Prairiehammer

http://devour.com/video/how-to-open-a-beer/

I cheated. I actually went out and looked at my bikes. Now this may get confusing. On MY '90, the VIN is on the right hand side of the steering neck. Perhaps on the '83 it is on the left? And because the crankcase is covered up on my '90 with panels, I looked on the '83 to determine engine number location and it is on the left side over the middle gear. Perhaps the engine number is in a different location on the '90? The books always right...right?

Dang!, Mike, you need to settle back and relax. The VIN number on the steering neck is on the RIGHT side of the steering neck. And the engine number is on the LEFT side of the engine right above the middle gear or if you prefer where the drift shaft exits. Bart: all directions are as if sitting on the bike, except in Nebraska, apparently.

:confused24:Confused people at the DMV? The VIN is 17 characters, starting with JYA1NL00xGA00xxxx. The VIN is permanently inscribed on the steering neck and also on a sticker on the lower frame rail (the removable one) under the right side of the engine. BTW: I don't see a problem with stating the entire VIN, what can an unscrupulous person do with it? I can walk up to any Venture and get the VIN. In fact, I am compiling a database of all First Gen Venture VINs. PM me with your VIN, if you don't want theses scoundrels to know it. The ENGINE number is stamped on the block and it will look like: 1NL-00xxxx; if the engine and chassis are original the engine number should match the VIN. I've never heard of a requirement for the engine number for a DMV, and at any rate, if they want a 17 character identifier, it ain't gonna be from the engine.

That's a good idea. Those frozen connectors are pretty dicey.

One curious thing about Yamaha marketing that I can't wrap my pea-brain around: why do they cease production and marketing of a particular model (G1 Venture, G1 VMax, etc) then return with a new version of the marque years later? Why not just introduce the new version in the next model year? Are they fearful of having unsold old versions sitting on the showroom floor next to the new version? Most all motorcycle dealers have brand new, never sold, one or two year old bikes on the floor, trying to sell the leftovers simultaneously with newest model.

Just to be clear: the starter does not fail to engage. Nor does it spin freely, then suddenly noisily engage. The starter sounds perfectly normal. The clang (or BANG, depending on your semantics) occurs only at the seemingly last stroke of the stalling engine. It sounds as if the engine is trying to run backwards for a split second. This occasional noise started after I installed the Ignitech this Spring. I mentioned my concerns to Dingy at the MD. I wondered if there was too much initial advance programmed into the Ignitech. He adjusted the advance from 10° BTDC to 5° BTDC. I hope that the perceived engine kickback or reversal didn't break something.

Just to be certain: with the rear wheel off the ground (bike on center stand) idle the engine in gear and apply the brake pedal. That application should cause the engine to stall and be confirmation that the rear brake is in fact operating. When I was having my issues with the rear brake, I too had a hard pedal, but the rear caliper was not operating at all.

Yeah, like Snaggletooths photos, here is one bad ass satin black stripper:

Here's one. Might find some more, I'll keep looking.

I was not able to lock up the rear brake on a gravel road after removing the proportioning valve spool, so I decided it was good. One mitigating factor may have been the "progressive" (Skydoc's term) FJ1300 rear caliper. It has un-equal sized pistons, that Earl says activate progressively, instead of all at once. Also, I retained the stock organic rear brake pads, but installed sintered (SBS, equal to EBC HH) brake pads on the front. Since the proportioning valve or its internal parts are not called out with separate part numbers, how did you find, and what parts did you use to make it work correctly?

Yeah, I looked inside at the proportioning valve and it LOOKED BRAND NEW with no apparent issues.

A couple summers ago, I had the issue of no rear brake. Bleeding, bleeding, bleeding did nothing. I tried all the tricks: reverse bleed (pump fluid from the rear caliper bleed screw into the rear reservoir); weighting the brake pedal down and waiting overnight; bleeding at the triple tree; bleeding, bleeding the front; cracking the banjo bolt at the metering valve, ad nauseum. I had that proportioning valve apart several times; tried different configurations to assembling the proportioning valve; obtained a rebuilt/refurbished FJ1300 rear caliper from Skydoc; rebuilt the rear master cylinder with a new kit. Nothing seemed to work for long. Finally, I gutted the proportioning valve and after some more bleeding (there is a large void in the proportioning valve that must be filled with fluid) I had a reliable rear brake. I have noticed no adverse effects from having no functioning proportioning valve. My rear brake is still linked to the left front.

If there is any cryptic numbers molded into the plastic of the seat base, there may be a clue. Yamaha prefixes are indicated of models (kinda). For instance, any part number beginning with 26H was used on the First Gen Ventures (and others), 1FK was First Gen V-Max, 4XY was often used on Second Gen Ventures, etc. Depending on year the Road Star might have 5VR for a part number prefix.

I figured you would speak up about this, Mike, since you were intimately familiar with the mod (and Dano?) I suspected the worst. What is the long term prognosis? Will the starter catastrophically fail, leaving me stranded in New England in August? Is Dano still able to get the parts he needs from Yamaha to do the mod?

And I can vouch for his transmissions being noise-free, although a bit garbled and subdued. Chris' transmissions come in loud and clear.

Recently (started this spring), I hear a very distressing "clang" when the engine dies from too slow idle. IE, when starting cold with the choke off and the engine cooled (at a gas stop, for instance) or when idling from a cold start and because the idle speed is too slow with the choke off. My "choke" has always been more like an on-off switch instead of the expected linear activation; so to avoid a racing engine while warming up, I reduce the amount of enrichment and try to maintain a semi-fast idle (1500 rpm) with the choke. I often fail that, and as I am suiting up, the engine may start racing or may just start idling too slow and die---with a clang! It did an especially loud clang as it died while too slow idling this morning and then when I restarted, there was a definite "knock" emitting from the stator cover. I could feel the knock in the handlebars and placing my hand on the left engine guard I could feel a knock and simultaneously hear it. Have I broken the starter sprag? Or one of the springs in the sprag unit that pushes the roller(s) back to the start (neutral) position?

Or as I witnessed this weekend at Don's, the fuel petcock was closed. (Second Gen). Same symptom.

That only applies to our "antiquated" First Gens. The way I understand it, Yamaha took a technological step backward when designing the Second Gen. We have VOX. I think the "Mic-Mutes" are supposed to do what our First Gen's did from the factory. Progress?

They are made in Korea (at least the Tour King is). The load rating is identical to the D404, (761#, rear) which is to say that most people will overload them with a two up, loaded Venture. http://tinyurl.com/lqwdvv6

Yep, you are correct regarding the rack was not originally intended for the G2. It is for a Honda GL1500. I had purchased it on eBay with the assurances that it would fit my 1990 VR. It did not. The front legs landed on the vinyl armrests. There were two other G2 Ventures at Don's MD that had that same GL1500 rack on their trunks. In fact, I took Mike over to Joe Pat's Venture to show him what it would look like on his bike. So as not to be disingenuous, I also explained that the rack was not a Genuine Yamaha rack and showed Mike what the Yamaha racks looked like on the Venture and pointed out the reinforcing straps, etc.

Undoubtedly, since I actually took a loss on the rack sale. I just felt fortunate to be able to recover SOME of my "investment", especially gratifying though, to see a naked RSV finally get dressed.

That's 'cause I started in on ol' Mike right off the bat with my spiel. And lawdy, lawdy he bit as soon as the rack hit his trunk. I love it when I can get a Scot to part with his money.

I am always amazed and gratified when I see the politeness and consideration exhibited by the Queen's subjects.

You mean this guy, Michael? Why, I wouldn't have bought a thing from that shyster. Good luck, I say!