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dfitzbiz

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Posts posted by dfitzbiz

    Horns

    in Watering Hole

    Posted

    The two stebels that I now have on my bike are definitely louder than the two wool horns that I had on it before.

     

    Ron

     

    Ron,

    You should attach some pic's and mounting instructions for the horns on your RSV. The position between the engine V looks good and is out of the way.

    OLD WEST GUN FREEK ALERT!!!!! I grew up ahhh dreamin,, of bein a Cowboy...

    in Watering Hole

    Posted

    As a child of the 50’s you can bet my heroes were cowboys. I remember well watching Roy, Gabby, Gene, Tex and a whole host of those Saturday morning heroes with my Grandfather. That’s how I learned right from wrong, to stand up for the weak and less fortunate and how to treat a lady. America’s youth could use some of these lessons. And now I’m the Grandfather-- if only I could get my grandsons interested. I guess I’ll have to find a way to add a joystick and computer screen to the process. Go figure.

    Great song and singing Puc and Cappy, straight from the heart. Send us more!!

    Venture Mortality

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    Took a look at the bottom of the shock as you suggested and this is what I found, so I have never seen any oil on the floor, and my question is what will happen if you keep riding it say is there is not any oil left in the shock and how hard is it to remove the shock? As I do not have a lift or center stand stand any kind also how much is an after market shock? don't really care whether it is an air shock or not as I am the only rider and always travel light where ever I go.http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=111907

     

    Yep, that's how it starts. It looks pretty minor right now. Keep an eye on it and if it gets worse we can do an exchange. I can PM you instructions on how to change the shock. You will need a motorcycle jack and it is easier with a lift adapter like the one sold by CarbonOne.

    Search "Hagon" for an after market shock. I'm sure someone on here will let us know the cost.

    Ride smooth, ride safe!

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Venture Mortality

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    So you can repair the shock? So its best to have you fix it before I see the issue or is this something that is fixed after the problem appears?

     

    I would wait until I noticed a leak. Something to check when you do your regular oil change. You may notice a puddle on the floor but most likely you will notice some dampness around the lower shock mounting clevis. They seem to start slow and gain momentum over time. I have repaired 7 or 8 so far Raven. All have returned to near original performance according to those who have mounted and put some miles on them. Of course the sooner you detect the leak the better. I'm not sure what will happen if the cylinder inside is operated dry for an extended period of time. It appears to be more of a dampener than a gas/oil filled shock absorber. It pulls oil in through ports in the bottom on the up stroke and expels it out on the down stroke. Seems to be some type of valving inside. Anyway, what happens is that the oring, just above the bottom mounting clevis, develops a leak and the oil runs out on your garage floor. When the oil is gone your RSV turns into a pogo stick. If you would like to try the repair shoot me a PM. I have a unit I will be repairing early next week and we can do an exchange if you need a quick turn-around.

    Ride smooth, ride safe!

    Fitz

    Venture Mortality

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    Keep an eye on your rear shock. It's not catastrophic but it can be expensive. You may notice an oil drip under the shock mount area or some dampness around the bottom clevis and mounting bolt. A new shock from Mama Yamaha is around $700-$800. Aftermarket a little less but you lose the air adjustability. If you have this issue don't panic, I have a fix and the sooner you catch it the better. I do this as a service for VR supporting members at no charge other than freight and $.25 for an oring and a couple of buck for suspension oil. Freight each way via USPS is about $20. Any extra $$ I receive I donate to the site or to one of the rally's I attend.

    Ride smooth and ride safe,

    Fitz

    RSV Repaired Rear Shock 2000 Mile Update

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    For the rear shock I tend to go with the "14%" rule. Maximum load capacity of the bike is 419 lbs. Max rear shock pressure is 57 psi - 419/57 = 7.4 (which is 14%)

     

    My weight 200 lbs x 7.4 = 27 psi for the rear shock - for a softer ride I'll go with 22-24 psi

     

    Add my wife...total 310 lbs / 7.4 = 42 psi - for a softer ride I usually go with 32-34 psi

     

    When I was pulling the tent trailer I had (2 up) 310 + 36 lbs tongue weight, plus additional weight in the saddles and trunk.... = roughly 355-365 lbs... / 7.4 = 48 to 50 psi

     

    For the front I usually ride at about 3 psi.

     

    Might not work for everyone but for me this works out pretty well.

     

    Tires come into play with shocks...I ride 36-38 psi front, 40 psi rear.

    Hey Don,

    I like your numbers, your formula is just a bit off. 419 max load and a max pressure of 57 psi gives you a ratio of 7.4:1 or 7.4 pounds of load for each psi of air. Your formula should be the load in pounds divided by 7.4. You got the right answer 200 lb load/7.4=27psi.

    Ride on Brother,

    See you in Ontario,

    Fitz

    RSV Repaired Rear Shock 2000 Mile Update

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    Dave agreed to repair the rear shock from my 2006 RSTD. It had gotten very sloppy to ride with loose feel to rear and bottoming out pretty easily, as well as leaking oil for several months. After receipt and installation, I took it for a ride and was not sure it was the same bike! It felt very tight and responsive. There have been no further leaks. I borrowed a hand pump to adjust the air pressure. I put about 40 psi in the rear and 5 in the front shocks, as I was anticipating having my wife ride with me. I did not like the feel of the bike with the additional air in front shocks and took it out. I may drop the pressure a little in rear after she gets back to riding her bike again.

