JohnT
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Posts
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Everything posted by JohnT
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Some things are too easy. Type "the dragon" into google and there you go. As it turns out I will now see the dragon next year. The Cheoah is on my paddling list. Directions to the put in,"from the Texaco/Subway in Robbinsville drive 17 miles north on US 129 to the designated paddler take out at Calderwood Lake. Back track about 7.5 miles to a right turn to the dam." Funny how my hobbies can overlap.
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Not quite that bad, but thank God no one had video cameras in every pocket. I back my boat down the ramp and bump it off the trailer. My wife pulls it over to the dock and I drive up the ramp to park the car and trailer. Now what is that foo woman yelling about? So I stop the car and get out to hear what she is saying. "You forgot the plug!" I back down the ramp as quick as I can, wade over to the dock, and grab the bowline. I pull the filling boat over to the trailer and get the winch line on the bow eye. I line it up a bit and start cranking. (not thinking that I don't hear a click, click click of the ratchet on the winch) The higher the boat comes out and up on the trailer the harder I have to crank. My hand slips, the winch handle spins. The first revolution makes contact with my chin. Had it not been for the car being just close enough I would have fell down as I counted stars. My vision clears and I click on the winch so it isn't free wheeling and get the boat up on the trailer. Then, and only then, do I notice the 2 dozen HIGHLY amused spectators on the next dock. I take great amusement in watching boat launch shenanigans. But I have been there myself. The funniest I have seen, that wasn't me, was the guy that unhooked his winch line from the boat before backing it down the steep ramp. Full roller trailer. Yup, first touch of the brakes and it rolled off and hit the ramp. There wasn't a dry eye around. He was the only person that wasn't holding there stomach with tears running down their face.
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I live in deer counrty also, and like sight distance. Not as interested in tight, repetitive twisties as I once was. But they are not off the table entirely yet. Though at different speeds than in years past. Give me mountain scenery and I'm most happy. Green River Cove road in NC near Saluda is a hoot. Steep, tight, and slow. Although the inside, up hill lane will give you a thought or 2 on the switch backs I have to ask. What road and where is this Dragon? (I have to get out of Northern NY more)
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Seeing 13.4 to 13.6 volts at idle and as high as 14.2 or 14.3 volts at 4000 RPM. Is that too high? Voltage drops to 11 or so if the brake light is held on. Battery won't charge and it jump starts instantly just touching the cables to the post.
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Okey Dokey. This has been enlightening. Where to start? Connections to and through the relay to the starter, check. Still nothing but dead battery stutter. And now my ($9 Harbor Freight) multi meter won't work and my Wal Mart trickle charger says charged not even hooked to the battery. Back to the area of the battery and fuses. This is where it seemed to start anyhow. Check the wiring for the Previous Owner's headlight shut off switch and fog lamp switch. Fog lamps don't work anyway. (now I know why) Prongs holding headlight fuse and accessory fuse break off in my hand from trying to take out the fuses. No wonder the accessory lug was intermittent on having power. Replace with inline fuse holders and proper amp fuses. Still no go. Time to go to square one. Out came P.O. installed switches. Now all my stuff works. Horn, turn signals, radio. No start, just click. Hook up the headlight cut off switch. It has power in, out, and ground for the LED that lights the switch. Hook up the power pass through and still have dash, radio, signals, etc. Touch the switch ground to the battery ground and lose everything. Remove the switch, wire the head light, all looks good. Jump the bike and it runs. Lights flicker at idle but are steady with revs. Volt meter on the dash says charging and increases with slight revs. Hit and hold the brake light and the the needle drops steadily. The bad switch cost me this problem. And a meter, charger, and I hope just a battery. I will buy a new meter today and jump start the bike. If the meter reads 13.5 or so my stator should be charging, right? What voltage should I see going to the battery?
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First thing that I did. My Dad taught me that when I got my first car. (thanks Dad, miss you) I used emery paper to shine up the terminals and the connectors. No change. In the haste to get to my supper I skimmed over a detail or 2. When I fist hit the starter the radio went off and the display went completely blank. I then cleaned the posts and connectors, checked the fuses and made sure that I had power to them and power to the "far' side of them. Did not seem to help. But the more I looked around there seemd to be improvment. The display was now lighting and going through the warning lights, the radio came on and the neutral light was visible. But when I thumb the button there is the faint clicking of a bad battery / bad connection and it all goes dead. The battery is only a year old and shows as being in good health according to my tester and my charger. dumb@$$ question. Where's the starter? Maybe the connection on the starter end is loose or corroded. I need a manual.
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I did a search using the normal forum search and the google option to see if this is the "obligatory" re-solder but can't find it. So I drive home with no issue, stop in to make the wife happy, and go to leave again. Turn on the key, hit the button and,,nothing. No dash display at first and no start. After checking all fuses and the level of battery charge I try again and now the display goes through it's checks, the radio comes on, but when I hit the button I hear a faint click, no more. As if the battery is dead actually. But it isn't. Volt meter says it isn't and my charger says it isn't. What are the symptoms of the "re solder"
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Another new way to mount stuff on a 1st gen handlebar.
