Prairiehammer

The radio antennae and the CB antennae are one and the same on a stock First Gen. John, your 1987 Standard did not come from the factory with any audio or CB, so whatever antennae you had on yours was added by a PO.

Les, where is the battery? And the ignition coils?

On the stock fuse block, those two plated screws are for accessory power taps. One would attach any accessory that one would like powered by (and protected by) the ACC fuse to those 'lugs'. One screw is ground. The other is hot from the ACC fuse.

One caveat: the clutch slave cylinder can leak as well, confusing one as to the source of the leak. Just sayin'.

Jack, do a search on eBay for 'ATC fuse block' and find nearly 300 choices. The one that is closest to the one I used for the primary fuse block (to replace the five fuse OEM block) is here for $15. And it even included six fuses! I didn't check more, but I suppose you could find one on eBay or Amazon even cheaper. If you are looking for the 'square' Buss type with the common hot post (like I used for my secondary accessory fuse block) there are some of those too. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATC-ATO-6-way-Standard-Side-Terminal-Fuse-Block-With-Six-Pack-Of-Fuses-/351186620616?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item51c45a90c8&vxp=mtr

At any rate here is the thread about my fuse block upgrade, Jack. I ran a heavy gauge wire from the negative post of the battery to a terminal block in which all the terminal screws were joined with a brass bus. This ground terminal block became my way of grounding all the accessories leads without piling those leads onto the negative post of the battery.

Is this what you are looking at as the leak? There is an O-ring around that phenolic looking switch. Usually it is orange (the O-ring). Some have experienced a leak at that switch, because the white phenolic looking thing was cracked. You will also probably require a new middle gear cover gasket as well. And don't forget the copper sealing washer on the bolt at 6 o'clock on the middle gear cover.

What is the center 'blue' triangular piece for? To add rigidity to the main 'floor'? Instead of a flat 'floor' with that blue brace, you might consider two channel irons, (flanges up) one on each side running longitudinally to receive the center stand feet. The channels would locate the feet and prevent the feet from sliding off the edge, while still providing the rigidity you need to keep the 'floor' off the ground? And some gussets outboard of the casters?

The MKII does not use ANY bolt to hold the caliper bracket to the swing arm. So yeah, it is not interchangeable, because there is no place to use it on the MKII.

Do you mean the conformal coating (конформное покрытие) on the circuit board? If so, go here for some help: http://www.empf.org/empfasis/oct03/3403rcc.htm I am not sure what you are asking. Are the condensers bad? Swollen? Broken?

http://www.redrubbergrease.com/tips-how-to-brake-caliper-failure-repair-with-rebuild-kit.html A tutorial on reassembly of the brake pistons and seals.

Here is a NOS one on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Yamaha-Bolt-1984-1985-XVZ1200-1983-XVZ12-90109-18719-00-/361030809237?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item540f1cf695&vxp=mtr Kinda expensive, but it appears what with the washer head and shoulder that it may be your only recourse? Another: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-83-85-Venture-XVZ12-Rear-Caliper-Bolt-/390389549956?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ae507cb84&vxp=mtr

Yes, yes I do. So what are you inferring, Neil? I've never experienced any 'rev limiting' even when I turned the 1990 to nearly 9000 rpm. Haven't turned the '91 beyond redline...yet.

It is red rubber grease. Use it on the piston seals and on the piston bore when reassembling.

That is a good question, to which I have no answer. All I know is in the XVZ13DA Supplementary Service Manual, it notes that the Digital Ignitor prevents engine over revving.

I've ridden my First Gens on the Interstates for hours at 125kph (77mph). The engine is not going to mind. 4500 rpm is right in the 'sweet spot' for torque. I don't usually downshift to overtake, just give it more gas. If you feel the need to downshift to overtake, go ahead; redline is 7500 rpm and some have turned it faster, much faster. BTW, there is no rev limiter on 1983-1989 Ventures.

I installed the HH on my 1990 because I was riding a lot with fully loaded AND two up AND pulling a trailer. In that configuration, I was able to lock up the front wheel; once as an experiment/test and once in a 'panic' braking situation at 65 mph. The result was a wrecked rig. YMMV.

The part number is 16G-13569-00-00 PLUG,BLIND and is available here: http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/yamaha/YP-16G-13569-00-00.html Or here: http://www.ronayers.com/16G-13569-00-00-P3765286.aspx It is the same plug used on the First Gen Venture as well as a hundred other Yamahas. Also see this thread: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=64815

I have suffered a broken pelvis (and dislocated hip), so feel fortunate if you are allowed to walk in '9-12 weeks'. I was on crutches for more than three months. I too have suffered as a result of 'unseeing' cage drivers. I hope you don't experience my 'lost fire in the belly for riding'. Find yourself another Venture to enjoy next summer, Ben. Keep us posted. God speed toward healing.

I'm probably the closest (30 miles). Bring her on up to my shop and we'll get 'er done.

Yeah! Good looking pillion. And what made the pic even nicer was the 'driver' had his/her head turned away. Nirvana!

I post 2-3mb photos to facebook without resizing. Facebook automatically resizes the big photos.

Rather than 'downrez' your too big photos, just resize them. https://imageresizer.codeplex.com/ Here is a pic that was originally 3.06mb. I resized to 731kb. Looks good to me.

Yes, that is the aftermarket with the lighting and amber turn signals in the trunk reflector. Big Bike was the primary retailer for that, although others offered it.

That's what I use, ever since Yamalube 20W-40 became unavailable.