Rob Swallows

We used to get that in the Navy also and it did work well. It went on like a liquid wax and you let it haze then buffed it off IIRC. The stuff I now use is a spray goes on white, dries clear then buffed off. Does a great job on plastic canopy's of light aircraft which usually don't use glass windscreens.

When I retire here shortly and my shop sells, I'll build us a new house on some acreage yet to be acquired. We have 30 acres of undeveloped woods but really don't wish to live in southern IL as it's too far from the grand kids which are east of Peoria, and Chicagoland. I drive a 99 Durango everyday, and my pickup is a 96 Dodge one ton I purchased new. Both are getting rusty but were paid for at day one so they don't owe me anything. At this writing neither is planned for immediate replacement. The bike however has me a bit hot under the collar. I slowly work with/on it and will eventually prevail, but it's frustrating to work on something because it's just not right. Don't think I'd need help expending our last red cent if my wife didn't put the brakes on my spending habits. Hell, just last week I spent .25 on a piece of cheese for my hamburger and know I'll have to skip lunch for the next two days to offset the expenditure..... I'm pretty certain if you twist that turnip hard enough, it will bleed. Rob

Boy I'll tell you one more iteration of this kind of horse sheet in support of this Venture and it'll be on the bricks for sure. Hopefully another dealer will better as I won't go back to this one. The carbs are my own fault. I do remember starving it out till it died while level several years ago but inquisitive grand daughters wondering what that little knob under the fuel tank does..... This Venture was one of the only motorcycles of late that really caught my eye. It still looks like a motorcycle not completely wrapped in cladding. The Roadmaster is the same but I do want to get at least one trip on the Venture before doing away with it. Not saying I will as it's really liked but if parts support are going to be what I've experienced so far, it's future is not bright with us.

Installed a couple of really bright LED fixtures into the trunk lid today. Really lights it up and we should be able to find things in the dark now: Lighted switch on the CB antenna. I had to drill and tap two 4mm stainless set screws into the housing to keep it from rotating when the button was depressed. Reattached the flexible conduit using industrial "Velco" pads as the adhesive will take the heat without releasing. May wind up replacing this fragile foam thing with something more durable. Now my wife should be able to locate whatever she stows away. I have battery operated LED fixtures for the saddlebags as not really wanting to bore any holes in them. Rob

Thanks, I will investigate these further. I seen a Venture for sale last weekend and really liked the set he had on the rear which folded. I'll see what looks like them as I did snap photos. Rob

The square extractors are much better than the left handed swirl type but you best drill a straight hole. These tend to push the sides of the broken fastener "out" resulting in further binding of the fastener against it's mating threads. Not enough to worry about unless your pilot hole is not centered. Drill your center hole, "set" the extractor firmly into the bored hole, and while holding downward pressure on the tap wrench grabbing the extractor you are using, turn to remove the fastener. Heat is always good but not enough to discolor any chrome plating or such, and never applied directly to the fastener you wish to remove; only it's surrounding area.

I use a polish manufactured by GRC chemicals which is what aircraft use on their windscreens. It imparts a minor cutting, along with polishing action removing minor imperfections and nothing sticks to it. It's been suggested Lemon "Pledge" is a great cleaner and it will fill minor imperfections but it's a temporary thing. Used to use the product all the time polishing homebuilt aircraft canopy's till I went into the Navy and found this stuff.

Thanks for your response. Are yours the same, (Show Chrome) brand? I've never had one in the past so no experience but wanting to run two, or three flags on my truck rack also which is factory Yamaha with the "Star" emblem in the center.

I went to order a couple of "Show Chrome" brand flag poles as per "Freedbird's" suggestion, but I see there is both .375", and .500" diameter poles offered. Anybody had problems with the smaller diameter poles? I see much better flag availability in the smaller size but custom flags can be either size. I would assume larger flags can be flown from the larger pole size? I'm wondering about the mount spinning on it's axis with a larger flag. Thanks, Rob

Got into the carbs this morning and they are fine except for gumming in the jets. I tested all the diaphragms with air from my lungs though the ports and the slide(s) actuate very easily. "O" rings and seals all look good and all removable parts are now soaking in the carburetor dunk tank which is for this purpose. Stick your hand in the tank and it'll let you know right quick it's gonna act on anything not metal..... Motorcycle dealership is closed today due to parts guy being sick so will get the carb kits picked up on Monday most likely. I could put everything back together using the existing parts but not going to as this would probably invite failure and don't want to do it again. Instead I'll wire up my LED lamps for the saddlebags and trunk so can see to find things in the dark. Showed my wife this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Indian-Roadmaster-/191922062829?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2caf7245ed:g:sQcAAOSw2zlXh0-i&item=191922062829 and if this Venture don't both ride and run right, it very well may be replaced with her enthusiasm. I do however want to get a road trip out of her pulling the trailer before that call is made. Rob

Thanks man. Having never seen a bike hitch in person on one of these leaves a lot to the imagination to be functional. Mine will get the top bolster plate also along with the safety chain attachment plate later this afternoon. Right now I'm into carburetors.....

