Hello From Pennsylvania

[Bassett]

Hello!

Bassett here sending greetings from PA. New to the forum and have just purchased my first Venture. '83 with 40k out of a yard down south for $300. I have my hands full with plastic repairs, paint, and TLC, but she runs and idles! I will be keeping in touch regularly, and I'm sure asking advice from some VentureHeads out there!

 

Cheers!

[BlueSky]

Welcome! Sounds like you have a fun project. Lots of information and knowledgeable members on this site so you made a great decision by joining in.

[bongobobny]

Looks like the aftermath of a collision!!

 

Yup!! Just ask away, we will be GLAD to give you all the advice and assistance we can!! Honest!!

[Bassett]

From my observation, this bike was knocked over a few times, and attempted to be repaired at various times by owners.

I stripped the bike down when I got it home, dumped a can do seafoam in, and circulated it through the carbs. Is that ok to sit in there over the winter? Or should I drain the treated gasoline out of the bowls? Idk how fussy Yamaha engines are, I'm coming from Honda V4 muscle bikes (Sabres & Magnas.)

Also, I noticed between the exhaust down pipes there is a coolant drain plug that started leaking. But it doesn't tighten..? Is this a common problem with these bikes?

 

Also, hoping to paint the bike "Black Cherry Pearl", comments appreciated!

 

I have finished polishing all the bikes chrome pieces, and am very impressed with the lack of pitting.

In addition, the fairing consoles and trim pieces have been painted.

Next, I'm hoping to plastic repair.

Following that, I will move on to paint.

 

The issues that that the bike has come with include: no hydrolic clutch, I have already bought master and slave kit, weak brake, battery that needs replacing, rear tire, front tire should be also, one factory side bag key turns to "lock and set" but not open? (Any suggestions?), fork seals should be replaced from sitting, and the seat with the rip at the front is already at the leather shop!

 

Cheers!

Bassett

[yamagrl]

Looks like the aftermath of a collision!!

 

What chu talkin' 'bout, Willis! (Bobny)

[yamagrl]

From my observation, this bike was knocked over a few times, and attempted to be repaired at various times by owners.

I stripped the bike down when I got it home, dumped a can do seafoam in, and circulated it through the carbs. Is that ok to sit in there over the winter? Or should I drain the treated gasoline out of the bowls? Idk how fussy Yamaha engines are, I'm coming from Honda V4 muscle bikes (Sabres & Magnas.)

Also, I noticed between the exhaust down pipes there is a coolant drain plug that started leaking. But it doesn't tighten..? Is this a common problem with these bikes?

 

Also, hoping to paint the bike "Black Cherry Pearl", comments appreciated!

 

I have finished polishing all the bikes chrome pieces, and am very impressed with the lack of pitting.

In addition, the fairing consoles and trim pieces have been painted.

Next, I'm hoping to plastic repair.

Following that, I will move on to paint.

 

The issues that that the bike has come with include: no hydrolic clutch, I have already bought master and slave kit, weak brake, battery that needs replacing, rear tire, front tire should be also, one factory side bag key turns to "lock and set" but not open? (Any suggestions?), fork seals should be replaced from sitting, and the seat with the rip at the front is already at the leather shop!

 

Cheers!

Bassett

 

I had one like that. Put it in the set position, remove the key and then try it with a straight-slot screwdriver.

 

Heather

 

P.S. Welcome aboard!

[Yammer Dan]

You can remove those locks and take apart clean grease and they will work as good as new!! This is a cold winter day project when you can get them all off and take into the house and make use of the dining room table......

[Venturous Randy]

The coolant drain plug is actually a valve that bypasses the thermostat. To be in the correct running position, the tops of the letters should point toward the 5 o'clock direction. This is a pretty typical leak, especially as it gets colder. There is an o'ring that needs to be replaced. There is a small screw on the side that has a small spring and ball that holds it in place. If you take it apart, be careful to not loose them.

With a mileage of 40K, you are just starting to get into the window of the very typical 2nd gear failure. There is a too soft thrust washer that the more it wears, the less engagement you will have and it will get so bad that if you don't fix it, you will pretty much loose 2nd gear.

I really love your enthusiasm and wish you the best on working thru the various issues on these early bikes.

I have really enjoyed my 83 and have put more than 150,000 miles on it. They really are great bikes.

Of all the money you will spend on your Venture, your best investment will be the $12 to join and have more access to more info and help.

Randy

[Bassett]

 

I had one like that. Put it in the set position, remove the key and then try it with a straight-slot screwdriver.

 

Heather

 

P.S. Welcome aboard!

 

great! I will try that tonight.

[bongobobny]

OK several of the issues have been already addressed, but I'm going to put my two cents in as well, just because I'm that sort of guy! My first comment, as far as the clutch slave cylinder I wish you luck with the rebuild, but, depending on just how pitted the cylinder wall is and how much you hone it, chances are the rebuild will not be that effective! Many of us have found through experience you are better off just REPLACING the slave cylinder with a new one, they are not really that expensive!

