KIC

One trick I learned from my friend is that once you finish sanding, use a light spray of black primer then sand it off. If there are pits/scratches they show up with the black paint in them and you can see the low spots when block sanding. You have given me the idea of pulling all the plastic from the 87 (now a parts bike) and slowly fixing all defects and then eventually painting them to put on the 89. That way I can change colors if I so desire....lol

Hey thanks for the idea. I am restoring a 1960 GMC Suburban and tried cleaning the inside of the fuel tank using rocks ( gravel). Still trying to get the stupid rocks out. Once I succeed with the rock removal, I am trying the nail thing using a magnet to get those suckers out afterwards !

...and don't get it on the fairing/plastic !! That sucker can spit it up in the air while bleeding. Glad to see you getting closer to back on the road !

Just take your gas cover plate over to Finish Master at Grant & Stone, Southeast Corner, they can match your color and discuss the type of paint best for what you are doing. You got me thinking of taking all the plastic off of the 87, repairing and prepping it and then repainting it to a color I like then switching it out with my 89...

really easy to do.

If I was closer I would bail both of you out. I got used to doing that in the Coast Guard. ...

I have a friend in the auto paint business here in Tucson. You can take a panel in to them and the computer matches the color and you can get any type of paint you want. You won't get Californicated here ...yet... but they are trying ....

This might help Remote button for a garage door opener.doc

I think Brian (Golf&Venture) had somebody make some at one time. Ask him.

I definitely look at it as a blessing that prevented what would have most likely been a disaster. The brakes would have never lasted knowing the ride and the roads to be taken. Had the brake retainer come all the way out, who knows what could have happened to the front wheel braking and control on a curve. I am disappointed about missing the fun ride, feeling really blessed that a little nail saved so much.

Great save. Close calls have to remind us that checking nuts and bolts and routine maintenance is a must especially on these older bikes. As I stated in my thread on Friday regarding my missed ride, I thought my brakes on my 89 were "fine". If I had not got a nail on my rear tire, I would have been on a very twisty curvy ride with my wife when I would definitely lost my brake pads, front and back to metal on metal and one of my brake pins were almost 1/2 way out as the little retaining pin had somehow popped out. I am with you on counting the blessings that it didn't go further south causing damage and injury.

Great information ! Thanks guys. I think the first thing I will check is the reed valve. I have never checked that. Love the diagrams and thanks for the cleaning tips MarCarl.

Super cool ! Thanks for sharing

You can adjust the spring "firmness" by the length of the spacer you put in on top of the Progressives. Progressives made a huge difference on the handling of my 89.

So I have read a lot of the threads/posts while dealing with different issues with my CLASS. I have dealt with E-errors, re-soldered the board. Removed and cleaned the solenoids and wire contacts, cleaned the dryer lines etc. But who understands which solenoid does what when the buttons are pushed on the CLASS display ? What should do what ? Which closes and opens when This past weekend VideoArizona ( David) notified me that in the manual there is a procedure stated that you should adjust the front pressure first before the rear or the solenoid(s) will allow residual air pressure into the front. I have never read/heard that from any of the threads and discussions that I have read/had about the CLASS. So I figured maybe the couple of gurus that really know and understand the CLASS could explain much of what they know about the actual function of each part of the CLASS here and enlighten those of us that are electronically/system challenged.

A few more pictures from my missed ride...

So here are some pictures from my missed ride. Sedona Arizona

I took the CLASS apart today again and cleaned all the solenoids check the wiring, disconnected the hoses to see how they worked pumping air etc. It continues to fill the front forks when filling the rear. If I try to release all the air out, the pressure reading will say 6 or 7 lbs put the front forks are pretty stiff. Kinda like I had put Viagra fork oil in it. If I release all the air out of the rear, the front will go down. Since I have progressives I am thinking of just disconnecting the front or maybe figuring out a cut-off valve so there isn't any front air pressure. I tried many different variations of the way Dave showed the manual stated. I think one of the solenoids isn't closing properly.