Well the final installment of bracing and such is laid out and mounted. I think it will suffice as it's good enough for who it's for: This photo is a mockup using stainless load washers and hardware for fitment. The final will be a cored piece of stainless shaft for a spacer so it doesn't rust: This shot is the top of the angle brace to distribute the braking force and forward "push" of the trailer over more than just the rear attachment point for the hitch: These are of the other side: Here is the insert bar shorted 3.5" from the original 8". Tomorrow I'll weld on the safety chain attachment plate across the bottom of the hitch, dress up the welds, and clean everything up in the blast cabinet. It'll then go over to the powder coater whom is awaiting the job. Hope to have it back by next weekend but we'll see. Received a call from the axle vendor today verifying I wanted brakes on this axle against their advice. Yes I want brakes having an older "Kelsey-Hayes brake controller which will be plumbed into the bikes hydraulic brake system for operation. I've had this controller since the mid 1970's and know it won't lock the empty trailer brakes if I don't want it to. This is a case of older and mechanical beats the snot out of new and electronic.

Caught the motorcycle shop lying to me and they're done. I called their supplier on the carb kits which are not expected till mid September. I've been lead to believe they would be here over a week ago. Located three complete kits at another dealer about 75 miles distant so will acquire those and piece together another kit if parts are needed. They just screwed the pooch on a new Polaris small ATV sale which was put on "agenda hold" for my grand daughters with this garbage. The purchase hinged upon how they performed during supporting parts sales. They've failed. Rob

Ordered a Dexter 600# torsion suspension trailer axle, aluminum 13" rims, fenders, and a few other lights/reflectors, etc. this morning. Should have this stuff within 14 days shipped free to the stocking warehouse in Normal, IL which is 37 miles distant. Also went with replaceable spindles instead of fixed, (welded) just in case a bearing burns up in the future which is another safety factor.

Welded up solid tonight and final drilled. All holes align as they should. The "ears" which are more forward of the cross tube under the bike are where the diagonal braces will attach and run up to other support more forward in the bike. I'll make those tomorrow and possibly clean everything up. This last photo shows the insert which is to be shortened 3.5" and the .500" hole bored. This will give a "stickout" of about .500" of the ball mounting plate weldment from the strengthening "boss" of the receiver tube. We'll see how that looks. Thanks, Rob Gonna need to get this wrapped up as there is about four hours in it so far.....

Yes, I will be shortening the "stinger" or insert to about 1/2-1/3 of what it is now. This was the length off the shelf and I figure much too long, but still in the dry fit stage. Still going to install the chain anchor plate across the bottom which ties all the members together into a single unit. I'm much more of a repair and streamline type of guy rather than fabricator myself. Having never seen a hitch like this other than a couple of photos leaves my mind to figure it out along the way so to speak. I spend a lot of time in the fields during plant and harvest repairing broken farm equipment using one of my engine drive welding machines. Welding is not hard, just want to ensure your repair lasts can be the challenge at times..... Rob

Starting to look like something: Clamped for final fitment: Additional 1/4" side plating: Final resting place being bolted into place: Don't know insert stickout requirement and can shorten once ascertained but it's now even with the trunk: Camera phone blows with the flash turned on. I'll pull the hitch back off tomorrow and weld it up solid, then trim it out w/torch and grinder for final fitment and cosmetics. When bolted on it ain't coming off too easily. I'm going to run a couple of angular braces from the lower saddlebag mounts to up more centered on the bike to absorb some of the push, (cantilever effect) of the trailer rather than rely solely on the bag mounts to absorb it. Should look alright once powder coated and possibly wear acceptably well. So far been a nice little project as really don't get to do so much for myself or family but we really want to go on this vacation..... Thanks, Rob

Certainly appreciate your help. I'm sure we'll meet as I get all over Ohio and the midwest seemingly for work. After retirement I have a lot of folks I'll remain friends with over there as we've helped each out many times through the years.

I'll get you guys a part number for a product from GRC chemicals we use on radar displays to preclude smearing and anything sticking. It remains a lot longer than furniture polish.

Yes, the commercial polishing or headlamp restoration products will remove surface oxidation and the protective coating applied during manufacture, but "yellowing" is a chemical composition of the material breaking down from exposure. There are sprays available touting their ability to restore this UV screening protection but I've not seen it work for anything more than about a year on automobile headlamps capsules.

I thought about that for a bit but I like to use a hitch plug showing support of "Children's Hospitals" as I do in my other towing vehicles. Kind of a personal thing as we have many thanks to give for those folks. Thanks, Rob

I'm thinking I have the same rack on my bike too. The offset would be beneficial I can tell. I'm going to order one of the venture flags and will get two of the flagpoles if you've not had any problem with the wind drag spinning the mount on the rack bar? Rob

This has been a learning experience for certain. I've not known you could select from the box that pops open for either a URL, or on computer storage. The hitch photos are the preliminary mock up to test the theory. A little research afterward for final analysis and integrity still needs to be worked out. Hope the carb kits show up pretty quick as the bike is in my garage at home and all my welders are at the shop two miles away. I may cart my little mig machine home this afternoon if the bike is alright to weld while the hitch is clamped into place. Thanks, Rob

Where did you get the flag mount on your luggage rack? I looked at a Venture yesterday and it had two that match yours. I've looked at several online suppliers with no luck. I like that trailer but just starting out need to contain costs so will go cheap for the first one upgrading later. Thanks, Rob

I really don't know how to post on this forum although have asked a couple of times in the past. Other forums you just click on the "insert image" icon but this one asks for a http:/ something. Thanks, Rob