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CdnDave77

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  1. CdnDave77
    It's powerfully familiar... But well done !
  2. CdnDave77
    You displayed the the type of person we all should be... and you have earned my deepest respect. Congrats.
  3. CdnDave77
    It'll be good to be back... although now the wife will have to get used to not having every meal ready for her when she gets home.
  4. CdnDave77
    I am officially employed again, as of Monday morning. My former employer had to dramatically downsize last year, and I had worked hard at eliminating my own position as I was to be promoted to General Manager. To try to struggle through, they had to cut very deep, and unfortunately I had to go. It was a sound business decision that I would have made the same way myself - their doors are still open but they are struggling. Time will tell. Regardless, as the automotive business all over tanked last year, there were many, many supplier shops here in southern Ontario which also closed, making the job market exceptionally tight for all. I dedicated 3-4 hrs every morning to just my job search : researching companies, tracking down contacts, cold calling, etc... and now finally, after 11 long months, I am joining another progressive automotive parts manufacturer in a position that I will enjoy. I had an interview Thursday afternoon, and I had a firm offer in under 24 hours, and I start Monday. I know there are quite a few members on here looking, and all I can say is do not give up. It's hard and certainly frustrating but things do come through eventually.
  5. CdnDave77
    Fantastic ride... aside from my '83 relieving itself through an overflow tube about halfway through the night. No major harm done, still had a great time & made it home safe. Those roads were awesome, but Wayne isn't kidding when he said "skinny". There was barely enough room for that big Wing in front of me to eke past the cyclists. Perfect temps, twisty roads, good ice cream and fantastic company.. can't wait to do'er again.
  6. CdnDave77
    .. and it doesn't look like it now, I'll be there. I may have a shorter, younger, better-looking version of me (my son Zach) on the back so there might have to be an ice-cream stop involved.
  7. CdnDave77
    I ran a 20/50 Yamalube at the dealer's recommendation early this spring... engine was fine, but I did notice that the shifting was ever so slightly noiser/clunkier. Was I super concerned ? NO. Did I change back to the 10/40 regular dino Kendall GT motor oil I had been using when I needed it ? YES. Shifts are that 15% quieter now (by my scientific calibrated ears/toes), engine is really no worse for wear, even on the hot days. Never had a problem in the 25,000 km that I have ridden in the 2 years of ownership. So for a recommendation ? TRY IT... see what your own results are. I highly doubt there would be any damage at all, and for you, there could be an improvement. For me, for the riding I do, I noticed a slight increase in shift noise... that is it.
  8. CdnDave77
    I have the original OEM's off my 83... replaced with a great set of MAC from Condor last year. If yer stuck, send me a PM... They aren't in great shape, but if you want 'em...
  9. CdnDave77
    I hit 41 at the end of August... I picked up my current '83 Venture 3 years ago and love it. I got my motorcycle 4 weeks after my 16th birthday and have been enjoying them ever since (4 different machines). I guess the first bike of my own was a 1977 Honda XL75 that I got (used) when I was 9... I put over 22,000 miles on it running around my paretns' farm and local bush trails over 5 years before I moved up to a bigger motorcross.
  10. CdnDave77
    All I can say is get through it, make sure it is sewed up tight and done - trying to be nice, I mistakenly gave my ex time (years) to do things like take over the mortgage (or sell, her choice), etc... and it bit me. It's tough, but get it done and done once. You know why divorce is so expensive ??? Because it is WORTH IT ! By the way, after you get through the dark period (and there certainly is one), there is fantastic light at the end of the tunnel. I am happily remarried to a fantastic woman.
  11. CdnDave77
    Just watch your eyes... it can spew outta there might quick and if your head is right over the carb bank, you could be in for a rude shock. You don't even have to ask how I know.. I didn't get it right in the eye, but the merciless beating I put to my own rear end for not thinking was painful. PS: I was having random carbs get stuck floats off and on for a while. Marcarl reasoned it may have been the fuel line (original) breaking down and little bits of rubber. I replaced the line and after 1 more stuck float, I haven't had the issue since. Just thought I should pass it along.
  12. CdnDave77
    If all goes well, I should be able to make the trek over there.... Jane will stay with the girls but sends her best...
