yamagrl

The adjuster said that Big Red is going to be a total loss. I will not likely drag it back to Fla. I do not yet know how much the ins company will determine the salvage value to be. If it's not too much then somebody ought to grab it up. BR has a bunch of goodies plus I rebuilt the Karbs, starter clutch, new head bearings, progressives, front wheel bearings, rear wheel bearings including needle bearings, rear E3 with about 5k, front Kenda with about 2k. If I do not retain BR and someone wants him it will only be the salvage value to the ins co. I will be limited in the amount of time to make a decision. So, if you would like to be kept in the loop PM me your email and contact info. I'll post pics when I receive them from ins co. I'm posting this now to give a heads up because time will be limited. Heather

I like getting old. In fact I like doing it so much that I think I'll keep doing it for the rest of my life! It's actually a pretty easy thing to do... just don't die!

Try this. it's easier to use when your hands are greasy http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?118690-Easy-Peazy-Valve-Shim-Calculator

They did surgery on Tuesday and I feel pretty good about it. I go back on 12-7. At that point I'll get a cast. Currently in a splint to allow for swelling. I hold it up in front of me instead of using a sling and that helps prevent swelling. After they set it in the Trauma Center I had no significant pain and only used Naproxen. When the "Block" wore off after surgery it was quite a different story. Horrible pain Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, then manageable pain Wednesday and then only Ibuprofen for swelling and minor discomfort. I hope my recovery will go well. I think the absence of pain is probably a good sign that the bones are positioned properly. Make no mistake; if I bump it or move it wrong it "Lights my @$$ on FIRE!"

Thank you. I hope to have things worked out with the ins co. this coming week and I will know more then. Heather

The FL means it was manufactured in Florida and the T indicates Tampa...

1. The Twinkie sits on top and if I recall the mounting screws are about 6x35 mm. 2. Yes there are 6 crush washers and two orings that are actually part of the oil gallery but are only accessible from beneath the Twinkie. (I did the second gear repair on Big Red in 2014 and in order to get to the transmission the entire oil gallery must come out. So I replaced all of the oil gallery seals except those two.) They are #26, 28 & 31 here http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1989/VENTURE+ROYALE+-+XVZ13DW/OIL+FILTER/parts.html The crush washers can be replaced with copper crush washers found on Ebay cheap. I ordered about 50 each of 6,8,10,12mm crush washers from China and I think the enire cost was about $10. These are used all over the bike, brakes etc. They are kind of universal like a metric screw. The seals for the Twinkie are #38 & 40 here http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1989/VENTURE+ROYALE+-+XVZ13DW/RADIATOR+HOSE/parts.html ​Heather

I think we are going to see a lot more reports of oil/sludge in the coolant in these older bikes and there doesn't seem to be a lot of solid answers. But what ever seal is the culprit is only going to get older (like the rest of us!) and become more more prone to failure. I suggest we keep our eyes on this one. Whatever we figure it out to be will most likely end up being a fairly easy fix.

It happens to be one of those things... You might be able to finagle the Twinkie out and back in without removing the carbs, but since you are already there, removing them would take less than 10 minutes to remove the air box, loosen the clamps on the boots,remove the cables and slide 'em out. I'm certain that it would've taken me a couple more hours and a lot more frustration had I left them in when I removed the Twinkie. I also think the mounting screws may be too long. Been there... and I don't think it would be worth it to even try... Heather

Below is a screenshot of the Lubrication Diagram Pg 8-23 in the 86-93 manual. It appears that the only common areas of coolant and oil is the Water Pump and the Twinkie. It doesn't look as though oil passes through the head gasket but coolant does. That means that if the head gasket were faulty then the sludge would be a due to air/fuel as well as combustion by-product mixing with coolant. You might get an idea by running the engine with the radiator cap off. I think exhaust gas, etc. would bubble out. I have an 89 with the same issue. I haven't had the time to figure it out yet. I have my fingers crossed for the water pump or the twinkie.

Be sure to drain the cooling system if you have to tear into the Twinkie. Heather

The Twinkie is that thing under the carbs it has both oil and coolant separated by an orings. Big Red's was leaking coolant so I rebuilt it. Disassembled, it is obvious that oil/coolant could transfer within this component. Items 36-40 and a few others http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1989/VENTURE+ROYALE+-+XVZ13DW/RADIATOR+HOSE/parts.html Oil and coolant can intermix in the head gasket also. I would start with a compression test before I messed with the Twinkie. You have to remove the Karbs to get it out. Heather

I cannot imagine a better site/source of knowledge for a specific line of motorcycles. There's also number of "Characters" that keep it interesting here as well! The manuals are available the "Read Only" section/forum and we have REALLY GREAT wiring diagrams there, too http://www.venturerider.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?91-Guides-Parts-Diagrams-Etc ​Heather

I had the exact same thing happen a few months back but my "Steve" was another girl rider.