Misery loves company..couldn't get to your bike....

yea...it does. We are really disappointed about missing the ride. But in all honesty it was for the best. You see, I knew I needed brake pads. I didn't think they were bad, just that it was getting time. Turns out that I REALLY needed new pads. The rear were almost totally done and the right front were ready to hit metal. Also, on the right front, it appears that the tiny clip pin on the front rod that holds the brakes in, had somehow become dislodged and the rod was 1/3 to 1/2 way out. This ride was a twisty curvy mountain ride 2-up. The brakes would not have lasted. That little nail was the mustard seed that prevented a mountain of trouble. I now have a new rear tire. new brakes and a little issue with the CLASS that I am sure to be able to clean up. Bitter sweet to miss the ride. Happy that disaster was averted. ( This ride cost me $350.00 to go nowhere)

Well I found the culprit. After checking the bike out pretty thoroughly over the last week. Including a 150 mile ride last Saturday, The bike was running very well. I checked the tire pressures Tuesday night and rode it to work on Wednesday. A little more tinkering and a good washing on Wednesday night and decided NOT to ride it to work on Thursday so everything was ready for our Friday AM departure. I guess on Wednesday I picked up this little hitchhiker. This little nail is going to cost me over $300.00 including a new tire, lost hotel reservations not including my wife and I both took a day off from work. It had 18 lbs of air in it, so when I got off the bike and looked at it it looked OK, but with both of us on it, obviously flat.

I sit here really disappointed in my 89. All packed and ready to go a a great ride and when pulling out at 4:45am with my wife to meet the group, the rear end started dragging. basically got out of the driveway and had to turn around and pull back in. It appears to be some type of shock failure again. I just tore the thing apart no to long ago and replaced the shock with the one from my 87. I believe the first issue was with the CLASS system and not the shock. Maybe the same this time although I do not know how to figure out if it is the shock or the CLASS. The CLASS appears to pump up but doesn't really lift the rear that much. In fact when I pump up the rear, the front seems to raise and get very stiff. I can let the air out of the front using the CLASS. I will try to work on the CLASS solenoids and see if there is some type of issue there again. I do not relish the idea of tearing the rear apart again to replace the rear shock again. If I do... it will have to be with a new one and I am not sure where to even start with figuring that part out and the $$ it will cost. The worst part is my wife has lost confidence in the bike and it will be hard to get her to commit to a long trip again. Unless I can make the bike reliable. We both took a day off to leave today. Lost $150.00 in hotel cancellations. Lost confidence in the bike. Sad day for me and the Venture.

I have to tell you that today is the first time I have been really disappointed in my Venture. Had a great ride planned with a group to go to Northern Arizona, up through Salt River Canyon, Flagstaff, Prescott and staying the night in beautiful Sedona Arizona. As my wife and I left at 4;45am this morning something happened to the rear suspension ( again) and the rear just collapsed. The air system seemed to work to some degree. but the rear was dragging. Ride cancelled. I am fed up with dealing with the CLASS system and rear shock. I had already torn the thing apart last year and put the shock from my 87 on the bike which turned out no to be that original problem but a CLASS problem. Just the thought of tearing that apart again makes my stomach hurt. I don't know about spending $600.00 on a new shock is worth it anymore. Such a beautiful bike. Just don't know if I can depend on it for long rides. This is a real let down for my wife and I.

Welcome to the farm. JOIN. You won't regret it. Well you might, but we try to keep Cowpuc under control. Here is some info on the battery wire. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?489-Battery-Warning-Bypass Some more info you can use: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?1066-A-list-of-known-problems-on-the-First-Gen-Venture http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?65738-Things-I-would-Check!

Not to hijack the thread but I have been battling oil leaks too and just changed the oil. For the first time I used the diesel Rotella. I now have more of a burned oil smell. Is that normal ? Does the diesel leak more for some reason? Does it just smell more than regular Rotella ?