  13. CdnDave77
    Yes... what you are trying to do by lowering (or extending) the needle is to get it to stay in the main jet a little longer (the slider has to move further to get more fuel). And therefore the opposite is true too : raise (retract) the needle into the slider, it opens more of the main jet sooner. You've probably heard it before but I will reiterate : Seafoam is great stuff, but it can screw up your plugs if you use too strong of a dosage. But, if it helps get your carbs back to 40+ mpg, a new set of plugs are quickly paid for.
  14. CdnDave77
    I battled the same thing for a while... and sometimes the fuel would come out of the overlfow, others not so much. If you can't get the bowl drain screw loose (mine were good and wrecked by one of the many previous owners), shut the gas off at the tank and run the bike for a few minutes to get the fuel level down in the bowls. I then removed the fuel line to the carb in question and shot a good blast of carb cleaner (not super strong stuff but the generic spray carb cleaner) directly into it. That did the trick for me. While your carb bowls are empty/lower, you might want to try filling them with Seafoam and letting it sit overnight. I disconnected the fuel line at the pump (incoming), attached another line and put it in the Seafoam can. Turn the key on to let the pump suck the Seafoam into the bowls until they are full (should hear the clicking stop). Good luck ! PS: You might want to check your fuel filter too...
  15. CdnDave77
    ... but I'd be more than welcome to give you a hand. It would be a long-ish ride to get to my place, but I will likely be taking my bike to my inlaws' by Peterborough at the end of the month. Would that be within your range ? I can easily bring the synch tool and my specialty bit for the carb screws. I do have a homeade synch tool, and all the parts (vac guage, manifold, valves, hose, etc) can be purchased at Princess Auto for less than $25... works like a charm. There was a great thread on this a couple of years ago but I can't locate it right now. I used to ride a 750 Maxim as well, and my Venture will match it performance-wise once you are moving without question. I can't believe this bike weighs twice as much. I would really take a look at your plugs : are they all a nice even tan, or are some dark or too light ? Either way, it points to carbs... and/or air leaking in if you are too lean, which can rob your pick-up at a certain point. Feel free to PM if you are interested in hooking up somehow or just to walk through the synch procedure and where to go from there.
  16. CdnDave77
    If you don't want to eliminate it altogether by doing the modification suggested above (which I would suggest), then send me a PM. I have my orginal one that I removed when I installed an AGM battery. It's yours if you wish... it was in perfect working order when I removed it this spring. My bike is even an '83 like yours...
  17. CdnDave77
    ... take 10 mins and pull your plugs individually, see if any of them are real white/lean. That might help pinpoint the problem. I have found that almost all carb issues can be diagnosed by looking at the plugs. From what you are describing, it sounds like a slider in one cab may be hanging open a little (slight bit of dirt/corrosion or the new diaphram may not be 100% seated .. who knows). If you pop the airbox off, you may be able to witness one slider staying open a little longer than the others (the gradually decreasing to 2000, then dropping normally). If it is not the sliders, I would also take a glance at all your enrichment plungers (chokes). If one is hanging open a bit, maybe you are getting more fuel to that carb ? It should bog when warm, rather than rev higher... but stranger things have happened. If you don't have a synch tool, you are welcome to use mine... I am not that far. Just send a PM.
  18. CdnDave77
    I like those funky red & white helmets... but don't they cause some buffeting ? Too bad I couldn't go.. but in fact I am headed that way (Peterborough) today with the whole family. Beautiful riding roads up there.
  19. CdnDave77
    No problem... remember we all need pics when you get your machine together...
  20. CdnDave77
    I had a spare rack of carbs, which really come in handy to take pictures of when someone asks questions like this... The choke cable attaches at the top right corner of carb 1, (rear right when on the bike). The cable goes into the roughly triangular bracket, which also should have a rod that connects to the other side of the carb rack (not shown on the spare rack as I have removed carb 3). There is another little bracket with a holding tab & screw on the upper right corner of carb one to hold the cable sheath end. The second picture shows how it connects on the bike. While you are rebuilding everything, I would strongly suggest not usiing the original fuse box... a $10 fuse mini-ATC or ATO fuse block with the blade style fuses will make your life much easier. The original fuse blocks are well past their intended life and the clips are very brittle... breaking at the worst possible time. If you have any more questions or need more pics, send me a PM. Good luck !
