New to the Venture..quick question..

[KIC]

Thanks guys..exactly the info I needed. I will try to track down Ken in GA.

[twigg]

A 1st genner needs to shift out of 1st gear, to go faster than 50 mph.

 

Are you waiting for a spring, or just waiting for spring?????

No, I don't wait for Spring .. I happily ride in every weather and temperature. I only draw the line at ice and snow on the ground.

 

One of the counter-balance springs went "bang" the other day. Now I have to replace both of them. Meanwhile, the door which probably weighs around 350lbs is staying firmly shut!

 

It will be around $100 for a pair of springs, and not a lot of fun fitting them.

[RSV Angel]

Thanks guys..exactly the info I needed. I will try to track down Ken in GA.

I'll call Ken today and have him look at this thread. He can contact you and ya'll can work it out. He is a good guy.

Craig

[KIC]

So... latest update. Next weekend after I get home from my current TDY assignment, I will tear my front end apart and get to it. My wife will be gone for the weekend so it can be a 48 hour bike repair weekend.

 

ALSO, looks like I just inherited the maintenance rights and responsibility for an 88 Kawasaki Voyager.

 

I just found out that a friend of mine, who loved my Venture, found a great deal on an 88 Voyager. Since he is not mechanically inclined and while a mutual ( Venture owning) friend helped him unload it from my bike trailer today, he informed him that he is looking forward to me helping him check it out and keep it maintained... :bawling:uugghhh.....

[cabreco]

Okay...WOW...thanks... I was going to do the battery probe and had left that off the list.. it's on it now.

 

 

 

KIC

FYI I just did my battery probe following the thread instructions here 15 minute fix. I used the 2.2k ohm resistor & it worked first shot.

 

BTW nice bike, you got a hell of a deal for $1,500!

[KIC]

KIC

FYI I just did my battery probe following the thread instructions here 15 minute fix. I used the 2.2k ohm resistor & it worked first shot.

 

BTW nice bike, you got a hell of a deal for $1,500!

 

Thanks...I will be doing the battery probe ASAP too. I'm tired of the red blinking light. I'll start with the 2.2k.

 

Bill

[KIC]

Another Quick question.

 

Just got home from an 8-day TDY and have the opportunity to tear the bike apart this weekend before I leave Sunday night for another 6 days. I hope to finish a lot of the list and not leave the bike to torn apart while I am gone. (It's a memory thing ) Who are you and why am I typing this ???

 

I want to clean the forks inside and it has been recommended to put either Seafoam or Dextron ATF in it for a little while.

 

QUESTION:

 

How far from the top (measurement) should it be filled to ?

 

I know how much to put in once I rebuild them, But I want to fill (add to) both sides before I tear them apart.

 

Thanks guys.

 

 

I hope a lot of you brainiacs are going to be sitting in front of the 'puter this weekend as I am sure I will be begging for quick answers as I pull my 48 hour/wifey gone repair weekend.

 

Bill

[Snaggletooth]

This is the directions for the Progressive springs. Same info can be used on stock as I don't think you have converted them yet.

 

So 5.5" is the going idea. I have played with different levels between 5.5 and 6 and see no real difference. I like the 10wt oil but want to try 20 this next summer.

 

Just remember to pump the forks repeatedly to make sure the oil fills in with no air pockets.

 

Cleaning internally? ..... I have always stripped them down on the bench but some tranny fluid would help break down any sludge in the bottoms I'm sure. I think some guys have used tranny fluid as the oil itself with no issues.

 

Mike

[KIC]

Thank you Sir !

I downloaded the attachment.

 

I start on it tomorrow....so.....

[KIC]

So... I started on the bike. But not without a few snaggles.

 

I really hate the initial taking apart of a running bike...BUT...things need to be done.

 

 

First of all it was supposed to be my 48+ hours bike weekend. With the wifey gone, I was going to start on the bike around 5pm Friday and just work through the whole weekend undistracted.

 

Yea...that went well...NOT ! First I get a call at 3pm which results in a flight to Las Vegas at 8pm then driving back at 9am arriving home at 4pm. I get to start on the bike at 5pm.

 

It was going slow as I dismantled the fairing and related pieces. As I took each piece off I would wash it, shine it , repair it etc.

 

Disassembled the speedo to repair the cold morning squeal and replace the high beam bulb. All went well with that. plastic welded the bottom of the windshield that I found cracked... we'll see if that holds.

 

Had one .." Uh Oh" moment and one disaster moment..or actually 10 minutes. The Uh Oh moment was when I was removing the front tire and needed to jack the bike higher to get the tire form under the front fender. Yea...that worked well.... I jacked up the bike got the tire out and then realized that I need a large screw driver to lower the hydrolic jack back down.

 

I am now trying to balance the beast on the jack as I maneuver around the front to try to reach for a screw driver. The bike is wavering back and forth like a drunk monkey. :no-no-no:Okay..got that done.

 

By now I am "hitting a wall from exhaustion resulting from my over night Vegas burner.. I decided That I would drain the oil out of the front forks over night and start fresh in the morning.

