Prairiehammer

Steve, If it is feasible in your circumstances; put the trailer in a "moat". Seriously! Place a hog pan under the tongue stand and jack the tires off the ground and place a couple more hog pans under the stabilizer jack stands. Now, fill the pans with used motor oil. Make sure nothing is resting against the trailer that would allow the mice to climb aboard. If the tires are not off the ground far enough to discourage the critters from climbing onto the tire, place a pan under each jacked up tire and add just enough oil to those pans to stop the mice, but not enough that the oil is touching the tires. Even if the mice climb into the pans, they will not be able to escape or climb out via the jacks because of the oil and will ultimately succumb. Good luck!

The plate number was in the OP header. BL942PL

Apparently, Joe. I almost didn't recognize you, but then I saw how you were always seemingly hanging close to your wife, then I recognized you...

Works OK for me, now! One hundred and five pics.

I've got those same rider's floorboards from Markland on my '91. As for the passenger auxiliary foot rests; sounds like they may be those made by Kriss. Called Starsteps. Do the passenger boards look like this:

I have investigated those aluminum cam type lifters. Most I have seen are pretty big and then I question whether I could situate one just so and then get back on the bike and try to pull forward, stopping at just the right point, while alone. Maybe.

What do you use to jack up the trailer while on the road? In case of a flat tire for example. On my trailer, I carried an old antique screw jack that worked very well, but it and the 1/2" drive speed wrench I used to operate the jack weighed together more than 6½ pounds. I'm looking to reduce the weight of ALL things that we haul in the trailer and the jack is one of the heaviest (although nicely compact).

Mike, A salvage yard/breaker in Pennsylvania won the auction for $350. The company is called One Stop Outlet. They have an eBay store, but the Venture hasn't shown up there as of yet.

Not ALL First Gen starters are two brush. Yamaha started installing four brush starters in the Venture in 1991.

Actually, the First Gen Ventures had four brush starters starting in 1991, but one never knows with bikes that old whether someone may have substituted a two brush during a swap or even some may have had their engines swapped with an earlier year. So, it is safest to just go for a Second Gen starter, because all years of Second Gen Ventures are four brush.

The tachometer gets its signal from the TCI. If you are losing the tach, check the TCI connections, wiring, etc. Also check the SIGNAL fuse for good connections at the fuse clips. If everything was functioning normally before you dived into the valve clearance check, then logic says that something was changed or disrupted as a result of those things you messed around with when removing or re-installing the valve covers. Just sayin'.

George, the broken idle gear is a very common problem? This is first I've heard of such. Or did you mean the broken starter CLUTCH is a common problem?

Double check the "boost sensor" harness connector for clean and tight connection. Double check the TCI harness for cleanliness and correct and tight connection. Did you relocate the TCI while you had the top end disassembled for the valve check? Check that all vacuum hoses are replaced properly. Back off all the synchronization screws all the way. I suspect something was dislodged or incorrectly reconnected/installed after the valve check.

It might be the rear brake caliper bracket clicking as it moves around on its mounting post on the swingarm. Put it on the center stand in neutral and spin the rear wheel by hand and then apply the foot brake and see if it clicks.

If it is already apart, the "idler gear" for the starter is easy to replace. But I've never heard of a First Gen starter idler gear failing. It IS somewhat more common to have the starter CLUTCH fail on the First Gen.

The engine "blows-by" oil from the crankcase into the air box if the crankcase is overly full of engine oil. Get the bike level and seek an oil level on the sight glass to be middle of the sight glass. No higher or it will blow by into the air box and then find it's way on to the carbs.

In the case of the Ignitech, you can set the rev limit to your specifications. Look under the "Miscellaneous" tab for "Limiter". Use the up or down arrows to set the rev limiter.

There is no rev limiter on the First Gen. Are you running a stock TCI?

Any fuses blown?

I'll have to agree. The START switch is broken. Possibly burned/corroded contacts and/or weak internal spring.

I'm beginning to question the safety of the Apple Pie I still have from JUNE's Maintenance Day...but it has been four months and still no sign of anything fuzzy... It has been refrigerated, though.

Here's to a successful procedure for Linda. I fell on the ice one winter and like you landed on my right side with my arm under my chest. I cracked a couple ribs but there was nothing they could do other than "take it easy". You think hiccups are bad? Wait until you sneeze! Good luck, it may be a long winter.

One trick to installing any tension spring (or removing) is to stretch it out over the edge of a bench and while stretched insert nickels or pennies or washers into the open coils. Place the stretched spring over the pertinent posts or studs and then remove the spacers that you previously inserted. The trick is to get the spring stretched out enough to insert the nickels, pennies or washers.

Doctors are not on my list of favorite people. Most are arrogant and condescending. We are taught to "kow-tow" to the "Mighty Doctor". Hmmmph. They are human, just like us. Just another man/woman with a degree. I can fix a motorcycle and build a house; most likely that Doctor can't do either. So, I'm supposed to revere him simply because he can CLAIM to know more about something than me? BS! Dan, I know you have been through this before...maybe it's time to seek other opinions? Cleveland Clinic comes to mind. Find a Doctor who is not in it for the money, but rather one who is wanting to LEARN about the Warden's malady. One who is truly intrigued by her ailment. One who will seek new angles of treatment (once the diagnosis is determined). Find "House" or someone like him.

Huh?! So what purpose is the "online pre-bid"? When it goes to "live auction", one starts all over? What if I had bid $xxx in the "pre-bid"? Is the pre-bid just to save a place for the REAL auction? Hmmm. Interesting as you say. Keep us posted as to how it works out for you.