  21. CdnDave77
    ... but the boss (Jane) is working that day and I have the two little ones.. Enjoy your ride fellas.. weather looks perfect.
  22. CdnDave77
    Had friends drop by last night for dinner, and they were both on their own bikes instead of just one. My good friend, Julia, had gone out and purchased her first motorcycle (been licensed for a while, but didn't have her own machine) - a 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6 Ninja. Ok, it's not a Venture. In fact, it is the other end of the spectrum from a Venture... but I rode it. And it is FUN. Not even in the same hemishere for comfort, but very (scary) fast, very light, ultra-nimble and can stop on a nickel (or less) ... but 100% FUN. And for a 599cc engine.. it can fly ! I couldn't believe it didn't redline until 14,500 rpm until I took it for a spin. The tach seemed excessive, but I used all of it, and very, very quickly. There is absolutely no need for 4th or 5th gear as I hit "way too fast" in 3rd gear. I've been on much bigger "sport" bikes that couldn't match the acceleration. Anyways, to wrap up the report, I was very grateful to be trusted enough to take it for a ride. It hasn't seen much riding in a year or two and needs some Seafoam, and maybe a little tweaking of the carbs, which I will certainly help in any way I can. It's certainly not anything I would buy, or ever want to own, but I have to admit.. for the 20 minutes I was on it, I couldn't stop grinning. You never know until you try it, right ?? Enjoy MD everyone... I'm aiming for next year.
  23. CdnDave77
    Having had my carbs off quite a few times lately sorting out a float issue, I found that if I line up the boot in the box (with the ring clamps aligned too), set the air box into the cavity above the carbs, attach the top of the crankcase breather hose to the airbox (bottom of the hose attaches later), then drop the box into place... setting all 4 boots onto the carbs. I give it a good wiggle to ensure everything is seated, do up the clamps, then attach the bottom of the crankcase hose to the vent. I always leave the airbox drain hose until the very end, but I would suppose that is the easiest thing to attach at almost any point you choose. Usually, if the box doesn't slip down squarely, you can feel it right away. A simple lift up and retry normally suffices. Even though my upper carb boots are likely original and are a little softer/more pliant than new. i founs that you need to have the boots set properly in the base of the airbox first, aligned, with the clamps on.. then all pops right into place with a gentle push down and wiggle on the airbox.
  24. CdnDave77
    I had the same issue (see thread in First Gen section). I tried everything.. straight Seafoam into the bowls twice, let it sit. It would stop then starting dripping fuel again. Had the carbs off to check the float valves & condition of the floats.. all was well. Yesterday, after having a bike begin to flood out, run on 3 cylinders, and puddle gas every time I stopped, I tore into it again. However, this time, after I took the airbox out (bike was still hot), I listened close as I could hear a faint hiss/whoosh. It was coming from carb #1. I pulled the slider back and I could see raw fuel dribbling into the throat, even without the bike running or the key on. Obviously the fuel level in the bowl was too high. So I pulled the carbs off, pulled the suspect float and tweaked the tang just slightly up. Reinstalled, and wham.. back to a normal machine. Running great, no fuel issues, and the fuel pump shuts off when the carbs are full. I put about 60 miles on it last night and it seems to have solved the problem. Good luck !
  25. CdnDave77
    I asked the same thing when I was at that stage... here goes : - put the lower fork tube into a vice (vice jaws fairly tight on the brake mounting bosses). Make sure it is solid (not to the point of deforming the bosss though. And DO NOT CLAMP THE ACTUAL TUBE). - grab the upper tube, which should be loose and sliding somewhat easily, ease it into the lower tube. - hold on tight with both hands and give it a good yank. The only thing holding it in is a press-fit bushing, but they will not come out with gradual pulling. It needs a fair amount of force. When the upper fork tube hits the bushing, it will pop it right out, and the upper tube will be free of the lower. The bushing presses in during reassembly. Marcarl had a short hunk of PVC pipe that was exactly the right diameter to do the job. It doesn't take much force to reinstall but does hold the upper to the lower quite securely. Good luck.
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