Oh crap, green puddle.

[JohnT]

I went to a benefit today for one of my oldest friends. Some good food, good company, perhaps one to many beverages. (not driving) So of course the first thing I wanted to do when I got home was to start the VR in anticipation of riding soon. I had charged the battery yesterday, I thumbed the button and it started like it had been a few days instead of a few months. Had a battery light so I checked the fluid level and a cell or so was low. Had left over electrolyte so that was cured. Then I smelled it. The unmistakable smell of coolant. Sure enough, there is a small puddle forming right in front of the chin piece. Dripping from it.

So, Wednesday when I come back and look at it sober, what might I be looking for? As near as my beer and whiskey affected viiso9n can see it is coming somewhere low and in front. Tuesday night I'll remove the chin piece and whatever other plastic I may need to and find it. It didn't leak at all when I parked it and now it seems to leak above idle. Cold. Hot I will certainly be able to see where it is coming from I assume.

[Snaggletooth]

That should be the good old o-ring on the drain valve. Get ahold of skydoc_17 , Earl. He has a kit with a new o-ring and a new shaped retaining screw to fix that. Cheap to fix and takes care of that for a long time.

 

Here is the link to his ad in the classifieds. http://www.venturerider.org/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=3769&title=first-gen1983-1993-radiator-drain-upgrade&cat=22

 

It's a really common problem and only starts to show it's face in the colder weather. Like you, most don't notice it until the coolant builds up in the chin.

 

Just remember when you go to pull the screw to remove the valve body to wrap a rag around it. There is a spring and detent ball under the screw and they will wander off right quick if not contained.

 

Mike

Edited March 10, 2013 by Snaggletooth

[Squeeze]

The O-Ring of Thermostat Cover and the flat rubber Seal beneath it are also well known to leak in cold Temps. Also the two O-Rings of the Water Ellbow. I for one, just ignore it and wait until the Weather gets warmer and watch the Leaks, most likely they go away until next Winter. If i'm in there, for whatever Reason, i replace everything.

[Snaggletooth]

If i'm in there................

 

There it is again. "While you're in there". Amazing how that keeps showing up. But Squeeze has two good points.

 

(1) When the weather warms up it may very likely cease to be a problem.

 

(2)The items he mentions are a bit harder to do but they will need attention sooner or later.

[Squeeze]

Shall we place a "Swear Pot" for Terms like "while you're in there" or "since you're already" somewhere ?

[abusive throttle cranker]

Cool! Since mine is apart right now I'll replace this stuff. Not to hijack the thread but.......do ya have a source for the other parts u mention? I imagine JohnT is gonna ask anyway lol.

[Snaggletooth]

Shall we place a "Swear Pot" for Terms like "while you're in there" or "since you're already" somewhere ?

 

That might cover all the costs for the International.

[Snaggletooth]

Cool! Since mine is apart right now I'll replace this stuff. Not to hijack the thread but.......do ya have a source for the other parts u mention? I imagine JohnT is gonna ask anyway lol.

 

The drain kit is in my first post. The other parts are not hard to find. Check with skydoc_17 or any provider like partshark, boatnet or any of the others. Earl set me up last fall with all the o-rings I needed.

[Flyinfool]

Shall we place a "Swear Pot" for Terms like "while you're in there" or "since you're already" somewhere ?

 

NNOOOoooooo..........

 

I'll go broke in a heartbeat.........

[abusive throttle cranker]

The drain kit is in my first post. The other parts are not hard to find. Check with skydoc_17 or any provider like partshark, boatnet or any of the others. Earl set me up last fall with all the o-rings I needed.

 

Thanks again. I can't access the members list- I guess cuz I'm still probationary. I've been putting off paying up just to stretch the times allowed......I guess its time!

[Flyinfool]

Welcome aboard the loony train......

 

Now.....as long as your here...........

[Snaggletooth]

Thanks again. I can't access the members list- I guess cuz I'm still probationary. I've been putting off paying up just to stretch the times allowed......I guess its time!

 

There is a lot of good things that come from that $12.00 bucks. Full access will put a lot of great info into your hands.

 

On the left side of the main menu you will see the forum headers. Find the VR Classifieds and then open the menu for Member Vendors. That shows you our members here that sell products of services for our bikes.

 

Click on Skydoc-17's header and it will list all his items. The drain kit is a bit down from the top on the second page.

 

And from the looks of it..........

 

Mike

[KIC]

Welcome to the green puddle club. I got all my parts from Boats.net. Haven't done the job on either bike yet, but I got the parts !

Edited March 11, 2013 by KIC

[abusive throttle cranker]

Thanks for the welcome. I've got my whole cooling system apart right now. I figured a good inspection and flush since its been down for 2-3 yrs. Part of my problem with the valves is......I can't get the bleepin covers off! They don't clear the cam sprockets by about 5mm. I can't see what is the problem. The manual says "take off valve covers". Just that! Apparently there is no need to remove the big coolant hoses coming off the heads. There must be something there- probly staring me in the face too!

[Snaggletooth]

Who ever said "The right place at the right time" owned, rode and maintained his own 1st gen Venture. At least I belive that.

 

The covers WILL come off. It's kind of like a magic trick, or a Rubics Cube. Once you find the right angle, the right turn in just the right spot they slide right out. Once you can accomplised that you'll laugh at how easy they go back on. It's just one of those tricks of the trade things.

 

It wasn't all that many years ago I was on here asking the same questions you are. I thought I was missing something to.

 

Don't forget to order the 2nd gen valve cover gaskets for putting them back on. They have a lip around the outside edge that helps a lot on getting them back in place. Use dabs of silicon to stick them to the valve covers to hold them in place while setting them back on.

 

And I'll go ahead and say it..... wait for it.......While you're in there, consider that you should replace the 16 rubber seals on the valve cover bolts to complete the job. These get stiff and hard and don't reseal very well and as the bolts used are shoulder bolts you can not and should not try to just tighten them "just a little more." You can only tighten them so much and then they snap off in the head. Not good.

 

Mike

[JohnT]

I can live with some zo ring and seal replacement. Or even nicer is warmer temps fix it itself. I'' replace the stuff just to feel good.

As for putting off joining. I just got my $12 worth with this post. Again. One small price that keeps giving and giving. I have more peace of mind now knowing it is likely something easily and cheaply fixed. I like cheap and easy,,,,,,

[abusive throttle cranker]

Don't forget to order the 2nd gen valve cover gaskets for putting them back on. They have a lip around the outside edge that helps a lot on getting them back in place. Use dabs of silicon to stick them to the valve covers to hold them in place while setting them back on.

 

Mike

 

 

There is an old mech's trick of using old oil to apply to new gaskets. Both to make them easy to remove again and to make them stick in place. Of course that was from when gaskets were made of cork......

 

I am fortunate in that all the rubber parts on this bike seem to be in excellent shape. Including the carburetor intake boots. Soft and pliable. And this bike sat in storage in Kingman, Arizona! Found the petrified carcase of a mouse as well as its nest in the fairing under the suspension panel though!