Ed S, SE Nebr

added images to OP. eds

Thanks for the quick leads and advice. And encouragement. Well, it started right up with the new battery. A few rough spots as I ran up the RPMs. Ran it for a minute or so until some curls of smoke started coming up around the motor. Figure that's where the brake fluid, and who knows what else, went. I guess I'll start pulling some plastic off and see what's what. Working on pics. Those on my phone are too big to upload here and I need to be in bed right now. eds

So, I was at an auction Sunday. Didn't know the man who'd died but he had lots of tools. LOTS of tools. Obviously knew his way around a shop. And a 1988 Venture. I walked by the bike, barely gave it a look. It was dusty, but decent-looking. Nothing obviously missing. When the time came to sell it the auctioneer said the man's daughter, who had not been close at all to her dad, just wanted his stuff gone - don't spend any money making things sale-able. He said they'd gotten it started but had to jump it, so he figured the battery was bad. Didn't know what else. He had to beg for a starting bid. I gave him a $200 bid, figuring there's no way it's not worth that. I ended up giving $450. Turns out a guy I know was the other bidder and was thinking just like me - worst case is part it out and make some money. Dang. Wish he would have quit a hundred bucks sooner. Now I have another $100 in a battery which I'm about to go out and install. Fingers crossed. I noticed the clutch has no resistance. I pulled the cap off the master cylinder and the fluid was low. Added some but haven't done any bleeding yet. I just read a post which mentions an interlock on the side stand; I guess I'll have to do a more detailed reading of the owner's manual, which was still with the bike. What are some other surprises I should prepare for? 90K miles. A lot. But there should be some left in it. I think it's been sitting for 4 or 5 years. Tires are in good shape. Hand brake works at least enough to let me unload it from my little trailer. (Holy cow! This is a big bike.) eds