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Interesting you mention that. I had new tires put on in December. In February, the front tire kept going flat. I did the spit test on the valve and water spray everywhere else....nothing EVER showed up! Finally took it to the store that installed the tire. They said the valve was leaking and gave it back to me after they put a new valve on. It seems the original metal valve was worn on the seal side and hit or miss with making a seal. I never saw any air leaking... Tire has been fine since. Go figure!

Jeff, where do you dispose of old brake fluid? Guess I can call AutoZone or an automotive store...

Progress report Take 4: Found 4 more broken traces! Magnifying glass is my friend! Wired them point to point. Not pretty but at least there is progress. Left channel works...no right. The traces for right channel and common channel and ground all look fine. Real paying work has come to this retired guys edit system, so I have to leave my fun work for real work! I did re-install everything with VentureLink connected...so now have radio, 1/2 of tape deck, phone and mp3player plus bluetooth capabilities now. So I guess I'm ahead on points! Grins. OutKast, nope. You will need to make a dummy plug with two pins connected to let the radio know it's ok to play. A few bux for the DIN plug and a few minutes of time. I don't remember which two pins...but it's in the previous messages in maybe a dozen places...and I'm sure someone will jump in with the answer as well!

LOL! There is that!

Progress report Take 3: Found two traces broken on the circuit board of the cassette. What clued me in was after taking out the three screws holding the board down, I started to gently pull up on board and it flexed! So I took a magnifying glass and found near the top center of the board there is a solder joint holding the board down and the board was cracked there across two traces. I put the screws back in and was able to drop some solder in the teeny gap of one trace. Had to run a wire from one solder point to the next nearest. Obviously, one of those traces was 12volts! When I did that the lights on the radio remote panel came on and the radio worked. The tape deck also now runs but I obviously have another trace broken as no music comes out, just a feedback type low sound. I'm fine with that for now. I've heard that problem before somewhere back in the distant past...I can trace that later. NOW...I knew the audio signal had to route through the tape deck for the radio to work. I did NOT know the 12volts had to run through the deck and back to the radio section for it to work as well. I'm not so sure about Yamaha's thinking behind that...but for now I'm going to leave that thought be. Weird for the system to break like that....considering how clean the electronics are. The P.O. did take care of the bike for the most part...I'm thankful for that! So partial success! And guess when I thought of taking pictures, after I buttoned up the cassette. Sorry... david

Kelly, yes...both the radio and the tape deck have power as long as the power knob is turned on.

Went to EBay and put in "Yamaha Radio" as a search string. After trying Venture Royale type words... Found five pages of stuff...but some real gems in there. For anyone looking for parts for their 1st or 2nd gen Venture, there is a lot of stuff there...just scroll through all the obvious Yamaha radio stuff and newer handlebar mount stuff that doesn't pertain to us. But no Venture radio mounting panels from third party vendors.

As long as they are JIS screwdrivers...that would work to.

Ok....take 2. Non-progress report: 1: No 12 volts to the radio display or the tape deck. 2: Green light that indicates panel power is on. 3: Of the three modules, tape deck, radio control and amp control...only amp control and intercom work. 4: If I unplug tape deck and add the VentureLink module, the mp3 player can be heard through the system amp and the volume/tone controls work fine. 5: Lacking a 12 volt power supply to bench test each unit but found I can run the system while connected to bike if I take off the panel the removable audio system screws to. I can lift this away enough to keep the main connections on, supplying power, etc., while I test the main components. BUT...not fun trying to test while holding the whole thing. So...not much can be tested. Checked: 1: Main two multi-pin plugs. No bent pins, no pushed in pins. All clean. No broken wires underneath. Doubt this is the problem. 2: Took tape deck apart. Nothing broken or fried that I can see. Clean inside. Dual capstan unit...well built! 3: Took radio control apart. Little circuit boards looks fine, no broken parts can be seen. 4: All connectors between the three modules are clean and look fine. Bottom line...can find no reason why 12 volts is not getting to the radio control or the tape deck. No additional fuses found in system. Trying to follow schematic....but that isn't easy without a high quality printout for my eyes! Scrolling while trying to follow a signal path isn't much fun. I'm reasonably good with electrics...having built a radio station control room and a few other fun things in TV as well. But this has me stumped... so far. Another Cup-O-Joe and back to the drawing board...

