running a little rough

[PBJ]

I just purchase an 85 1st gen Venture. When i start it there seems to be high compression for a split second upon starting then she fires up great and holds an idle.

 

But running seemed rough. I am comparing it to my 84 Honda sabre V65 which is a 90 degree V4. I was wondering if it's just how the engine feels . Then last night I craked open the throttle to make a pass and for a split second there awas a shot of extra power and a slight smoothening that seemed to feel right to me. Then she went back to her normal running. The bike also seems un happy to run in fifth gear at anything less than 65 mph. It'll do it but it seems rough. I haven't changed plugs or airfilter since I brought it home and I intend to run a couple of tanks or Sea Foam through it as well but any suggestions to a newcomer? Thanks Phil.

[Yammer Dan]

Sea-Foam!! you are on the right track there. It will cure a lot of problems.

You need to check Carb Diaphragms (can't spell) How many miles on it and have these been replaced?? They may have holes in them. Some can be patched with Liquid Tape.

[Venturous Randy]

To give you an idea of how this engine should perform when running correctly;

It should idle smooth and run smooth.

It should pull easily and surprisingly strong in 5th gear from 30mph.

It should pull strong at 1,000 rpm's over the redline.

In 1st gear under wide open throttle, the front wheel should get real lite.

Now, this is a baseline as some run better than this and some not as good, but they are very strong running engines and should run smooth.

When cold, start the bike up and let run for 5 to 10 seconds and check each of the exhaust pipes to make sure you are running on all four.

RandyA

[PBJ]

Thanks Yammer Dan and Randya for those helpful words. I'm seriously thinking I'm not running on all four cylinders because though the engine is quite capable of pulling with two up and its plenty fast it doesn't seem to pulling quite as hard as i thought it should .Even my old in line four XS1100 seems a bit torquer and thats pulling my sidecar. As I said i haven't done a tune up on it yet and I know the bike had been sitting 8 months before i bought it and who knows how long before the last owner bought it.

 

To answer your question Dan the bike only has 35k so it hasn't been ridden alot in its life time. The last owner really wanted a Wing (and subsequently bought an 83) but he had the carbs cleaned and synced last year and gave me all the paperwork on the job. But there are still so many unknowns to how this bike was treated.

 

I plan to drain the radiator and replace the fliuds, change the oil and filter, plugs and probably a K&N air filter. The poor girl needs a new windshield badly because someone tried to remove a flaking anti glare film with something rough along the top edge and its so clouded you have to look over or under that top edge.

 

This is minor stuff i'll have no problem fixing but i need a point of reference for the bikes performance capabilities. I'll go by Randya's descriptions and see how the Sea Foam, plugs and filter work out. i'm hoping its not a coil or something like that. It may even be just a loose wire or connection. Thats what last night's little power surge has me thinking.

Okay thanks again guys count on me looking to your advice in the future, Thanks, Phil.

[Yammer Dan]

Try those and get back to us. Could be plug to TCI. May have to pull it and dry it out or replace at worse. E-Bay for these as they arte about $600. from Yamaha. Stay with us we will get it going as it should.

[nyjerry]

PJ it looks like where from the same area so if you need some help just give me a call. I have a 1987 venture that is a tan color. I might have seen you yesterday if you had your sidecar out and going south on 414 from the thruway.

Welcome to the venturerider, theres a lot of good people here that can give you some good advise.

Jerry

[PBJ]

yes jerry that was me. i was out later that same day on my Honda sabre travelling north up through Waterloo on Rt.96 a 87 with a couple on it pulled out in front of me. I followed them up to Rt. 318 was that you?

 

Anyway Thanks for the hello and the offer for help i'll let you know if theres anything I need. Have you ever done the Americade?

[PBJ]

Dan, please explain what the TMI is, where itys located and what it does? Thanks. I think I know because i had to change an electronic ignition system on an old yamaha 750 triple. It was close to $400 bucks back then.I was lucky enough to pick up a 750 a gfuy had left at a dealers . i paid the bill and took it home and switched out the parts. the ignition alone was worth every penny i paid for that parts bike.

[PBJ]

I meant TCI. Sorry, bad short term memory

[bobcat]

By making plenty of mistakes has taught me to do the cheap fixes first..Replace the plugs first then see where you're at..Check the air filter, check the carbs idle adjustment, sync the carbs,replace the fuel filter etc. This is all stuff that doesn't cost much and will let you know if the problem is superficial or is going to take some digging into...

[nyjerry]

I was out with the wife on board but we just went to the high school to work out, did not go out to 318. I should have some vacuum gauges coming to help sync the carbs. I do have a home made one that works good if the carbs are close. When I first got my bike I took it to lanes yamaha because they had a mechanic that was real good with ventures. He said to take it home and drain the carbs, this bikes do not like the least little bit of water in the bowls. Then told me to take the air cleaner of and with a long screwdriver push the diaphragms in and out. they should move smoothly and if not that one most likely came apart.Boy he was right, the #3 cylinder was my problem.

It gives you something more to look at.

Jerry

[PBJ]

you guys for the helpful advise. I'm lucky enough that the basic condition of my 85 was very good . I've never had these problems with my Honda or sidecar rig because i always prep them at the end of the season and tuck them into the garage with a full gas tank to avoid rusting, stabilizer and fresh 10w30 for the spring. It breaks my heart to see a bike neglected. It takes so little to keep them in great running order.