JohnT replied to Snaggletooth's topic in Watering Hole
I have to be honest, I was kind of thinking the price was a bit high. But once I got them, saw them, and the quality of the work,,, they are a bargain. Super nice accessory. And worth EVERY penny. And Bob followed up to make sure I got my Snaggletooths. Good old fashioned customer service. All around great deal. -
"mount and balance customer provided tires" $130 plus tax. Drove in with the old and drove out with the new. I didn't mind a bit. Not taking the rear off and re-installing it. Life's to short. (at least when it's not winter)
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When I was the bike, I wax the windshield with the same wax. Works wonders not only for rain beading and leaving but bug gut clean off easier.
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Looking to trade two 83 Blonde Ventures for a V-Max
JohnT replied to Chaharly's topic in Watering Hole
From the day after I sold my 84 I have been "window shopping" for another. (86 or newer) to strip down to the bare essentials, hang somewhat loud pipes on, and start stimulating the economy through rear tire purchases. -
My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved, all that know them, and all who ride. Remember, at the very best most non riders figure we have to expect to be run over.
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Another new way to mount stuff on a 1st gen handlebar.
JohnT replied to Snaggletooth's topic in Watering Hole
Send a PM. Make the payment. Items boxed and ready to ship. All in 24 minutes. Now, to "engineer" mounts for an I Pod and a Tom Tom GPS. -
Custom Cruiser Chrome lists a hitch for the 83 to 85 Venture / Venture Royale. Would this also fit my 1986?
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I've got only about 600 miles on a set of Metzler ME 88 Marathons front and rear. Great improvement over the worn stockers they replaced. Decent in the wet, they tend to wander on a long steel deck bridge. (but what tire doesn't?) I would be interested in hearing opinions on these (Shinko) tires. At half to 2/3 the cost of the Metzlers it may be worth a look. I like the idea of the lower aspect ratio to give just that little smidge of lower saddle height.
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Have to agree with a few here. What's in my head and what's on my birth certificate don't match. I wish I had gotten a bagger years ago. Enough power to be fun, and comfort like I have never had on a bike before. You're just smarter than most your age. And as someone said. Any girl that has perched on the back of a crotch rocket and gets on your bike will be sold on your ride.
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Really? Same weekend as Americade? I want to get to something like this. ANd have people in Ohio. Family actually, that ride. They ride Hrleys, but I try not to hold that against them.
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It still looks the same, a bit dirtier, but it is now running like it never has. 2 trips to the dealer later. Second trip for a new clutch. The original steels were beat and the friction disks glazed and scuffed by the steels. No more clutch slip when the right wrist takes a turn. Second carb tweak, at no charge and no more stumble. Idles fine, response is there. A bike that averaged just a bit over 300 miles per year for 20 years now has 500 miles in 2 weeks. I was on the road for 6 days and the bike was in the shop for 4. And I had chores to do, boss said so. Now to get her clean and shiny. And ride.
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Hmmm, this July will be 32 years, sort of. Married about 4 years, separated, divorced, re-married at some point after that. My first wife was a flipping b&%$h, and her first husband was a flaming @$$. At this point I am too freaking old to start that crap over again so she is stuck with me. I hope. Congratulations. And many happy (?) returns.
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If that nut job gets a dime, this world is doomed. And Firefox on Win 7 displayed the link fie here.
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Not right now on the accessory items. Dealing with some lack of use issues first. The bike has 23,xxx right now and it had 16,xxx when last titled. In 1992. 7,000 miles in 20 years. There ought to be a law against abusing a bike like that. Leave it in the garage all the time. Geez! Carbs are needing attention, second trip to Yamaha dealer for them. I hope they are smart enough to fix it this time. Also having a clutch installed. 23,000 and it is toast? What in heck was happening to that clutch? It doesn't engage till the lever is nearly all the way out. I made what I wanted perfectly clear. The bike has to run and perform as good as it looks. Time will tell if they are up to the task. So, I am spending another string of days off with no ride. I went and sold the beater bike to a buddy last weekend. Should have waited.
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6 in a day? Oh no. I was hoping this would be a thing I would out grow, or learn to avoid, or something. If I keep dropping the damn thing it's onl a matter of time and it will cost me money. Well folks, I just got her back from "have the dealer first time service the bike I bought " service. New sneakers mounted, carbs clean and running nice, fresh oil change, and NYS inspected. The sun is shining. Guess where I am headed? Try to guess, cuz I won't know till I get there.
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In the top header on the right side there is a donate button. And welcome to the (klutz) club!
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That idea certainly fits well with the thought of your signature! You should continue to listen to the voices.
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I just found out about the $5 penalty for dropping my VR. I did post a reply in that thread but figured I should 'fess up out in the open. Day 1 with my first VR. I figure some practice time in the yard and driveway is in order. Although I've been riding 30 years I have never had bikes this long or this heavy. Circles and 8's in the yard are actually feeling shaky so I start big and shorten the radius as I felt better. I then head up the driveway and turn around by the side of the road. I can't believe the bike is slowly falling to the right and I really can't believe that I can't stop it. It of course ends up laying on the crash bars. No damage More 8's and circles in the driveway. I am getting the hang of this. Cool. I am done so I make the swing toward the shed door to put her away. As I turn left I once again feel it pass the point of no return and I oh so slowly and gently lay it on the left side this time. Much to the amusement of a passing motorist. I judge this by the way the kid slowed down, honked the horn, and pointed while grinning like an idiot. It has now been 3 weeks and I have not dropped either VR since. Hoping this is a trend that continues. I did give m myself a break and paid a daily fee of $5 since both incidents happened within minutes of each other.