Prairiehammer

While I am not @cimmer, I have played him on TV. Below are pics of the fairing edge guard on my 1990 and on my 1991 as well as a pic of NOS pieces that were on eBay some time ago.

Two things popped into my little head when I read the above: 1. Is he getting a RSV? Or has he already? 2. I gave a GL1500 trunk rack to @Semi-retired, and he says it fit his Second Gen splendidly. And I suspect that if Michael can install a trunk rack, you can to. 3. OK, three things. I installed a trunk rack on my pristine 1990, and after much trepidation, I drilled away. No sweat. Just follow @Eck advice. Remember! If it LOOKS right, it IS right.

Well, Yamaha says that one should use a new crush washer everytime, but I have always reused the old one. In fact, on my 1990, I ran it for 25k miles, only to discover that I was missing the washer. No leaks. But I don't recommend that. One thing about replacing the crush washer every time, you may find that trying to get an already crushed washer to seal will cause you to over torque the plug, with the real possibility of stripping the oil pan threads. Yamaha wants you to torque the drain plug to (I think) 18 foot pounds. That is fine if you use a new crush washer/gasket, but it may be not enough torque if you reuse the already squashed gasket, and then you tighten it some more to stop it from leaking. Stripped! Any 14mm crush washer will work. The RSV is one, or as some have discovered, crush washers from the Honda automotive dealer, where one can buy a dozen for pennies per piece.

Rick, I had the passenger "footboard risers" on my 1990 and was able to salvage them (thanks to the towing company) and will install them on the 1991. Debbie thought they were very helpful, not because she is vertically challenged, but it provided alternatives to the factory foot boards. Her version of highway pegs. The passenger floorboards (made by Kriss and called 'Starsteps') mount to the saddlebag guards on a MKII. They fold up out of the way or can be laid out horizontally at three different heights. I found mine on eBay for $30 but I have seen them sold (or at least asking as much as $130). Mine were emblazoned with the Venture "V", marking tham as a VentureLine accessory, but Kriss also marketed them for the GL1200. I have seen a pair made to fit the Venture, but only with the Kriss StarStep logo instead of the Venture "V". A pair like that sold for just $9.99 on eBay last year. Some pics of the StarSteps on my 1990:

The Phillips screw holds the magnet assembly into the drain plug. Don't remove it. The oil will not drain through it. Get another drain plug (and crush washer) and then remove the drain plug with a Vice-Grips or pipe wrench and replace with the new plug and crush washer. The drain plug is common to many, many Yamaha models. Old PN: 3VD-13455-00-00, superceded by 90340-14132-00 (also used on many Yamaha models, including the RSV). But the 90340-14132-00 lacks the magnet. An ordinary M14 flange head bolt should work. Use a crush washer. If you want to get an original '3VD-13455' plug there are some on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Yamaha-FZR1000-XT600-XVZ1300-Oil-Drain-Plug-/220483499138?hash=item3355d73482&vxp=mtr (expensive!)

Thank you, Jerran.

Well. Since others can get on, it must be my problem, but whenever I try to get there I get this error: Server not found Firefox can't find the server at www.worldschoolphotographs.com. Check the address for typing errors such as ww.example.com instead of www.example.com If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network connection. If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web. I tried to get there with Internet Explorer, but with the same result.

The preceding comments regarding the carbs are valid, but the key diagnostic is the tachometer dropping out. This indicates an ignition issue, first and foremost. My opinion is that the TCI is defective. As the TCI warms, it is failing. No matter how dirty or defective the carbs are, the carbs will not cause the tach to quit.

Here is an article published in Road Rider Magazine from December 1991, in which the famous Michael Kneebone puts 10,000 miles on a new Venture.

Just picked up a December 1991 Road Rider. This photo is on the back page. This where you got your handle? @Zzyzx

Thank you for your contribution to the VIN registry, Gilbert.

Starter "solenoid" would my first culprit.

Hmm. Never thought about it, but I wonder if the friction plates might have swelled. Were they new plates? What do they now measure for thickness?

Here are some new MAC mufflers on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAC-Yamaha-Venture-Royal-Turn-Down-Slip-On-Mufflers-Chrome-Exhaust-004-4315-/111410445716?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AVenture+Royale&hash=item19f0947d94&vxp=mtr And some very used MAC mufflers for only $35 less. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-89-Yamaha-Venture-XVZ12-XVZ13-After-Market-Slip-On-Mufflers-/111636173645?hash=item19fe08d34d&vxp=mtr

I knew about the spare main fuse link in the fuse holder, but it was used already on my '83 so I ordered another fusible link as a spare. Part number: 707-82151-00-00, $2.37 each at Boats.net For those of you who haven't upgraded to the ATC fuse, perhaps you should check for your spare fusible link, too.

Ben @Daitan, I see that parts from your old '84 are being sold on eBay. Calling it a 1989. http://www.ebay.com/sch/autopartsheaven/m.html?item=201323851319&hash=item2edfd62e37&vxp=mtr&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Yep me, too. Site has been intermittently slow to get on, to change forums or to even change threads. And today, I get this: Internal Server Error The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@venturerider.org and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error. More information about this error may be available in the server error log. Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. EDIT: It took a full thirty seconds to send this post, meanwhile the worm was chasing its tail.

Dingy, is the cable you provided in your kit too short to install with the lug orientation identical to the OEM? I'm wondering why you have it arranged as you do, against the elbow on Tweety?

yep, it helps alot, both removing and installing. Fred Vogt posted the idea back in 2007. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?12752-Stator-helpful-hint

I have very little experience with powder coating, although there is a coater just a couple miles from me and he has allowed me to watch how it is done and to see some of their work (mostly wheels). He emphasized that (like so MANY other things) prep was one of the most important steps, followed by proper cure. It seems to me that a well applied powder coat should stand up to the rigors of the latches. Dingy has powder coated some items on his bikes, he may have a better insight, but meanwhile, I found this thread where the folks actually clobber some PCed items with a pick hammer, without degradation: http://forum.eastwood.com/showthread.php?635-Powder-Coat-Durability

Indeed they appear to come with throttle tube, however, I am not certain that the throttle tube is the same as the stock Venture throttle tube (cam hole orientation, etc.). If they fit the GL1500 as claimed, they will be the correct length for the Venture. As for "spendy", this place is selling them for nearly half price. https://www.mxmegastore.com/show-chrome-grips-heated-7-8-bars-17-385.html

The Ohio cage driver in our case was charged with "improper lane change"; he abruptly moved from the right lane of a four lane limited access highway to the left lane, where we were.

That hitch is called a Pivot Ball Hitch. An alternative to a swivel coupler. Mixed reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Pivot-Ball-Trailer-Hitch/product-reviews/B0053H9088 http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?250414-Swivel-Pivot-Ball-Hitch

Here's more info about the Sturgis Motoren R18: http://thekneeslider.com/r18-reverse-trike-kit-for-the-honda-gold-wing-gl1800-and-f6b/ http://thekneeslider.com/images/2014/07/sturgis-gold-wing-trike1.jpg

Thank you for your efforts, Brenner. This 1984 Royale is only the third of the fifty plus 1984 Royales I have in the database that I have a build date. Very helpful.