Prairiehammer

Sorry to hear this, Dan.

Maybe time to put the firmer Progressive® springs in the forks? I didn't have any issues with my '90 (26K miles) but I notice that the '91 (51K miles) sits much lower at the same air pressure. I guess I will have to install the Progressive® springs in it. Please note the stock MKII is 25-30 pounds heavier than the stock MKI and yet use the same springs.

Set up your shop vac to each carb. Make sure it sucking in the correct direction. Then synch each utilizing the vacuum. Just kidding...

My first thought. You changed fuses and then stuff happened. Also check the kick stand switch.

The Motor Company calls for "calm". http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/harleydavidson-calls-for-calm-in-queensland-20140116-30xmb.html

I too enlisted on 25AUG72. Because I opted for a Delayed Enlistment, I didn't actually go in until 25OCT72. Basic was at Ft. Polk, LA (Bravo-4-2).

My primary concern would be the lack of ventilation UNDER the floor. Unless the plywood is pressure treated, the proximity of the plywood (and framing) to the ground will invite rot. Is it too late to treat the underside of the shed floor?

Check the date code on the '84 front Bridgestone Mag Mopus L303 tire. That tire (while still being manufactured, I think) was OEM on some Ventures of the period. If the tire dates from 1983-1984 then the 6000 miles on the odometer is probably true.

...be in Why. Arizona. "The unusual name of the town comes from the fact that the two major highways, State Routes 85 and 86, originally intersected in a Y-intersection. At the time of its naming, Arizona law required all city names to have at least three letters, so the town's founders named the town "Why" as opposed to simply calling it "Y." The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) later removed the old Y-intersection for traffic safety reasons and built the two highways in a conventional T-intersection south of the original intersection." Weather in Why: Today Sunny, with a high near 73. North northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. That's why!

Doug, Yamaha calls the "drive fingers" a "hub clutch". A pic of one dismounted from the wheel is below.

Yaaaaay! So very glad to hear she is coming home. Take care of yourself, Earl. Don't burn the candle from both ends.

You are welcome, Puc. Ordered some of those bits myself. I got my first Vessel impact back in the '70s while trying to work on my CB750. Lifesaver. And like you, I've lost a couple bits, but the impact itself seems indestructible. Here's the link for others who might need some bits for their Vessel impact driver: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Vessel-JIS-431801-Replacement-Bit-Set-2400-2500-/380748854776?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58a66675f8

Oh, jeez~ I am hoping for Jean's full recovery, Earl. And take care of yourself as well! You won't be worth a hoot as Jean's caregiver if you don't take of yourself. Sleep, eat well, stay fit. She is going to need you!

But given that there are probably few frozen lakes in West Virginia, I suggest that this video is actually of Black Owl or Bubber.

Here ya go Puc: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Vessel-JIS-431801-Replacement-Bit-Set-2400-2500-/380748854776?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58a66675f8

Sorry, Jeff, but all the 1200 Ventures had the six coil compression springs from the factory.

Welcome! For what it is worth: the diaphragm clutch spring is used on the 1200 V-Max from it's inception. The same spring as on the 1300 Ventures. Yamaha apparently thought the diaphragm style was better at transmitting the increased power. Just sayin'. Personally, I prefer the simplicity of the diaphragm style. With time, all springs, whether compression coil (as in the 1200 Venture) or diaphragm style (as in the 1300 Venture and the 1200 V-Max) will suffer fatigue with resulting loss of compression capability. Perhaps it is time to change out the diaphragm spring on your 1300 for a new stock spring or an upgraded spring from Skydoc? I had slipping on my '90 after just 20K miles, but it WAS more than twenty years old. Note that the spring is under constant compression, even while sitting. I replaced the fatigued stock spring with the spring from Skydoc and the slipping stopped. Some have doubled up the stock spring ("Double-D mod" with another stock spring) and have eliminated the slip.

If it doesn't say "AGM" or "Absorbed Glass Mat" somewhere on the battery or on the carton, I would assume it is not AGM. AGM is a good selling point for an informed consumer, so if it is an AGM, you can bet the manufacturer or retailer will tout that point. Kinda like when you can't find a country of origin on an item; it is a sure bet it ain't made in the USA. Who wouldn't emblazen their packaging with "Made in USA" (or Made in Canada) if it was made in the US? Things made in China, on the other hand, sometimes don't say where the item is made.

The rear splines on the 1300 are lubricated by the gear oil in the pumpkin. There is no need to grease the rear splines. Lubing the front splines is still recommended. To grease the front splines, unbolt the pumpkin from the swingarm and pull the pumpkin (the drive shaft will remain attached to the pumpkin).

I'm gonna suggest that you would stay in Oz but pay for all our airfares to and fro' along with bike rentals for us all... correct?

There was no reserve on my first '83 (VIN 001764). There is no reserve on my current '83 (VIN 006708).

Ewww! Please mark those handwarmers. Merry Christmas.

Here's one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/87-YAMAHA-XVZ13-CLUTCH-RESERVOIR-/270897165600?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f12bab520&vxp=mtr It is mislabeled as a clutch reservoir, but it is the rear brake reservoir. It's for a 1987, but it will work on the '83, no issues. Cheap, too, especially since there are a couple more rear brake reservoirs as part of the rear master assembly trying to be sold for $129-$139. This one is a deal, get it. I'm betting the fill plug is broken out of the reservoir you have? Merry Christmas!

That inflated number came from a DOD spokesman; I wonder where he got his numbers, too, because the official Army site has a chart for all pay grades and like you said it's $1516 a month. That's just $18,192 annually. The spokesman said that 2/3 of the $40,400 is base pay. Well, when I take $40,400 and multiply it by .6666 I get $26,906.40. Nearly a $9000 discrepancy. Why would the DOD feed us this B.S.?

Boy, Mike! I hope you were kidding. Wouldn't the car be better? Merry Christmas and I hope the New Year is better for you.