Prairiehammer

Gary, be nice to the newbie. This is my old '83. As he delves into it, he will most likely be ragging on ME about something about this Venture.

Thank you. Attached is the First Generation Venture VIN database (as of 23 July 2018). Collected Venture Vehicle Identification Numbers.xlsx

One does not have to remove the main fairings to remove the TCI from the stock location. Remove the air box and the lower fairing on the left side. Remove the black plastic "heat shield" over the front valve cover. Use a number 3 Phillips, one inch long insert bit, taped into a ¼" socket mounted on a short handled ratchet to get the two screws that hold the TCI to the coil rack.

Thanks, Don. Currently the file is about 118Kb with ".xlsx" as the extension. Perhaps when I upload it, you could make it a "sticky", although it is a file in constant flux, ie: I am always updating it.

Yeah, but it is not "81H". There was no 81H. It is a "31H".

My first gun, (I was 13 years old) was a Mossberg Model 185D, 20 gauge bolt action shotgun. That gun is also the most uncomfortable gun I have EVER shot. What a kicker! I still have it, and want to fix the magazine and put on a scope and a GOOD recoil pad. Load it with slugs for Illinois deer.

Sure I am willing to share. The database is a MS Excel spreadsheet. I am unable to upload that kind of file to the forum, but I will send you a copy via your email. EDIT: I just tried to email you the database at the above address and it came back as undeliverable: "no such address".

Allen, your multiple photos are not in focus, but I THINK your VIN is 31H 000506? If so, your Venture is a 1983 XVZ12TK (Standard, non Royale Venture) intended for Canada. I've seen several examples of your "too short" VIN, all were originally registered in Canada. The 17 character VIN that your insurance company and registration entity seemingly requires, was not universally adopted by all countries in early (January?) 1983 when your Venture was built. It IS a valid VIN, though.

The blue box is the controller. I put an LED H4 bulb (a different brand) in my 1991. It had a cooling fan. Other than the rubber boot around the bulb on the original H4 not fitting, I had no issues with getting the LED bulb in. BTW, there is/was no 1993 Royal Star. And welcome to VRO as a Supporting Member greenbeenie.

That copper donut was leaking on my 1983 back in 2002. I've done the repair with success. I found that 14 gauge solid conductor wire (as from Romex house wiring) worked well. Twelve gauge wire was too fat and made fitting the clamp difficult. Also, very important: the wire must be as long as the circumference of the pipe where you are trying to install it. If it is too long, then the wire ends will overlap and be too fat for the clamp. It is OK if the wire is SLIGHTLY shorter than the pipe circumference. When you get the clamp started tightening over all the pieces make certain that the copper wire is lying alongside the stock copper gasket and evenly within the clamp trough. You may find that after tightening the clamp and getting the exhaust pipe hot that the copper wire has softened and conformed to the clamp and pipe, necessitating some more tightening of the clamp. Keep checking the clamp and tightening for the first few rides. Finally the wire will fit very well inside. You can even install another 14 gauge wire to the other side of the copper gasket if needed. I did on #1 cylinder on my '83. Good luck with this repair. It can be done but it is admittedly a difficult space to access and work within.

YEP. Just for you. And it is only 100° here, 121° in the shop. No sacrifice too large for a fellow VentureRider.

I am not sure what four bolts you are talking about, but I suspect you are talking about the four flat head screws with the Torx socket head under the middle gear cover that retain the middle gear retainer plate? If those bolts/screws are what you are wondering about, the "punch" marks on them are in fact staking the bolt/screw heads. The punch marks are made at the factory and do not indicate a repaired thrust washer. There was no dealer applied mark to indicate a repaired second gear. Replacing a worn thrust washer was not a warranty item. Furthermore, a repaired second gear procedure includes replacing the thrust washer and new spec second gear/dog. The "punch mark" that is so often talked about was to indicate that the stator cooling kit had been retrofitted. The single punch mark in that case was supposed to be applied by the dealer onto a smooth blank boss on the crankcase near the middle gear cover. M84-025 Stator Cooling Kit Installation.pdf

Thanks! The mufflers are Jardine. I cut off the original downturn outlets.

I am not saying this is your problem since you indicate that the cylinders misfire erratically and not simultaneously, BUT a wonky IGNITION fuse holder may exhibit similar operation. Have you upgraded to ATC/ATO fuses from the stock, old and problematic fuse block?

Thanks for your VIN contribution, Paul. Unfortunately, I have no further information about your Venture. Yours is the first submission to the database for this bike.

I sold my 1983 Venture Standard yesterday. I've had that bike since June 2002. Down to one Venture and one 1974 Honda CB750. The Venture was sold to an enthusiastic YOUNG man from St. Louis. I strongly suggested he join here (since the 1983 had not been started since 2003 or 2004). I included a cut down seat from my wrecked 1990, a new Yamaha oil filter, a XVZ12TK Owner's Manual, a Yamaha factory Service Manual and a Gremlin Bell. Congratulations, Justin Loy. Hope to see you on here.

I have created a couple of graphs reflecting the First Generation Venture production numbers. The numbers are based on the recorded VIN in my database. (If you haven't contributed your bike's VIN, please do so.) As one can see, the 1983 production was huge, thus explaining why there are still so many out there. Note that more than half of the 1991 production went to Europe. Also note the large decline for 1988 and later years, due to the introduction of the Honda GL1500?

Indeed there is a difference "visually" between a 1983 TCI and a 1984 TCI. One must be able to read the label applied to the TCI, though. The 1983 TCI Note the black label and "26H-*". The 1984-1989 TCINote the green label and "41R-*".

Your 1990 Venture (and the 1991, '92, '93) has a single pick-up coil. A faulty (corroded/loose) connection from the pick-up coil to the TCI will result in no fire for any of the cylinders. Pull the left side cover and trace the cabling (containing an orange and a black wire) from the stator cover to the white connector and on to the TCI. Inspector the connector.

There is no difference between Royale forks and Standard Venture forks. Yes, the forks have springs. All Venture forks have springs. Progressive® Springs for the First Gen Venture of all years are the same Progressive® part number: 11-1112 Factory recommends 10 weight fork oil. The "boxy" thing on the lower forks is the Electric Anti Dive solenoid valve.

:think: As I said: The VIN indicates that your Venture is a 49 state 1988 Standard Venture XVZ13U, (non-Royale, non-California).

Thanks for the VIN on your 1988 Standard Venture, XVZ13U. Not a real common rendition of the First Generation Venture. Yours is just the tenth '88 Standard in my database. The last year Yamaha offered a Standard Venture.

The VIN indicates that your Venture is a 49 state 1988 Standard Venture XVZ13U, (non-Royale, non-California). A 1988 Royale is XVZ13DU with VIN JYA1NLE. California Standard would be XVZ13UC with VIN JYA2LXC. A California Royale in 1988 would be XVZ13DUC with VIN JYA1UNC.

Your Venture's front brake switch should have four wires, green/yellow, yellow, brown, black/white. If your current switch only has two wires, then it is not the correct switch. The connector for the four wire brake switch and the connector for the two wire switch is obviously different and won't plug together, creating the needed correct circuitry. There is no brake relay. I suspect the click you are hearing is coming from the flasher relay. Try cycling the hazard switch a few times, perhaps it is bad or dirty. Check out this thread: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?22524-no-brake-light-on-front-brake

The radio fuse is located in the auxiliary fuse block.