    I did the work from a harbor freight bike lift (the big one). I put floor jack on one side ahead of shock and scissor jack on other side and brought bike up to where tire was barely touching. The bottom bolt is a piece of cake, but the upper bolt is a pain! I removed passenger floor boards and the plastic panels behind them and was able to loosen up the nut on top with extension with knuckle on end. Use of a board under tire allowed you to take pressure off bolt to work it out. There is an overflow tube on shock, in addition to air line. Try to figure out where the overflow tube is attached - when I pulled shock out, it came out but I had no idea where it attaches. Reinstallation of the upper bolt and nut are tricky if you have big hands, because the opening made by removal of the plastic panels is too small for my hands to fit easily.

    Anyway, hope this is helpful to others that may be considering work on rear shock. Many thanks to Dave for saving me big bucks over the cost of a replacement shock or aftermarket shock.

    Everyone ride safe,

    Charles

     

    Charles, I made a donation to the Venturerider Forum this morning with the funds left over from the money order you sent for your shock repair. I couldn't make the donation in your name but you deserve the credit. I'm sure it will be appreciated by all.

    Ride smooth and leak free,

    Fitz

    RSV Repaired Rear Shock 2000 Mile Update

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    Hi Fitz. I have a 99rsv and shock started leaking last fall. was fixing to purchase a new one this spring. Just read your article and I'm very interested. How much for an exchange? Almost had a heart attack when I saw price of new ones. And the Yamaha's aren't even guaranteed> At least the Hagons are. Thanks for you time. Chuck (cnljr52)

     

    Chuck, NO HEART ATTACKS ALLOWED ON THE VENTURERIDER FORUM!!! I sent you a PM and I have a repaired shock in stock. Get back to me. Fitz

    RSV Repaired Rear Shock 2000 Mile Update

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    Dave agreed to repair the rear shock from my 2006 RSTD. It had gotten very sloppy to ride with loose feel to rear and bottoming out pretty easily, as well as leaking oil for several months. After receipt and installation, I took it for a ride and was not sure it was the same bike! It felt very tight and responsive. There have been no further leaks. I borrowed a hand pump to adjust the air pressure. I put about 40 psi in the rear and 5 in the front shocks, as I was anticipating having my wife ride with me. I did not like the feel of the bike with the additional air in front shocks and took it out. I may drop the pressure a little in rear after she gets back to riding her bike again.

    I did the work from a harbor freight bike lift (the big one). I put floor jack on one side ahead of shock and scissor jack on other side and brought bike up to where tire was barely touching. The bottom bolt is a piece of cake, but the upper bolt is a pain! I removed passenger floor boards and the plastic panels behind them and was able to loosen up the nut on top with extension with knuckle on end. Use of a board under tire allowed you to take pressure off bolt to work it out. There is an overflow tube on shock, in addition to air line. Try to figure out where the overflow tube is attached - when I pulled shock out, it came out but I had no idea where it attaches. Reinstallation of the upper bolt and nut are tricky if you have big hands, because the opening made by removal of the plastic panels is too small for my hands to fit easily.

    Anyway, hope this is helpful to others that may be considering work on rear shock. Many thanks to Dave for saving me big bucks over the cost of a replacement shock or aftermarket shock.

    Everyone ride safe,

    Charles

     

    Charles, thanks for the good review. Happy to hear the repair is working for you. 40psi in the rear and 5psi in the front seems like a lot to me but ride is a personal preference. I use about 15psi in the rear shock when riding solo (25psi two up) and 1psi in the forks and I'm a pretty big guy.

     

    I feel your pain when removing/reinstalling the shock. With the testing I have done I've removed and reinstalled more than a dozen times in the past 9 months. The best method I have found is to lift the bike on a lift adapter like the one CarbonOne provides until the back wheel just leaves the ground by about 1/4 inch. You should have enough play in the jack and suspension to bounce the rear tire to relieve pressure on the bolts as required. Remove the Passenger Floor Boards and the side covers. It can be frustrating attempting to get the top bolt in place. I replace the bottom bolt first and use a line-up punch in the top hole, FROM THE LEFT SIDE, using the jack to move the frame up or down as required for alignment. I insert the top bolt from the right side using a socket and swivel. Sometimes it takes the dexterity of Houdini to get it in.

     

    I'm not sure where the vent hose from the rubber boot attaches. There is a clip that snaps onto a frame member or a cable, I just don't know which one. I guess just pick one that will keep it from falling into a pinch point or the tire.

     

    Ride smooth and leak free,

    Fitz

    Coolant leak, and service

    in Watering Hole

    Posted

    When you're ready to replace the plugs you will find that the threaded end of a spark plug screws right on. Makes a great handle for removal and insertion. If you fast enough you won't lose much fluid. Good luck.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Stock horn

    in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)

    Posted

    any part numbers or make of the horns you bought? I'm not concerned with a direct replacement, but don't want some big horn sticking out of the side of the bike. Open to all suggestions.

     

    thanks to all,

     

    Ken

     

    Carbon One make a bracket that mounts the WOLO horn pretty discreetly into the space where the factory horn is located. Check it out in the classified section. Several pic's there. It tucks in very nicely. It mounts to the engine at the ground bolt for the battery cable. The WOLO horn will rock your world.

    Life Change

    in Watering Hole

    Posted

    Congrats Freebird, it's guy like you that will genuinely make America great again. I've been an independent business owner in the past and spent 11 years as a professional business advisor. I'm now semi-retired and really enjoying life working with a small company a few hours a week. If I can be of any assistance don't hesitate to call. Business problems trend to shrink when you share them with someone. Give me a call and we can talk about by business views. Good Luck and God's Speed!

    Fitz

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