Prairiehammer

While perusing some of my old Venture Road issues, I discovered a cover from the August 1993 issue with a great looking 1987 'Fifth Anniversary' Venture. Opening the magazine to the first page I read the information about the cover bike. Quote: "This month's cover photograph was sent by Vito Margaritondo #07647 of Belleville, NJ. The picture was taken at V-Daze VII in Sault Ste. Marie, MI during the Canadian Poker Run." Hmmm. That name sounds familiar. Sure enough. It is our 'Donvito'. And then I discover that that magazine cover is Vito's profile picture. So, while this is pic is not a surprise for Vito, it may be of interest to the rest of us.

To get into the ball park when synching the carbs, observe the throttle butterflies and get all four to close together upon a small wire gage. Back off the idle speed screw until #2 is just touching the wire gage. Then, mechanically synch the others by adjusting them to the same wire gage. The idea is to get all the butterflies to be identically opened mechanically, enabling fine tuning with the manometer.

Found just one on eBay? Using this search term: venture fuel sending unit I found 40+. Starting from $14 with free shipping. FWIW, all First Gen Ventures use the same sending unit.

MKII (1986-1993) bags have been installed onto MKI (1983-1985) before, but it requires much more than just obtaining MKII bags. I believe the subframe must be changed from MKI to MKII, and the MKII saddlebag guards must be installed to the MKII subframe before the MKII bags can be installed. The rear turnsignals have to be changed as well.

Yes, of course. I obviously didn't read Kirby's comment correctly. Bud Light might have something to do with my dyslexia.

With regards to the pilot screws on a Second Gen: backing them out makes it leaner? On the First Gen, backing the pilot screws out makes it richer.

Did the Plast-aid break off the ABS or did the Plast-aid part you made shatter, leaving some Plast-aid still firmly bonded to the ABS?

Plast-Aid is not an epoxy. Although I have been unable to identify the plastic that is the powder (since it is white and the particles are spherical, I speculate it is Acrylic), Plast-Aid is composed of this powdered plastic and a solvent (METHYL METHACRYLATE). The solvent is mixed with the powdered plastic and until the solvent flashes off it can be a viscous liquid or a paste (depending on the ratio of solvent to powder). The solvent also melts the substrate to be repaired and forms a chemical/molecular bond, much like the ABS cement you (and I) use. Plast-aid works similar to the technique of mixing granulated ABS with acetone or methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) until the ABS is dissolved and a paste is formed, and while still 'wet' with solvent applying the paste to the ABS substrate where a chemical bond (melted together). For those of us without access to ABS scraps (lucky you, Jeff), several eBay sellers offer ABS sheets in various sizes and thicknesses for making tabs and such. Then a repair can be rendered using the ABS sheet material and ordinary ABS cement.

No.

Les, the oval hole is intentional. New Yamaha push/pull throttle tubes have an oval hole. I checked both of the Venture throttle tubes I have and both have the oval hole. So, IMHO, the oval hole is not the reason the button on the cable will not stay in place. Perhaps the button is worn? Or the throttle cable is maladjusted, allowing too much slack at the throttle tube?

Yep, get the correct bit size: JIS #3. Just like the 'Phillips' head screws holding the TCI.

The correct re-assembly into the carb body: 1. O-ring 2. Washer 3. Spring 4. Needle When one removes a properly installed pilot screw set, one often has to use a little hook, compressed air or a blast from carb cleaner to blow the washer and O-ring out from within.

Yes, better. 77H is rated at 910 pounds or so.

See my edit above, Angel. Especially about the load rating. Also note that the E3 has a higher load rating than a 404. The 150/18-16 front 404 has a load rating of 761 pounds and requires a 3.5" rim. Whereas, a Dunlop Elite 3 for our rear tires has a load rating of 930 pounds and is recommended for our 3" rims.

