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cmiles3

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Everything posted by cmiles3

  1. cmiles3
    Double check the electrolyte level. It doesn't take much to set off the warning light. Thought I had mine full when checking through the plugs, but one cell was a little low. Had to pull the battery out to see it, but once I topped it off, the red light was gone.
  2. cmiles3
    I've got a slightly battered '88 owners manual I'll ship to you for $10. I haven't seen an online version or CD version. Not sure what the difference is between the '88 & '89 manuals.
  3. cmiles3
    I've got one in good shape; needs cleaned. $35 includes shipping.
  4. cmiles3
    After my accident, lots of broken ribs, lots of soft tissue damage. Hurt to move, breath, lay still... Doc sent me home with a bag full of sample pain medz. Took one before bed, but Amy said I snored too loud that night. I had a hard time getting comfortable so I could sleep. Next day, I tried Alleve (Naproxen) and it was wonderful. Give it a shot; I noticed immediate improvement (OK, it took 30 minutes, at least). Downside; you have to cut back on your beer, and watch out for other medz; it's hard on your liver. The soft tissue injuries will take longer to heal than broken bones. If you don't notice improvement after a while, go see your doctor. You may need a bone doctor, or some other kind of doctor (mine was a neurologist; he was concerned about a bone chipped off my skull damaging nerves in my neck). I still notice some occasional numbness in my arms; probably scar tissue in my shoulders, cause I get relief by shifting my shoulders or rotating my arms. Probably should go visit that doc again.
  5. cmiles3
    If this bunch can't get them for you, I've got some spare parts to sell. I think the left fairings need some work but they're fixable. I'm working on an '83 at the moment, so if you'd look at the Yamaha parts list and let me know which radio panels you're needing it would help.
  6. cmiles3
    Dropped everything and headed to AZ on a Sunday afternoon. JohnJr asked & Winghunter offered to subsidize my trip so I could haul Shooter's bike back for Ian. Spent a day on the road to get there. Loaded Shooter's VStar in Phoenix Monday afternoon, drove to Prescott Valley, drove around in the dark, then stopped & asked for directions. Loaded the '83 in the dark, and headed back. Made it home Tuesday night. Tested Shooter's bike to see if it was road worthy for JohnJr. Low, cruiser style. Nice, but harder seat & suspension than my '87. Think I'll stick with a 1st Gen Venture. Reloaded and headed to OH Thursday afternoon. Dropped the VStar in Delaware OH Friday morning, then headed back home. Missed the big rains and flooding. Spent an extra hour in the parking lot; locked my keys in the van & waited for AAA's road rescue. Arrived Friday after midnight (wait, that makes it Saturday). Road construction in St Louis, and big rains in KC added hours to the trip. Spent more $ than I intended, but less than a family vacation. Used several interstate rest areas & 1 motel. Averaged 17 mpg on the AZ leg hauling 2 bikes, and 18 mpg on the OH leg with 1 bike. Saw some new country; saguaro's in AZ, and a little of OH. Revisited a lot of trails I've driven before; I44 & I40 west, I44 & I70 east. Overall, a good trip, but I'm glad it's done. Now, I'm still explaining to Amy why I left CJ home to manage the cat, dog, school & his job and took off cross country. Plastic on the '83 is rough, the fuse box is history, and there's a couple of mechanical pieces missing. The wiring has been modified, so I'll have to fix someone's rat's nest. Haven't started it yet, but it cranks well and almost fired up. I will be looking at it again tonight.
  7. cmiles3
    You were lucky twice, if that's the way you jacked up your bike to remove the wheel.
  8. cmiles3
    '83 had 2 piston calipers. 86 had 4 piston calipers. Not sure about '84-'85.
  9. cmiles3
    Floorboards are an aftermarket accessory for 1st Gens, not a dealer option. Don't think the aftermarket vendors are making them anymore. A set for the driver sold for $335 on eBay just now. Passenger floorboards don't seem to surface too often. Read a post here about someone modifying a Harley floorboard accessory to fit a 1st Gen. Maybe they'll read this and post a how to? One way is to find a parts bike with the accessories you want and buy it. But that could take a while. Post a WTB on the classifieds and see what offers you get.
  10. cmiles3
    I know Donna. She organized a class reunion a few years back. I'll include them in prayers.
  11. cmiles3
    Running out of summer vacation. Plan Z- get the boss to pay for a trip to attend a professional conference in Phoenix? It's not until November, though. Any Venture Riders heading east on I40 soon? Want to drag a 1st gen part way?