I have read the Twinkie can cause that also. I have an extra reservoir but it will be difficult for me to get to it at the moment. If no one else comes up with one I'll figure a way to get it off. Yg

"... Girl"

Ruby

Since the filter is between the tank and the pump I think I'd remove the line from the petcock and see if gas flows out.

You might try putting some gasoline in a small squirt bottle and give each carb a short squirt (manual prime), not too much though, and hit the starter. If the plugs are firing you'll get combustion, albeit for short time. That should tell you quite a bit. H

I'll heal but Big Red is family!

It's cumbersome to type with one left finger but I'll try to cover everything. I was on 155 which is like a bypass around the northeast of Nashville and was about to interchange to I-40 E when I basically rear-ended a very slow moving car. I was going about the speed limit and with the flow of traffic. I laid on the brakes but still hit. I have no clue of the actual speed differential. I hit it fairly hard and went over Big Red, bounced off of the car and tumbled down the highway for what the report indicates to be 128 feet. Through the whole ordeal I maintained presence of mind. I did tuck and roll, the centrifugal force made it difficult to tuck but I was able to tumble until I stopped. I was very much aware of what exactly was going on and that I was amidst 5 o'clock traffic in the middle of the interstate. Immediately, when I stopped tumbling I stood erect, put both hands out in front of me and yelled for the cars to stop. After all of that I really didn't want to be run over. This is not typical of my riding style, skill or talent and I don't make that kind of mistake so I choose to chalk this one up to many of what I call "Thank you, Jesus moments". Perhaps running into the back of that one prevented me from being somewhere, in front of something else, involved in something much worse. I dunno... Knock on wood... Thanks only to the chilly temperature I was wearing leather boots, full leather over-pants with jeans under, 4 layers on top (not leather), thick gloves with gauntlets (not leather) 3/4 DOT Fulmer helmet. I always wear my helmet so I can use my Sena but rarely wear more that jeans, tennis shoes and tee shirt... maybe fingerless gloves. Other than the idea that I did hit that car, all of the other stars fully aligned. I'll take luck any day of the week. This could have been really, really bad. I broke 2 bones in my right wrist. I'm pretty sure that happened when the handlebars were suddenly wrenched out of my grip. I was gripping the front brake like I was trying to do a wheel stand. (Yes, SS brake line, HH pads.) All of the Drs beginning with the Trauma Dr, their Orthopedist, my primary and local orthopedist all insist that surgery before bones heal will result in the best recovery. This orthopedic group did my rotator cuff and I am back to basically 100% (normal) range of motion. I am scheduled on Tuesday 11-22. Big Red was towed from the scene. I called the wrecker service today and they said the current charges are $370.00 which includes 5 days of storage at $30.00 per day. Does this sound high? I have collision so I'm hoping the insurance company will help. Anyone know anything about that? Two members from the area, @frankd and @MongoE9 have stepped up to the plate and and offered to help. @Venturous Randy has also offered. As soon as I can get Allstate involved and I can get it released I'll be making a plan and will taking you guys up on your offer. I think Big Red is likely ride-able. My left finger is about worn down to a nub, so I'm gunna cut this short now. Thank you to everyone, YG, Heather and Big Red

Mongo, I'll call you a little later. I got the accident report last night. Big Red was towed by Tommy's. Ill be in touch with them today. I'll be posting today about the wreck, surgery.... Heather

I'll be posting updates tonight or tomorrow. It's a bit hard to do it a the moment. There are several posts I want to rely to. But it is easy enough to click the Thanks or Like buttons so that everyone knows when I see it. Thanks to EVERYONE! YG, Heather and Big Red

Got it

​The orthopedic Drs are too busy tonight and tomorrow so they put me to sleep twilight and reset my wrist, splinted it and I get to leave. I have 2 fractures in my right wrist that will require surgery and plates. So my plan is to quickly hike my happy a$$ back home and get in with a local orthopedist. They said to have surgery within the next few days. I will have to come back for Big Red. Any one in the Nashville area that can help me load it?