Outkast, I had the same issue happen today. Little LED light is on, but no power to radio or tape deck. All I get is crackling of amp through speakers when I turn unit on/off. Amp and amp controller is working fine ...as my aux input sends audio through amp system. I pulled all parts of the unit apart...everything looks good. No broken wires, etc.. There "may" be a crack on the tape deck circuit board right near the multipin connector that goes to the radio. But sure doesn't look like its broken ... looks more like a scratch. I'm stumped too! Grr.... Maybe it's time to put in a new radio with CD! IF I was handier, I would yank the radio and tape unit and build a mounting system for a new radio!! david

Maybe this? 980 Series | Impact | Screwdrivers | Hand Tools | VESSEL TOOLS

Hmmm...I wonder if you spoke with a newbie who doesn't know the history of the company. My guess is they did make yours, just many moons ago...and the person you spoke with only looked up current inventory.

http://www.bakerbuilt.com/bbairwings/Yam%20Roy%20Str%20Ven%20Medium.JPG Looks like same company because the printed logo on the wings is the same. Maybe they no longer have the molds for 1st gens. Shame cause I would like them for adding wind while riding in Arizona heat!

Wasn't these guys? Replacement Parts

Good questions: I can't answer about brand, etc..but they were 8mm in size. I went to Cycle Gear and they put on two brand new metal ones for my 1st Gen. Front was a straight, rear was 90 degree...bent to left. Rotor is in the way on right side rear. There are three Cycle Gear stores near you...well...somewhat near. Closest is in Seattle area. My 89 VR had original metal ones and the front kept leaking...so...new style was put on. I've heard about putting a 90 bend on some fronts causes them to hit parts of the frame or some such. Maybe if you go with a really narrow rim on front...Who knows! david

I thought about that...but my Ex lives there and we are trying to resurrect our marriage! So...the Venture is just going to have to suck it up! (so to speak) LOL!

Agreed! Rick did my Vstar seat. It was horrible...then Rick got a hold of it. He cried....there wasn't much there to work with!! No wonder my butt hurt after 30 minutes. Well, needless to say, when he got done...it was a different seat! Just got in today from a 2 hour run around Madera Canyon...no butt burn today! Yay! Thanks to Rick for his outstanding work... david

I offer my condolences.... Took the Vstar out for it's weekly run....at the edge of Madera Canyon ...looking north toward Tucson. 70's up there....

I ride a 1st gen and like the stock arrangement nicely. The only issue I have with stock is my new boots are real thick...so I have to wedge them under...not good. On the VStar 950 Tourer, I rarely use the heel/toe arrangement. Prefer the toe only. Lifting up my heel to try and "find" the shift is cumbersome for my feets. Me thinks it's really what you get used to.

​Done!

Scenario: Been riding back and forth from south of Tucson to north central Phoenix for past couple of weeks (3). 70 to 75 mph..almost exactly 150 miles. All freeway. Spend the weekend and come home. Get there and next morning have a puddle on ground. Coolant. Come back here...next morning...no coolant puddle? Each time. So what's going on? Same temps within 5 to 8 degrees outside. The only difference I can think of is I'm going from 3K feet altitude to 1600 feet (Phoenix) and back. So from high to low...leaks. Low to high doesn't leak. BTW leak is coming from top of hose #3 and a tad from the by-pass valve. Got kit for renewing by-pass valve and checked top hose clamp...it's snug. Fun things to ponder.... david

Brenner, I feel your pain.... I have had the same feelings, coming from a vtwin world. But gotta say, the more time I put in the saddle the more impressed I am with the 1st Gen. I wish I could explain how nice it is to be riding with some HD guys and gals and they twist the throttles and I leave them in the dust. Yea they are noisier, but I have stock, quiet POWER! I can't even hear my bike running when I'm sitting at a light next to these guys! But from being embarrassed... to now being impressed...it's been a year of adjustment. So hang in there... and I hope you come to enjoy the handling and smooth, quiet sounds of a Venture running 4 grand on the tach and knowing that a quick twist and downshift will put you in century land quicker than.......(Yikes!) david

Here's another one...different flavor but just as good! https://www.youtube.com/embed/66-A2MyVDbU

Fun video... Enjoy... david