 

I damn well didn't know that that fork oil was 1) under so much pressure and 2) able to spray so doggone far and wide !!

 

I now have fork oil all over one of my other bikes, all my tools that were laid out, the new parts, the nice shirt that I shouldn't have been wearing and a few other places I probably have not seen yet.

 

Anyway... I washed the oil soaked clothes, showered my oil soaked self and cleaned up most of the oil soaked garage, drained the rest of the fork oil and bored you with teh details...onward to tomorrow !

[Snaggletooth]

So... I started on the bike. But not without a few snaggles.

 

When people have days like that I just want to change my handle. It could affect my self image.

 

But welcome to the "I Got Lubed" club. You aren't the first to get a Trophy Shirt on a fork job. I thought I had all the pressure off the forks and had done what I thought I needed to do EXCEPT loosen the top caps.

 

I work on a learning curve. Sometimes it actually bends. Those are the good days.

 

Mike

[Flyinfool]

Maybe you should get a nice red and yellow sticker, "CAUTION, Contents under pressure":rotf:

 

I have read a bunch of stories very similar to yours.

I will be draining my forks this winter, I will be neater than you were......

I hate cleaning things.

 

Did you toss some stuff from the laundry basket into the wash with your oily shirt just to make a full load? Maybe some of the wife's things? Now they all smell like fork oil?

You may not notice the aroma but she sure will........

[cabreco]

I thought I had all the pressure off the forks and had done what I thought I needed to do EXCEPT loosen the top caps.

 

Mike

 

Splooged!

Yeah weight off the forks & crack the air line at the solenoid. I found out the Class always leaves 8 lbs min in the forks.

 

Hey we live & learn. (now I know to cover my Honda & Merc just in case)

 

Hey Mike...WHAT NO PIX???

[KIC]

Maybe you should get a nice red and yellow sticker, "CAUTION, Contents under pressure":rotf:

 

 

Did you toss some stuff from the laundry basket into the wash with your oily shirt just to make a full load? Maybe some of the wife's things? Now they all smell like fork oil?

 

 

My life is filled with "shoulda, coulda, woulda's". And after a 1/4 bottle of Shout and a load consisting of 1 pants, 1 shirt.... I think I squeeked out of that one...

 

Yea... with the front wheel off and the forks off the ground... I didn't think about that air issue....

 

 

Now for more fun in the oily garage...

Edited January 29, 2012 by KIC

[Yammer Dan]

Warden wasn't pleased when I sprayed oil EVERYWHERE!! A lesson you don't forget or one she won't let me forget....

[KIC]

It is amazing how far that stuff will go. Kinda like a drunk pissed off skunk...

Edited January 29, 2012 by KIC

[KIC]

So I continued taking things apart. It is amazing how the parts are all interconnected. To take this part off you need to loosened and remove that part..which requires a different part moved/removed which requires this or that wire bundle to be loosened..etc..etc..etc..

 

I removed the whole fork assembly and triple tree assembly. The upper triple tree bearings were dried solid. No movement. A 10 minute soak in mineral spirits returned the bearings to functioning condition.

 

The lower bearings were still moving freely. This should make the steering a whole lot smoother. Unfortunately, time was short and the bike was left disassembled until I return from my TDY next week.

[Flyinfool]

Better watch it.

With the bike in the condition of that pic, a 2nd gen might catch up to you....... And even PASS you.

 

You have been warned.......

[Yammer Dan]

If you crank those 1st Gens hard enough you can ride on the back wheel....

[KIC]

I was told that I had 13 days after tearing it apart to fix it and still be ahead of any 2nd Gens that might catch up . Gotta watch out for that tortoise and the hare issue.

[Yammer Dan]

Yeah if you stay around those 2nd Gens they will fall back wind it up as far as it will go and blow past you at about 90 when you are cruising along enjoying the view at about 50 then claim they outran you!! Desperate they are!!!

[Flyinfool]

If you crank those 1st Gens hard enough you can ride on the back wheel....

 

I learned about that one on a curve making a buds Harley look bad.

 

It was quite the process for the ensuing BVD extraction.

[KIC]

Hi guys... I am in the process of adding the washers to the valve covers and changing the plugs at the same time. Wanted to know what the best plug gap is for my 89. I tried the search function, but couldn't find a thread with the gap.

 

The manual states .31 - .35. It also calls for DPR8EA-9. I have DPR7EA-9 that I bought from reading a prior thread. The OP stated that he used the hotter plug for short trips etc. The plugs in the bike are the 8EA's. Should I stick to 8's or are the 7' OK to run ?

 

 

 

OK... I know the best gap is the distance the 2nd Gen is behind my 1st Gen, :rotf:but i am talking about the spark plug gap here...

 

Thanks..

Edited February 19, 2012 by KIC

[Yammer Dan]

I set mine about 33. As for type I'm still looking for best. I think I'm on a set of Autolites now. But have had good luck with what the book calls for. I change them often as it just seems like a cheap tune-up to me.

[KIC]

Great day on the bike. Finished all 16 valve cover bolts ,4 new plugs AND got the forks put back together with the new OEM fork seals . Feeling good about the bike today .