Frank3

'88 with 104,600

I haven't inspected any of the panels on my VR yet , but most ABS will also have TPS stamped in it . This stands for thermal setting plastic . I believe most if not all ABS is also TPS . The reason I mention this is because it is possible to ' weld ' , and heat to shape . This can be done with a soldering iron with a spoon , or flat tip instead of the normal pencil tip ( most irons come with multiple tips ) , or a hot air welder which Northern Tool sells . You will also need filler material , filler rods also at Northern , or any scrap on the same plastic , even pipe . I have used this method by heating a screwdriver with a flame , and using it to melt and push the plastic around . Over heating the plastic can make it brittle , so some practice is required . Out of all the methods listed in this thread , I have found welding to be the strongest . With the thin panels on these bikes , a combination of methods may be the best approach . What ever works best for you .

this is where I planed to head . the previous owner had just put tires on and replace some seal on the final drive , but didn't want to try the middle gear . I want to recheck what he did . If it is the middle gear , is it possible to simply drop in a used one ?

I have recently been given an "88 Venture Royal , with 104k miles , and its been pulling a very heavy trailer on long trips . The guy said he was concerned about the milage , and its starting to make a little noise it 4th & 5th gears . In fact it makes a very loud gear whine in all gears , that changes with speed both pitch and volume . At 45mph and up , and holding a steady speed it is the worst . It goes away if you coast , gets quieter if you accelerate or decelerate . My first thought is pinion gear , which this thing has 2 of . And I can't tell if its motor end or final drive end . And it is leaking motor oil at the front drive shaft , and is definitely worse with a passenger . With the bike on it's center stand , and in gear , I can rotate the rear wheel 3 to 4 inches of play . What would be normal here ? I'm hoping for only the crush sleeves on the pinion shaft to be beat up / bad . Has anyone had any experience with this ?