly impressed with it.

There are some great people here and we have some good members in Texas. Not sure exactly where you are but keep up with things here and you'll surely meet some of them. Glad to have you.

I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. There is certainly no spark plug in an antenna. I can only think that you are talking about the load coil. The CB antenna is on the left side and has a load coil. If you bought a stock antenna for a '99 and it doesn't have the load coil, then you bought the wrong one. The right antenna is for the AM/FM radio and does not have the coil.

I agree that leather helps a lot. That's why I loved my Corbin seat. The leather breathes and just stays a lot cooler than vinyl. Never a problem with it.

I think you are over thinking the jet thing. I've run Stock, Samson (almost straight through), Khromewerks and Harley pipes on a '99 RSV and never felt the need to reset.

I think some of you are missing the big point. He says that it idles fine if you hold the throttle and keep it at 900 to 1000 RPMs. That is where it SHOULD idle. There may not be a problem here. Just turn up the idle and try it for a while first.

It would have. Got it all together and put water in it and it's leaking around the edges of the new bearing/seal flange. Got to pull it back apart and get it sealed somehow. Have tried twice and still leaking. So...haven't taken it out yet.

Syscrusher is right but still those Ventures typically run very strong if everything is right. They actually run very decent on only 2 cylinders too and I've seen lot of people who rode them on 3 cylinders and were pretty happy and then got it running on all 4 and were amazed at how much power they have. I don't know what yours is doing but I would start with making sure it is actually running at it's full potential.

LOL....I wondered if anybody would mention the vice grips. Actually they were all I had handy to pinch of the ends of the fuel lines.

You do mean in the classifieds. Right?

Well the parts came right after I posted that. I got the new bearings and seals in, new intake and exhaust gaskets, motor back in and everything buttoned up. It is running good. Just have to see if it will float now. Will probably take it back to the lake tomorrow. I think this time I'll leave it on the trailer for a few minutes though after I back it down the ramp.

OK... a few weeks ago I posted our our first outings on the jet ski. One wouldn't run and the other actually sunk. So....I changed the plugs, cleaned the carbs and just did some normal tuning on the one that wouldn't run and got it going pretty good. The one that sunk had a cracked expansion chamber that was spraying water inside the ski and I found a water hose plugged up that probably caused it to hold water and freeze and crash the chamber over the winter. Got the water out of the engine, got the expansion chamber all welded up, got it all back together and running pretty good. So all is well. Right? Uh...WRONG. Took them both out again. I decided to put them in the water one at a time and try them before unloading both. I started with the one that sank last time. Unloaded it and all seemed well. Went and parked the Murano and trailer with there other still on it. Got on the ski, then Eileen got on the ski. About the time I started to fire it up.....we realized that we were SINKING again. Got off of it quickly and ran to get the Murano and trailer. Got it loaded back up but it was completely full of water again. Decided to try the other one while we were there. Got it unloaded and except for idling a little rough, it ran very well. We rode around on it for a while and then headed back home. Got home and starting trying to figure out where the leak was. Put some water in the hull and nothing was leaking. So I decided what the heck...it HAS to be leaking from somewhere so I just kept putting water in it. Finally, when the water got up to the drive shaft, water started running out of the hull. Yep, the drive shaft seal is shot. So, I ordered new drive shaft bearings and seal on Monday and am waiting for them to get here so I can get them installed. This is my very first experience with Jet Skis but I'm learning about them fast. Of course to replace the drive shaft bearings and seals, the drive shaft has to come out. To get the drive shaft out, you have to almost pull the motor so that it will slide forward enough to come out. Didn't have to pull it all the way out, just enough that the shaft will slide under it and can be removed. Here are some pictures of how a shade tree mechanic works on a jet ski.

Litchfield is about 20 minutes from my house.

http://www.diamondraccessories.com/yamaha/proddisplay.php?name=Swingout%20Tubular%20Armrest

You folks should check the classifieds sometimes. Never know what you will find there.

If it's the tube where the fuel line slips on, that is not all that uncommon. I had one come off years ago. Just tapped it back in with a hammer and it never came out again.

You know there are two fuse locations right? Some behind the left side panel and more inside the lower left cowling.

Those are really sharp.

A bit unusual for a bike that new but I would suspect that the springs are worn out. If they have never been replaced, I would be looking at installing a set of Sonic springs.

What is that supposed to be? Those are just pictures of the old model.

Probably Thursday of this week, Bill will be contacting the caterer to let them know how many people are expected for the Dinner. PLEASE get your registrations in pronto if you plan to attend. Folks, we are going to have a great time. There aren't as many people registered as I or the others expected but the success of this event will be based upon the great time that we have, not the number of people who show up. Eileen and I will certainly be there. If you are on the fence, I hope that you cross on over and join us there. Please register soon though.

Did you see this @BIG TOM

Everything is listed in the VentureRider Merchandise forum. Big Tom's information is listed in the thread for shirts.