Prairiehammer

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.

Nine degrees below zero Fahrenheit here this morning (-22.778ºC). Thankfully, our power outage occurred and was remedied just before these sub-zero temps hit.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas! BTW: do you blokes ever have a White Christmas?

Doug, the "E4" error is most commonly associated with cold solder connections on the controller board. See this Tech Bulletin: Also, the controller from the '85 should be the same as the controller on the '83.

Kevin, The available features for a Canadian market Venture may have been different than the US market. For instance, there was no 1985 or 1986 Standard Venture in the US export market, but there was a 1985 and 1986 Standard sold to the Canucks. Similarly, the European market features differed from the German export market and both of those differed in available features compared to the US audience. To me, at least, it's all a very interesting detective endeavor, sorting out the vagaries of the First Gen Venture. Perhaps you could forward me the VIN from your '86, so that I may add to my database and further my knowledge. Thank you.

Carl is mostly correct, but to clarify: the 1987 Standard Venture (XVZ13T, 2LW) did not come with any audio systems; the air suspension was manually adjusted, with no on board compressor or controller. The Standard did have electronic cruise control, though. The Standard also had a unique color: Orion Silver (actually looks like two-tone blue).

I am certain that is not part of OEM brake system. Was this nail actually inserted into the brake line? Perhaps, it was someone's attempt to block off the brake line? I cannot fathom why one would do so, though.

While Progressive may not offer the shock, it is still available on eBay. For how long, though? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Progressive-465-Series-Single-Shock-Standard-For-Yam-Venture-83-88-Royale-83-93-/191007233755?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c78eb16db&vxp=mtr

I am sorry for your loss, Annie.

Doug, when speaking of the VENTURE, the second generation began in 1999 as the Royal Star Venture (RSV). As Paul says, the First Generation Venture is from 1983 to 1993. Within the First Generation Venture saga is the Mark 1 (MKI) from 1983 through 1985. A Mark 2 (MKII) First Generation Venture is a 1986 through 1993. All MKI First Gen Ventures are 1200cc. All MKII First Gen Ventures are 1300cc. There are differences between model years within the MKI genre as well as differences between model years within the MKII group. MKI Ventures are XVZ12(x) and MKII Ventures are XVZ13(x) There are also two generations of Royal Star XVZ1300. The first Royal Star (RS) was in 1996. I am not certain what year the second generation RS started. Confusingly, all Yamaha V-Fours from 1986 to 2013 are grouped into the XVZ13 group. The suffix after XVZ13 determines the model. For instance: 1986 Venture Royale is properly called a XVZ13DS. A 1987 Royale is a XVZ13DT. Your 1985 Royale is a XVZ12DN. Your 1983(1/2) Royale is a XVZ12DKC2. I hope that clears up some things for you.

Paul is mostly correct, except: the 1991-1993 First Generation Venture Royale came from the factory with four brush starter. Two ways to identify a four brush starter without taking the starter apart: On the end cap there are cast-in numbers. A two brush starter will have Mitsuba SM-229 or similar (it may be 229x), while a four brush starter end cap will show Mitsuba SM-13xxx. The other, easier way to differentiate two brush from four brush: If there is a large Phillips screw head showing on the side/barrel of the starter it is PROBABLY a two brush. If there are no Phillips screw heads showing on the starter it is a four brush. This last identifier is not 100% confirmed, but I have yet to see a Venture Mitsuba two brush starter without that screw. The screw holds the field coils onto the starter case. Later four brush field coils are secured with some form of adhesive instead of a screw. It is not to say that ALL Mitsuba SM-13xxx starters will work on a Venture. Mounting points, starter motor rotation and the number of teeth are all pertinent. The SM-13xxx is a SERIES of Mitsuba starters. Various forms of SM-13xxx starters are used on a bunch of disparate Japanese motorcycles. Here is a pic of a Mitsuba two brush starter with the tell tale screw. And a pic of a SM-13 endplate, showing the cast in number.