[Yammer Dan]

TCI or CDI, Brain, computer. They collect dampness which can cause them to fail could be but sometimes can be cured by removing them and drying them out or could be dirty plug to TCI. Pull,clean and Die-Electric grease it. Not complicated as it sounds. Leave messing with it as last resort if you don't get it except for cleaning plug. That should be part of maint on these things.

[bongobobny]

TCI = Transistor Controlled Ignition which is in a black box about 6" x 8" x1" located under the coils sort of below the battery.

I meant TCI. Sorry, bad short term memory

[PBJ]

Well Jerry i guess that wasn't you but hope we can get together soon. Yammer, RandyA and everyone else, thanks for the advice. Thats what I thought it was i just never heard it refered to that way . At least now i know what I'm looking for and I've had experience with them.

 

I now have an excellent trouble shooting list to work with. First thing i'll do is simple check my plug connections from there i'll change out the plugs check all my wires and connections and if its not electrical then i'll move on to the carb's checking those diaphams first.

 

Again thank you all for that excellent advice. It's making owning my Venture an even greater joy. I hope that someday i'll be able to convince some of you to head up here to New york either for the Americade or to come and enjoy our beautiful Finger Lakes area. I'll let you know the result of my work as it progresses. Phil

[PBJ]

i just wanted to let everybody know that I think i solved part of the problem. was doing a check and one of the spark plug wirwes seemed barely into the cap. i pulled the cap made sure it was in good amd snug then checked all the others.

 

Then i took it out and kept in my mind the things RandyA said about the performance. At first the vibs still seemed there. But took it out on the highway and it definitely seems stronger though not as strong at first as I thought RandyA was describing. On the way home I decided to open her up all the way and was pleasently surprised at hitting close to 40 in 1st heading to 65 in second near red line and then rowing up through the gears with 95 on the clock in fifth and plenty of steam but not enough road to go. Also i wasn't so sure i wanted to be flying along on this big thing just yet.

 

i was reading in another thread about top speeds and i had no diooubt from what i was feeling that the ton was easily within reach. How much after that I'll wait until i get to know her a bit better before I ask her to go all the way.

 

Oh and the plug tops were a bit rusted so they'll definitely be changed soon not as hard a fix as i had thought . thanks again guys. Phil.

[nyjerry]

Phil to answer your question earlier, yes I have been to americade the last 4 of 5 years now and have already made plans for next year. This year the old bike decided to acked up. We normaly take a ride while up there. that remindes me, it tested us last year too by brakeing the headlight fuse holder at night up in Vermont. This year the fuel pump decided to give out on the lake placid ride. Called the yamaha dealer in Glen falls for a new one. They said they did not stock it and the price was $292.00 and would take 3-4 days to get. But for another $60.00 they would overnight it. I said no thanks I would cobb something up. My daughter was coming up on Friday so we called Lanes yamaha in Watkins glen but they to did not have one and they tried to find a used one for me. Went to a napa store to get any low pressure electric fuel pump there. For $60.00 I got a great looking pump and all the fittings,hoses clamps to make it work. About an hour and ahalf of down time and we where on the road again for a great ride up to lake placid. This pump looks good and my friend that has a 89 venture from Waterloo may buy one to have as a spare for his. I have picts. and part numbers to add to this site when I can figure out how to do pictures here.

You should notice your ventures power comes on around 3200-3500 rpms and really likes the high rpms. I'm getting to old to see what my ride will do. Not that I'm that old {50} but I have been riding a little scared lately. I had one deer jump over me and this year I coud have slapped ones tail. My brother killed one last year with his harley. So I'll let the speed go with the crotchrockets and sit back in comfort on my venture. So guys I no this does'nt belong in this thread.

Jerry

[PBJ]

thanks for the come back Jerry . Only 50? you young whipper snapper, I'm 55. You're right about the power coming on though I'm glad to hear ypu say that. i noticed the meat of the power band starts there too. I wasn't sure if thats where it should be coming on . My Honda has two, One starts at 2500 rpm then theres a second that comes on between 5ooo and 7000 that turns it into a very different machine. By comparison the Venture just builds strong from the 3500 on up no spikes. If you ever get over to Huff st. look me up I live right on the canal lock. Okay not on it in a house next to it. No.3.Phil

[nyjerry]

Phil

I live around the corner from d&m store on Elisha st, stop by any time.

I road a goldwing when mine broke down at americade. Liked the way it handled and it felt so lite to move and turn with. But yamaha has a lot more power from the start, goldwing felt slugish till its rpms got up higher.

[GigaWhiskey]

If you decide to replace the wires, get the NGK kit off of ebay. It comes with plugs too. I did it and it was a good thing for me to do as the wires on mine were original.

 

Then, since you are in that deep, may as well replace the battery cables if they have not been done before. Squidley's (Site Mod) battery cables are a 4 guage where the originals are a 6 guage. You should get a better and reliable kick when you crank her over. Those cables are an excellent match with an Odessey battery. I never worry about it not being able to crank over - and over and over and over...

 

Might as well knock it all out while you are in there.

 

Personally, I thought my ole xs1100 had more kick than this bike but she was not stock.