  12. cmiles3
    I'm using SuperTech 15w40 oil (non synth, Walmart brand). No issues in 30,000 miles on my 1987 Venture (72,000 on the odometer.) Some of the gaskets and O rings swell up using non synth oil. Synthetics don't have the compound that makes them swell, so they shrink a little after the new oil flushes the compound out of the gasket. All w40 multi viscosity oils behave like 40 weight oils at operating temperatures; that's what the lube industry standards measure. 10w, 15w, 20w oils behave like their weight at low temperatures (starting a cold engine). Lower weights are used in cooler climates, higher weights in hotter climates. Cold winters and hot deserts you need to worry about; most of us can use any 10w/15w/20w without worry. But unless you have a reason, I'd stick with the w40 viscosities; 10w40, 15w40, 20w40. This is the oil the engine was designed for; you probably won't notice any difference until you're into the 100,000 plus range. Of course, the friction modifiers in most engine oils limit your choices. The diesel engine oils seem to be mostly free of friction modifiers, if they don't have "energy conserving" on the label. And they're easier to find. But you can get the 20w40 at Yamaha, usually. You might be able to order it at an auto parts store, if you can make them understand the friction modifier/wet clutch problem.
  13. cmiles3
    Thanks. Just what I needed.
  14. cmiles3
    Have 2, a custom and a Markland. Both came with '88 parts bikes I sold, but neither was installed. I can fit them, but I'd like to see how other first gen trailer hitches are installed. Looks like there are several options for the front connection, some move more than others. Looks like the connections under the saddlebags might require a longer bolt, or some spacers. Shoulda gone to Ft. Collins and got my own photos.
  15. cmiles3
    Thought about flying; there's a charter air service flying to Vegas from Tulsa 4 days a week, that offers $79 fares occasionally. Southwest has some interesting fares, too. Might try it; I like to visit new places. Vegas & Flagstaff aren't new places, but I don't spend much time in them- more like passing through in a hurry to get someplace.
  16. cmiles3
    Thought about that, but haven't seen many posting from there. Any suggestions? I've got distant cousins in the area, but none with motorcycle experience that they'll admit to. Running out of summer for plan B. Family vacations before school started were routine, but #1 daughter is on her own, #2 son is working and prefers time with friends, and Amy's vacation hours are limited- I guess most employers don't offer 5 weeks vacation a year? I'm behind on my vacation burn rate this year, so a few days to the desert might be a good break.
  17. cmiles3
    That's what I'm thinking. Don't plan to replace the slave except as a last resort. Possible it's the master, but... As an optimist, and with some experience, bleeding solves many problems- sometimes only for a short time, but hey, it's only 14 hours from home...
  18. cmiles3
    I've got your turn signal- $30 includes shipping. Haven't seen the other stuff, but a set of crash bars was on eBay today. Here's a photo of it posted on Webshots: http://thumb17.webshots.net/t/50/550/8/67/23/2417867230010234257jbmnMl_th.jpg
  19. cmiles3
    Bought an '83 off eBay. It's in AZ near Flagstaff. Needs work; clutch master? according to previous owner. Picked up a master off eBay; planning a trip to pick it up. Plan A- ride the bus (20 hours), hop off, catch a ride to the place, swap out the clutch master, bleed the clutch & ride off into the sunrise. $ Plan B- drive out towing a trailer & #1 son, rest is the same except add a side trip to the Grand Canyon. $$ Plan C- catch someone driving east on I 40 with room on a trailer or in a pickup, pay for gas to haul it to OK. $ Plan D- pay to ship it to OK. $$$ I'm leaning toward plan A, but I'm an optimist. Plan B is more practical, and covers both likely scenarios- it runs well or it doesn't. Missed an opportunity for Plan C, but it could happen again. Thoughts? Maybe this oughtta be a poll...
  20. cmiles3
    I get 140 to 160 miles before the red light stays solid. Some tanks average 40 mpg, others about 36 mpg. 80 mph usually drops my mileage. The manual says capacity is about 5 gallons, but I've never been able to put more than 4.3 or 4.4 gallons in. I've been riding with some slower riders (all right, they're scooters) so at 40-50 mph I get 40 mpg (or 39 or 38). Worst was expressway speed all day, fighting a 40 mph cross wind- 28 mph. I didn't plan for that, but there were a lot of fuel stops.
  21. cmiles3
    In OK, the only incentive/requirement is you get to skip the driver evaluation portion when you get your motorcycle endorsement. You still have to take the state's written exam. And your new license with M endorsement costs the same whether you take the course or not. OK doesn't subsidize the course, so you have pay the full price here. I heard Harley pays for part of the course when you buy a new Harley, though. Haven't heard a similar deal from Yamaha/Honda/etc. I took the BRC with my wife & son last fall. Even riding for almost 40 years, I learned a lot (I expected to- and still have a lot more to learn- new scratches on my bike this month). I recommend it for everyone (unless you have some other course under your belt). Plan to take the ERC in the next year or two (will see if I really learned it or forgot everything). I'd like to see the state require something like this, but only if they subsidize it. OK has a motorcycle education fund, but doesn't use it for motorcycle safety- unless you consider the mobile checkpoints (targeting 2 wheelers) they operated this summer as safety.
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