89 VR engine issues

[FEW]

Good day to all. I just bought an 89 VR with only 37K on it. I have it in the shop but the guys way behind so I want to take a crack at fixing some issues myself.

 

1. First is an oil leak from where the stator wires come through the engine block. I figure this is due to an air tube of some type being blocked and creating back pressure, but I could be wrong. Any feedback on this would be welcome.

 

2. Runs pretty rough. Is it OK to run SEA FOAM through it or put this in the carbs and let it sit then drain it out. I've seen other videos of people doing this to their bikes and it seems to work.

[bongobobny]

Yup, Seafoam does work miracles!!!

 

The most common source of the oil leak you describe is the rubber grommet that the wires pass through from the stator cover. You need to remove the cover and clean up the wires and the grommet as best as possible, then use a thin coat of silicone to both seal the wires, and to seal the grommet where it mounts. Make very sure the mating surfaces are as clean as possible! As far as oil pressure in the stator area, there is virtually none other than oil being "slung" onto the stator for cooling...

 

Also, when you remove the center cover, you will find that the bottom screw has a crush washer on it, and this crush washer is very important. That screw is the only one that the threads go all the way through the block!

[Flyinfool]

As Bob mentioned, Seafoam is a pretty standard use item on the Ventures. Start with a full can to a half tank of gas, and ride it to get it completely through the carbs. Then every day take it out and ride it like ya stole it till the gas is about gone. this will clear out a lot of carb issues.

 

As Bob mentioned the oil leak is most likely the grommet around the stator wires, very popular leak point. The wires are covered in a cloth sheath and the oil can and will wick up the cloth right thru the grommet and leak. You will need a gasket set for the left side cover and the middle gear cover. Many of us use a new crush washer on the bottom bolt of the middle gear cover as that is the drain for the oil in the transmission. Once you get the side cover off clean it up real good. use brake cleaner to clean all of the oil off the grommet and out of the cloth insulation of the stator wires. Then slide the grommet up the wires a bit and clean the oil out of the newly exposed cloth insulation. I use the black Permatex RTV to rub into the cloth where the grommet will sit and then slid the grommet back into place. Clean the cloth above the grommet again to get the oil that was dragged out of the holes and apply a seal of the black RTV on both sides of the grommet as well as to the sealing surfaces between the cover and the grommet and put it all back together.

 

When doing normal oil changes you do not need to pull the trans drain plug, there is not much oil actually trapped in there. The only time you need to drain there is if you are cleaning out contaminated oil from a coolant or gas issue and you need to get out as much as possible.

[uhfradarwill]

I bought my 89 VR with 27K miles on it and it was running a tad rough. One whole can of seafoam to a full tank of gas and around 1,800 miles later it smoothed out and and is still running great!!