 

Second, yes the brakes, even when new, are anemic at best on the MK1 Venture. You will be best served finding a good set of MK2 forks and rebuilding them and convert the front brakes to better 4 piston calipers instead of the stock 2 piston ones on the MK1. There IS a reason Yamaha changed them over!! The reason you need MK2 forks, or at least the bottom halves, is the bolt spacing for the calipers. MK1 is 87mm (?) as opposed to 100mm on the MK2. You also have to change the rotors as well due to different diameters, but that is a good thing as the MK2 rotors are slotted as opposed to the solid rotors of the MK1. Also with the 100mm spacing, it allows you to use more efficient calipers from a Yami R1 or R6. The best ones to get are the "Gold dot" ones from early 2000's R1 as the pistons are anodized aluminum and won't rust! The Blue dot ones are steel pistons. That along with the use of stainless steel brake lines (the braided ones) make a night and day difference in stopping your beast once you get it running to its full potential! The SS lines do not expand like the regular rubber ones do which wastes braking power. The other issue to address is the anti dive solenoids which are hydraulic on the MK1 (another hydraulic power waste) vs electrical on the MK2. Once again there IS a reason Yamaha changed things! Now I'm not going to get into an argument as to whether or not to even use the anti dive system or not, and whether or not the electric anti dives rob battery power (They are only on when the brakes are applied) nor am I going to discuss the pros and cons of "delinking" the brake system, that is all personal preference. As far as the anti dive I personally like them but prefer the electric ones. The anti dives are triggered by a relay which is triggered by the yellow "brake light" wire. There are pros and cons to delinking, I kind of like the linked system but have had an experience where it got me in trouble...

 

BTW yes you can switch the rear brake over to MK2 but youy need both the caliper mounting bracket, and at bare minimum the pivot part from a MK2 swing arm or machine yourself a proper sized pivot. Granted the rear brake only does about 1/4 of the actual braking but yes there is a noticible difference, and yes the rotors need swapping out...

 

As far as leaving the seafoam mixture in the bowls goes, well it won't do any harm but it also won't do much good either! Seafoam needs to make contact with the crud that may form in the jets, around the valves, etc. In other words, it needs to circulate to do anything! The REAL issue is good old grandpappy's corn squeezings, or ethanol setting in the carbs over an extended period of time! If you don't drain your carbs over winter then yes, by all means have some seafoam mixed in with your gas and/or another product called Stabil as well! I also invest in a tank of high test over the winter, the octane is going to break down anyway, so why not start out with a higher number!

 

Last point, for now, the frame issue with the '83 only Venture. There is an issue with the mounting for the rear shock rusting from the inside out and breaking the shock mount off!! They modified the mounting starting with the '84 model year. When those mounts break loose it is quite the pucker moment when all of a sudden your rear goes down and you have no rear suspension at all!! There are several articles on this here on the site!

 

Trust us, once you get your Venture running properly and all the bugs ironed out you will enjoy one of the finest touring bikes ever made! The 1st gen in particular also has a heart of a sports bike and you will be impressed with how well such a behemoth bike can handle!!!

[Bassett]

The coolant drain plug is actually a valve that bypasses the thermostat. To be in the correct running position, the tops of the letters should point toward the 5 o'clock direction. This is a pretty typical leak, especially as it gets colder. There is an o'ring that needs to be replaced. There is a small screw on the side that has a small spring and ball that holds it in place. If you take it apart, be careful to not loose them.

With a mileage of 40K, you are just starting to get into the window of the very typical 2nd gear failure. There is a too soft thrust washer that the more it wears, the less engagement you will have and it will get so bad that if you don't fix it, you will pretty much loose 2nd gear.

I really love your enthusiasm and wish you the best on working thru the various issues on these early bikes.

I have really enjoyed my 83 and have put more than 150,000 miles on it. They really are great bikes.

Of all the money you will spend on your Venture, your best investment will be the $12 to join and have more access to more info and help.

Randy

 

thanks!

do you happen to have a link to replacement o-ring?

Is there a way to do preventative maintenance for 2nd gear?

I think 1980's just had second gear issues, no matter MAKE or MODEL haha

[Bassett]

You can remove those locks and take apart clean grease and they will work as good as new!! This is a cold winter day project when you can get them all off and take into the house and make use of the dining room table......

 

 

Is there a way to remove the locks with the case closed? I cannot get it open!

[snyper316]

I do not know about listening to Dan sometimes, No wonder that guy calls his wife warden!!! Greesy dirty motorcycle parts on her Tables. I would say try spraying WD40 in your key slot and spraying thru the cracks at the top of the saddlebag. Let it set for a while then try to jiggle the keys and possible jiggle the lid some as your jiggling the keys.

[snyper316]

One more thing maybe press in on the lid or pull slightly?

[yamagrl]

 

I had one like that. Put it in the set position, remove the key and then try it with a straight-slot screwdriver.

 

Heather

 

P.S. Welcome aboard!

It was still hard to turn with a screwdriver. The set position is unlocked and it will turn with a screwdriver... but it might require a bit of elbow grease.

[Yammer Dan]

Combination of flat tip screwdriver on the lock tab and playing with the key?? Takes some time. Hey I cover the table!!!!

[snyper316]

I finally got tired of replacing tables so I went and bought a 6ft folding table thinking about getting one for the garage.

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

[Yammer Dan]

I got one in the garage but the one in the kitchen is nice and cozy. And close to the Fridge!! Ya cover it with something white so little pieces cain't hide. Might want to rethink about using "Her" sheets!!! Just not a good plan. Trust me on that one!!! I got a roll of white paper from somewhere?