I did the V-Max Final drive upgrade - but I don't notice much of a difference??

[VanRiver]

I just recently "upgraded" the final drive on one of my 1986 Venture Royale's from a low milage 1986 V-Max. The install was super easy and it fit like a glove with no shim required (took me around 45 minutes to do the whole swap and Lube of the drive shaft).

 

Well I finally took her for a test drive today, and to be honest I don't really feel any difference in performance! I have read from other members that the RPM's should increase by approx 500rpm due to the different gearing, and there should be some nice increase in snap off the line.....but I'm not seeing either of those compared to my original final drive. I'm running at approx 3800-3900RPM at 65mph which is pretty much the same values with my old Final drive unit. Were my expectations too high? Do I have my numbers wrong? Or is it possible my bike may have already had a V-Max unit (I highly doubt that)? Did the V-max donor bike have a Venture drive installed as a "upgrade"? Am I going crazy?

 

Aside from cracking the drive open and counting teeth is there any way to confirm there is a gearing difference between my old and new final drive? They look identical aside from the shock mount stud on the v-max (which I of course removed for the Venture install).

 

I painted the new V-max pumpkin hot red thinking it was going to add some fire to the back wheel.......but now I'm thinking it should have been plain old silver since it feels like the same old stock bike.

[Freebird]

You should absolutely feel the difference. The only thing I can think of is that somebody in the past had already installed a VMax drive. Of course I'm basing my opinion on the 2nd Gen. The first gen is already a lower ratio than the second gen.

[Flyinfool]

Start by checking the drive that is out of the bike. Rotate the output exactly 1 turn, the input will turn 3 1/3 turns if it is stock or 3 2/3 turns if it is v-max.

You can do the same on the one in the bike, it is just harder. But at least you do not have to split the pumpkins.

[Vonwolf]

There is an Excel spreadsheet made by A member here on the board, I wish I knew the name to credit these spreadsheets to, but I did copy them. They will give you a good idea of your final drive.

This is for a Vmax Final Drive-VMax Speed based on Gear Ratios.xls

This is for A Venture Final Drive-1st Gen Venture Speed based on gear ratios.xls

 

They will give you an Idea of your final gearing, I had nothing to do with making these and I wish I could credit the maker as this is very useful and someone put in a great deal of work

Edited May 12, 2015 by Vonwolf

[VanRiver]

Thanks Guys for all the insight! #flyinfool I did your turn test comparing my original pumpkin and a FJR diff that I have which is supposed to have the same gearing as the V-max and they had the exact same number of turns. #vonwolf the spreadsheets you provided sealed the deal for me.....Basically I just replaced a perfectly working V-Max final drive with another V-Max final drive on my Venture.

 

To make matters worse, I first purchased the FJR diff to do my replacement but I didn't read the fine print in the other members posts stating that I also needed the axel sleeve/bushing to make the FJR swap work (which of course Yamaha no longer sells separate and did not come with my ebay purchase of the diff).....So I put that diff on the parts shelf and chalked it up to "lesson learned" and decided to make a second purchase of a V-Max diff that was more "plug and Play" so another purchase from Ebay and shipping to Canada for another heavy Yamaha Pumpkin. And now I find out that I already had a V-Max diff on the bike after spending the cash for 2 replacement pumpkins!!!!!:mo money::mo money:I guess I'm pretty, just not that smart!!!!

 

Oh well, I now have a fancy Red painted Final drive on my bike and the drive shaft got greased properly....I guess that is one positive to the situation! Now I just need to find a project to use my 2 spare pumpkins on.

[VanRiver]

Live and Learn.

Edited May 13, 2015 by VanRiver
duplicate post

[flyday58]

Put those bad boys in the classifieds here, some one is bound to want to do the Vmax upgrade to their Venture. My luck was similar with my '83, no idea what the PO had or had not done. As you say, . And then not knowing what I was getting on ebay = more :mo money:. Bought an '84 41R harness for the '83, installed it and found most of the '83 components wouldn't connect. Back to ebay, :mo money:. It's a bigger club than you'd think, eh?

[Vonwolf]

I belong to that club unfortunately