Prairiehammer

I think you are potentially creating a risk over a non-issue.

Do not wire 12 volt directly to the Garmin without the knock down transformer that is built into the cigarette lighter plug. If you cut off the male cig lighter plug and run the pigtail directly to the Garmin from a 12 volt source, you will most likely damage the GPS unit. Perhaps the cord is bad. Does the nüvi work with that power cord in any other vehicle cig lighter power outlet?

John, I found James McCoy's widow, Roberta in Hilliard, OH. I talked to her on the phone and explained about the letter. She was very pleased and would appreciate the letter. She is old and frail so, I'm not sure if she fully understood how I knew about the letter, but bottom line, I told her it would be mailed to her. You might want to include a note in the envelope to her explaining the whole find and explain that you are not Kevin Campbell but how Kevin Campbell was just researching for you. I will PM you her address.

I found out Wetzel's Mother and Father name. Also his siblings names. James F. McCoy is his brother and was married in 1950 to Roberta. The family bounced between Otway, OH and Lincoln County, WV. There is a much younger brother named "Rauft" (Ralph?) born about 1935. He may still be alive, too. For those so inclined (I ran out of time this weekend) to dig deeper, Roberta was born about 1931, so she may be a survivor with some information. Otway is a tiny hamlet in Scioto County, Ohio. If these surviving relatives are still in the Portsmouth or Lucasville, Ohio area, there is a good chance of finding them. When I get some more time, I will keep looking for survivors of Wetzel.

The OEM buttons are apparently swaged together (kind of like rivets) and are not offered separately. It MIGHT be possible to reset the loose button with the appropriate setting tool (a hammer and round end punch) but I think the correct compression of the button would be difficult to accomplish without adversely affecting the floating function. There are replacement buttons available for Brembo floating rotors. Perhaps the appropriate size could be used as a replacement for the stock buttons after machining or drilling the originals out. This is something that I have never heard of happening on the VR. Since it involves brakes, I would be hesitant to jury rig a fix. Probably better to obtain another rear rotor. Inspect the caliper for damage as well.

It is still not a bargain, but the OEM boots are available here and here for about half your quoted price.

Another place has them: http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/TypeID/26/Type/Motorcycle/MakeID/4/Make/Yamaha/YearID/31/Year/1990/ModelID/2239/Model/XVZ1300DAC_VENTURE_ROYALE/GroupID/347495/Group/WATER_PUMP_ Mfg. Part Number: 26H-12446-00-00 and don't forget the O-rings.

Are you speaking of the front fork gaiters? The black rubber accordion thingies? If so, join the crowd of fork protector needers. I think there was a member here some time back making leather fork protectors. Maybe Condor or Black Owl can steer you in that direction. Mine are broken at the folds in a couple places. Until I find suitable replacements, I found that if you loosen the "hose clamp" affair at the top and let the accordions just sit loose they will usually appear closed and are still doing their job of protecting the fork tubes.

Welcome back, Cindy. Where you been?

An even cheaper route: double up two stock springs. Definitely cure the slipping if the slipping is due to weak spring, but your left hand will pay in stop and go traffic. I had the slip in fourth gear full throttle. Installed Earl's spring and all is well. Earl doesn't make the spring and I don't know the brand he sells.

My Garmin 765T package came with Garmin nüMaps Lifetime™, "North America map updates for the life of your Garmin GPS". However, when I tried to enter the product key (from the enclosed Lifetime Maps card) at http://www.garmin.com/activatenumaps the site told me that the unit was already registered. I have a message pending from the seller requesting that he transfer the registration to me (as some have suggested to try) but so far nothing.

Yammer, yes you can, IF you install some kind of interface between the 765T audio out (3.5mm plug) and the First Gen audio. You can utilize a cassette adapter as I did, works great for three seasons now. Or you get the MP3 interface for the First Gen from the Spanish outfit, called VentureAudioLink http://ventureaudiolink.wordpress.com/ or perhaps this: http://edsets.com/edsets_adapters . I have no experience with the edset adapter, so not sure how it works, but another First Gen rider tried it and he said it is OK. Or you can hard wire the MP3 input into the VR audio circuit, perhaps in the way Micarl suggested. Just make sure whatever GPS you buy has the external speaker option (audio out). Several of the older Garmin had it (external speaker option) but hardly any of the current automobile specific GPS have it anymore. Seemingly, only the EXPENSIVE motorcycle specific Garmin GPS currently have the audio out jack.

Sorry, Jay, but I got mine as a Buy It Now, no bidders. Must have been another you bid on, there's been several.

Engine guard diameter is 1".

So, is it safe to assume that the only removable jet at the top of the carb is the Pilot Air Jet #1, erroneously called "Jet, Main 80" (#14) on the microfiche? Part number 3G2-14231-16-00

Wouldn't you know it... Pilot Air Jet #1 is not shown on the Venture carburetor fiche.

Wait! Mike, that PN is for Pilot Air Jet 2. Larry, you wanted Pilot Air Jet 1, correct? Are you missing the jet visible looking down the throat of the carb or the jet inside the diaphragm? The picture (shotgun9) looking at the carb after removing the diaphragm shows three arrows with the green arrow #3 pointing at Pilot Air Jet 2. The picture (shotgun10) looking down the throat of the carb shows the green arrow (not numbered) pointing at Pilot Air Jet 1.

Yes, Venture carbs are virtually identical except for the venturi size and jet sizes. Same Mikuni family.

I must have missed the "forums" at the Kydex.com site. I don't find any there.

Bike Year and Model1980 venture 1200 What model?

Randy I just bought a Garmin 765T ("user refurbished") loaded with North America 2013 map (that alone costs $80 from Garmin) along with all originally bundled paperwork and accessories on eBay for $79. It appears new and works as new. The reason I selected the 765T is two fold; the 765T has a 3.5 mm audio out and it accepts SD cards. I inserted a SD card loaded with music and the 765T has MP3 capabilities. The audio out allowed me to plug into a cassette adapter in my OEM cassette player, giving me a MP3 player playing music through the factory audio system. When Garmin Gertie talks to me it overides the music and her voice comes through my headset (or dash speakers). The 765T is not motorcycle specific, so it needs a baggie or such to be waterproof, but for the price of even a used Zumo (starting at ~$400) I figure it would be fine.

I too have been contemplating the possible uses of Kydex after seeing it utilized for holsters. You can buy small quantities from Tandy Leather. Have you been to http://www.kydex.com/ for possible inspiration?

Brian USA Size: 5" Qty: 2

My method of "shotgunning" didn't utilize any compressed air. I used (a couple) canned spray carb cleaner and stuck the straw into the various exterior jets and ports and squirted away. Best to remove the air box and use a straw extension when spraying the jets at the top of the carb. The extension added to the straw allows the spray can to stay upright. Make sure to provide yourself with eye protection (carb spray burns like hell and it seems to find the eyes). Also, blow out the pilot screw recess before attempting to remove the pilot screws. Spraying a bit of WD40 or such into the recess will help in lubricating the pilot screw as it screws out. Be aware there should be a small spring and tiny O-ring behind the pilot screw. Use the carb spray to blow those two things out if they don't come out with the screw. Be prepared to catch the little buggers with a rag or something. Because carb spray may have a detrimental effect on the slide diaphragms, remove the slides and diaphragms before attempting cleaning with carb spray. You will need to remove the diaphragms anyway to get to all the jets and ports during shotgunning. Here is a link to shotgun cleaning: http://vmax.lvlhead.com/tips/shotgun.htm