IIRC, a '150' may not fit because of swingarm interference. Did you get a deal on the 150/80-16 tire? And that's why you want to try to fit it on the rear? The 150/80-16 is not going to have near the load rating of the recommended rear tire, either.

Thanks, Vito. Good info. I am planning such an upgrade to my 1991. BTW, the OEM reflectors are glued with an adhesive that 'welds' the plastic and heat won't do much good. Think styrene model cement. The Big Bike Parts aftermarket lighted trunk 'reflector' was indeed assembled with a heat 'soft-enable' adhesive, but not the OEM reflectors.

I got this part number from a service bulletin for the '83TK. 12R-14105-00-00 Apparently still available from Yamaha. A friend of mine had stripped pilot screw heads on his Venture. He actually removed part of the carb body and using a Dremel tool he milled a new screwdriver slot in the pilot screw and was able to remove the pilot screw. Another thought: find a reverse (left hand) drill bit and start drilling, perhaps it will back out the pilot screw. Good Luck!

There is no difference between the 1988 and 1989 maroon Venture Royales. None. Any lighting besides the tail/brake light and the amber turn signals built into the saddlebags are added accessories. Are these the lights you have?:

The 1983 Venture engine was unchanged (according to part numbers) throughout its production. There seems to be no evidence of 'de-tuning'. The 1300, in addition to the displacement increase, also had a different tune than the 1983. The carbs have different jetting, different slides and springs and the cam lift (reduced) and duration was changed for more torque. But the biggest difference between the 1200 Ventures and the 1300 Ventures (aside from appearance and convenience/luxury features) was the weight. The 1983 Venture Standard weighed 734# wet. The 1986 Venture Royale weighed 783# wet. Nearly fifty pounds more! Approximately a 7% weight gain versus an 8% displacement gain (1198 v. 1294cc). The heads and carbs are different when comparing the 1983 Venture to the 1985 VMax (perhaps only because of the increased valve size). The 1983 1200 Venture, 1985 VMax and the 1986 1300 Venture all share the same Mikuni BDS34 carbs (according to the service manual), but the jetting is substantially different when comparing the three. The jets are generally bigger on the VMax; and slightly larger on the 1300 compared to the 1200 Venture. The 1983 1200 Venture and the 1985 VMax have the same cam LIFT (again according to the service manuals specifications, but the part numbers are different). Perhaps the VMax cam has a longer duration and different valve timing. Of course, the Vmax had the V-Boost intake system, for a substantial power gain. The 1200/1300 intake and exhaust valves are the same, but the 1985 VMax intake and exhaust valves are larger by approximately 1-1.5 mm. The 1983 1200 and the 1986 1300 have identical ignition timing curves (according to the service manuals), the difference between the two versions is where the engine vacuum readings are taken. Finally, the transmission gear ratios are different between the Venture and the VMax. The Vmax secondary and transmission gears are numerically slightly higher (greater acceleration). The final drive is a 'lower' gear on the VMax, too. The VMax weighs variously 100 pounds less than the 1983 Venture.

A few years ago there was fairly common virus/malware going around, sometimes called "Ghost Audio Virus". Some maintained it was related to 'iexplore.exe'. Try Googling 'Ghost Audio' and 'iexplore.exe'.

Here's his description of mounting.

yeah! That.

You will probably want enough tension to keep them from unintentionally flopping down, but loose enough to be able to rotate them down fairly easily; the armrests prevent the trunk from opening, unless they are rotated down some. The passenger will rotate the left one down all the way to mount and dismount. Be careful that the armrests don't mar the saddlebag lid when rotated down all the way. And discourage the passenger from pushing down on the lowered armrest while mounting and dismounting. 'NO STEP' sign?

Like I said it is the same for all First Gens:whistling:

You need a 'Seat Stay'. All years First Gen are same. One here on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-YAMAHA-VENTURE-XVZ1200-SEAT-STAY-/380966705141?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item58b36297f5&vxp=mtr