coy55boy
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Everything posted by coy55boy
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It's cold here in Tucson too! We're only gonna get up to 75 today...
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Hmmm, so they announce a recall that will cost the company 10-12 million bucks to fix and the stock price goes up? I don't understand the logic behind that...
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Interesting description too: "DESIGNED TO BE DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR THE FACTORY FUEL FILTER" :mo money::mo money::mo money:
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I've been thinking about it. But, the only ones I've seen that I really like are the Vance & Hines Monster slip-ons. However, at +$800 it'll just have to be a thought...
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http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n163/coy55boy/Misc/cow_a_socky.jpg
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No Kidding! It's a half day job! Makes me want to believe the people who think engineers design things in such a way that routine maintenance items are better performed by dealers. I heard (but didn't confirm) that an air filter change on the GL1800 costs in the neighborhood of $400.
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I use Purolator Pure One PL14612. It's a little longer than the 14610 but has more filtering media. It's a tight fit, but it has terrific filtering specs and a good back flow valve.
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WOW! (wiping away drool...)
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I wonder if there's an app for that I can add to my Wing?
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I admit I'm intrigued by the car tire idea. I've read a number of posts about it and for the most part, the people that use them swear by them. I figured I'd wait until my rear was up for replacement before making the decision. Did you install it yourself? Or take it to a dealership? I kinda figured they'd frown on the idea. Another question I have is about balancing. I like to use ceramic beads instead of lead. Can you use them in a run flat tire?
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This sounds more like a system issue to me. If you are using Internet Explorer, try using FireFox or another browser to see if you get the same result. If you do, it's most likely that your mouse or mouse driver has a problem. Borrow a mouse and see if that corrects it.
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:rotf:Mount them on top of your trunk facing aft. That way, you can also use them as turbo boost!
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I mounted a pair of Rivco air horns on the left side of my 1st gen (I'll take pics and post 'em later). I picked it up used for $25 including the chrome horns, compressor and relay along with the associated wiring from an owner retiring his Harley. It meant having to fashion a bracket to attach to the existing horn location, but it was fairly easy using some 1/8" aluminum flat stock I had laying around. I mounted the compressor and relay under the radio inside the left fairing. This made for a really clean looking install. I was unimpressed with the sound initially (sounded more like a sick cow than anything else). So, I tested the horns using compressed air. They worked great!. Because it was a used item and I had no idea how old it was, the compressor was questionable. So, I went online and found that a [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Wolo-808C-Replacement-Compressor/dp/B000GVPEYU]Amazon.com: Wolo 808C Replacement Compressor: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31iLVA6oYhL.@@AMEPARAM@@31iLVA6oYhL[/ame] existed (25 psi vs. 15). Once I got that puppy installed, I was happy! It has the sound signature of an 18 wheeler. I don't activate my horn often, but when I do...I want people to notice! http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n163/coy55boy/83%20Venture%20trailer%20hitch/Horn1.jpghttp://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n163/coy55boy/83%20Venture%20trailer%20hitch/Horn3.jpghttp://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n163/coy55boy/83%20Venture%20trailer%20hitch/Horn2.jpg
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Actually, the spelling should be ass_me because I can't say anyone else was made an ass of... I bought a little trailer to pull behind my Wing. I thought it would be perfect since the Wing already had an unusual 6 wire weatherproof connector and the trailer was equipped with the same device. I got the bike out and attached the trailer coupler to the hitch ball and was thrilled to see that the trailer tongue was perfectly level. Then I connected the chains and stood back to admire my work. So far, so good. Next, I connected the wire harness and turned the ignition key to on to verify the lights working properly on the trailer. That's when all hell broke loose! As soon as I turned around, I could see dense white smoke billowing out from the under the trunk. I immediately turned the key off and went to assess the damage. When I got to the back of the bike, I could see that the rear lights were still on. HUH? I already turned off the key... I figured (assumed) that somehow the rear lights were getting feedback voltage from the trailer, so I disconnected the wire harness. Nope, still got lights. So, I thought maybe I should start the bike to possibly reset any relays that had gotten stuck. It started right up, but I'm still getting smoke. By now, I'm beginning to panic. After turning the key to off, I quickly yanked the side cover off and pulled the main fuse. But, even that didn't stop the smoke! Now that the battery is exposed, I ran back to the garage for a wrench and disconnected the battery. Finally, the smoking ceases. It seemed like a long time, but this all took place in about 2 or 3 minutes. I opened the trunk but realized that there could be nothing in there causing the problem. I opened the left bag. This is where the previous owner installed 2 additional fuse boxes (for the lighting, audio system, trailer, etc.). I checked everything over and couldn't find any visible indication of extreme heat or any wires hot to the touch. Next step is to remove the rear fender and start following the wire harness. As soon as I got the fender off, I could see the culprit. A trailer wiring harness isolator had been installed. It was now a tortured, twisted mass of plastic, wires, and epoxy. After doing some research online, I could find no 'standard' wiring setup for the harness connector. So, the assumption I made (that made an ass of me) was that they would already be correct. Compounding the issue was that whoever installed the isolator (gotta blame someone!) had put in a 30 amp fuse. The online instructions said 10 amp max. The auxiliary fuse box was wired directly to the battery which is why pulling the main fuse didn't help. The likely culprit for all the mayhem was probably the 6th wire. This is added to a harness where a dome light is being utilized. It is normally wired to be 'hot' when the bike's ignition is in the 'off' position. When I first connected the trailer harness to the bike, it must have fed the dome light voltage back to the output side of the running lights relay in the isolator and then fried it with the contacts closed. I was fortunate that it didn't do any further damage to the bike. The moral of this story? NEVER ASSUME the previous mechanic got it right!
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Hmmm, an aluminum rainbow!
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That's ONE of the reasons I hate to let anyone work on my bike but me. If I break something, I'll sulk and complain but hopefully I'll have learned a lesson and can't place blame on anyone else. When my wife's car was new and still under a maintenance contract, we took it in for regular oil changes, tire rotation, other miscellaneous repairs, etc. It seems like 70-80% of the time when she brought it home, there was a screw missing or a valve cap gone. One time, the car was dripping oil! The drain plug was in but only finger tight! I can understand the mechanic's desire to take the rig for a test ride. Both for the novelty of it and for the need to insure that everything is mechanically sound. But, anytime you operate a vehicle, it is the drivers responsibility to ensure that everything is secure before placing the vehicle in gear. Generally speaking, garages are pretty good about doing what is 'morally' right and taking care of their mistakes as long as it doesn't cost too much. I'm not sure what the garages legal responsibility is in this case, but surely it is their moral responsibility to replace the helmet.
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That's funny...the title was correct, but did ya see the description? "1983-1993 Yamaha Venture Engine Gap Cover"
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I like to ride...but, I like to ride a clean bike. So, about once a month I get out my spray bottle of distilled water (costs about a buck at Wally World). Distilled water has no impurities and won't spot. I start at the top and work my way down to the bottom using microfiber cleaning cloths. It takes about an hour. The worst part is always the tires & wheels 'cuz I get down there face to face with 'em and clean out all the little nooks and crannies. In between washes, I just dust if off with a feather duster!
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They also come in a jumbo size for 3x thru 5x riders.
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Well, it came off of one. So, it should fit. I bought it as a parts bike for my '83. But, I ended up getting a GoldWing before I finished renovating my Venture. The hitch assembly is one of the items I won't be needing. I've also got the wrap around rear bumper (actually 2 of 'em) that I had disassembled for painting and re-chrome work.
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What would be a fair price for a Markland hitch in reasonably good shape?
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Yes, I understand 'why' the chains are required. Furthermore, I agree that they are necessary. I've towed cargo trailers, boats, and recreational trailers and I always take caution during the hook-up process to make sure everything is right. My question was really more about understanding and minimizing the danger to myself. Thanks to all for informative and helpful answers.
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I've been struggling with a problem in my head and hope that some of you with experience pulling a trailer can help me. I understand the reasoning behind safety chains when towing a trailer with a car or truck. If the coupler slips off the ball, the tongue will be caught by the crossed chains and when the tow vehicle brakes are set, the trailers inertia will force the tongue under the bumper to the extent the chains allow before the braking will affect the forward momentum of the trailer. I had that happen one time when towing a U-haul across Texas over black ice. Take my word for it...that was a scary situation. Fortunately, I didn't have to change my shorts when all the excitement was over. They had mysteriously disappeared! Now to my struggle. In my mind's eye, I'm trying to picture exactly what would happen in a similar situation on a bike. It's not such a pretty thing. It seems to me that once brakes are applied on the bike, the tongue will move forward under the momentum of the trailer until the forward edge of the coupler makes contact with the rear tire. It would seem that when that contact occurs, the tire would pick up the tongue and force it into the bottom of the rear fender...repeatedly. Or worse, if there was enough force, it might even raise the back tire sufficiently to lose traction. It might even cause a vertical jack-knife. Now, I want to do some MC camping this fall and I'm committed to pulling this trailer. You can bet that I will check, double-check and recheck at every stop to make sure all is well. But, can anyone dispel my worst case scenarios?
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What's amazing is that enough people fall for this kind of scam, it keeps these leeches working overtime...
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I think another part of the equation may be age. Baby boomers (of which I am a part) are a large segment of the touring bike riding population. The oldest boomers (those born in the mid to late 40's) are now entering their mid-60's. Some convert to trikes and keep riding, but many suffer the ailments of old age like bad joints, weak musculature, bad backs, failing eyesight, slow reflexes, etc. and decide it is time to start driving a rocking chair. It's one of the reasons there's been a slow decline in the purchase of these big machines and I think one of the reasons manufacturers spend less on R&D for the heavy cruisers. I personally realized about a year ago that I only had a decade left before my own impending retirement. I had become sedentary and spent much of my time playing stupid games on Facebook or Pogo or whatever captured my fancy. When it finally dawned on me that I was literally wasting whatever active years I had left, I decided to do something about it. I didn't want my tombstone to read: "Here lies Steve...level 32,841 mobster". So, I bought a bike. And I am so thoroughly enjoying myself, I have less time to kick myself in the A$$ for the last 20 years when my last bike was rotting in the garage. How I wish I could get those lost decades back! So, until that time comes when I can no longer safely navigate on 2 or even 3 wheels, you'll find me with my face in the wind. Ride, baby, RIDE!
