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Rick Butler

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  1. Rick Butler
    Gosh Brad, This just breaks my heart as David and I started a friendship 4 years ago when I reworked his seats and then 3 years ago when my friend Rex Adams and I rode with Ponch and Goose up to Don's for Maintence Day. Then we also shared a bond as member vendors where I helped him test out his first guage plates. And Linda and I share his and Kathy's pain as we both spent a week in the Englewood, CO hospital in 2004 from going down on I-25 at Castlerock. And then I went down again in 2006 and Linda got the call that I was in the ER. There is not a worse helpless feeling than learning your partner is in the ER being operated on. I'm a firm believer that when it's my time to go, it's my time especially since I only have 3 of my 9 lives left. But I'm sure that David is a fighter and he will pull through this, especially knowing the countless VentureRider friends who are pulling and praying for he and Kathy. And I'm really happy that Kathy was not with him because we don't need to be praying for 2 of our friends. And I'm guessing from his facial injuries that he was wearing a 3/4 helmet. But for the rest of us, I can't stress enough the value of a full face helmet (and protective gear) especially after all the times I have dug in head first on the pavement. I know you won't, but let me know if you need anything down there as they are not that far from where we live. And are prayers are with them. Rick
  2. Rick Butler
    You know guys, I have replaced the shock in the usual manner (with the long extensions and borrowing a small hand to put the top bolt back in) but more recently my preferred procedure is to remove the bags, mufflers and rear wheel. Once these are out of the way, you can go in from the rear where the shock is completely exposed and accessable. However, this means you need to have a good cycle jack available to get the bike up off the ground. Hope this helps, Rick
  3. Rick Butler
    It sound like you need a new rotor. Yamaha lists it (4NK-2582W-00-00) at $256, but you can find it for less from several on-line dealers. And I'm sure that EBC, Galfer, etc have replacement rotors? Rick
  4. Rick Butler
    You know guys, That brake fluid and even Loctite basically sucks all of the moisture out of ABS and makes it brittle enough to break. I'm not sure, but I would be suspect of being able to glue these brittle pieces back together and not have it break apart in another location of the fairing? If it were me, I'd be looking for another fairing half? But then again, it wouldn't hurt to see if it could be glued. My favorite choice over the years has been the Oakley general purpose (in the red can) PVC/CPVC/ABS glue that you can find in any hardware plumbing section. Hope this helps, Rick
  5. Rick Butler
    Guys, You do realize that he's asking about greasing his drive shaft? Skid, just make sure it's in gear and with the tire out, go ahead and pull the final drive. I usually put the final drive housing in the vise and then clean and grease the splins on the end of the shaft. Now getting it stabbed back into the U-joint at the upper end of the housing is just going to some patience. When you pull the drive shaft out the U-joint is going to fall down in the housing. I usually just slip the drive shaft down to the bottom and pick it up straight. There is about 1" of the drive shaft exposed at the final drive where you can turn it until the splins line up and the shaft slides in along with the 4 studs. It's not going to happen the first time so just stay with it. I really envey the FJR1300s as their U-joints are held straight in place when you pull the final drive. Hope this helps, Rick
  6. Rick Butler
    You are so right Jack, Thanks a bunch, Rick
  7. Rick Butler
    Hey Guys, I'm just curious if EBC makes a HH pad for the 1200s? I've searched just about everyone and I can't find anything definite with a part number.....so I suspect not. But if not, what sintered brake pad is available? Thanks, Rick
  8. Rick Butler
    Thanks Guys, It was my pleasure to help you out with your seats. And I never thought I'd get a look under the covers of a GL1800, but about 3 years ago a friend let me rework his so I could see how it was built. And frankly, I think the GL1800 seat is probably the best oem seats on the market, but like all seats it still has some issues. What I found was the center of the driver seat is flat as a table without any padding (unlike the passenger). So like the rest of my seats, I first cut some curvature into the bottom of the seat foundation with a little bit of slant to the rear with my tailbone relief. I also take some of the front edge of the wings to let you get your feet to the ground easier. Then I cover the entire seat with a layer of 1 1/2" 3lb memory foam before stappling the cover back on. And just recently I got the chance to look into a heated GL seat and it ended up being very workable.....just more time consuming of carefully removing the element layer, reworking the seat and gluing the element layer back to the foundation foam before putting the cover back on. About a month ago I did a couple of GLs for someone who had heard about me locally. Then after I did thier seats, they put out the word on me on the GL1800 Forum and then I really got busy. But a seat is a seat as long as there are needy riders, especially VentureRiders, right? I guess I need to work up a GL seat ad for our friends who switched to luxury touring and need help with their seats? Glad I can help, Rick
  9. Rick Butler
    Gosh Kent, What made you think he was looking for a set of pillow top seats for a RSTD? The point is that several of our RSTD friends here have modified both the RSV driver and passenger seats to mount to their TD.....and it's not that much of an issue? In fact I have mounted several RSV passenger seats (in different ways) to the TD, but some of the guys here have it nailed. Good job you guys, Rick
  10. Rick Butler
    Sorry Steve, If you want to trade your heel toe shifter, the board has to go with it? Rick
  11. Rick Butler
    I just woinder Don, Was there a nice "Thank You Don" card in the case? It sounds like it may be yours to use for the next MD. Was it a nice Craftsman 3/8 clicker? Rick
  12. Rick Butler
    Great job Derrek, I've done a few rear seat mods putting the RSV seat on the TD, but this is the most complete job on both seats I've seen. It really fills in the seat area much better than the TD seats, but I'll bet it's much more comfortable with the pillowtop seats, especially for your passenger. Now you just need to let me rework them for you to make them even better. Rick
  13. Rick Butler
    Wally, You need to use a phillips screw driver and a 10mm boxed end wrench at the same time. The nut is a lock nut, so holding the screw with the screw driver, loosen the nut. Then adjust the screw to where there is just a bit of clearance between it and the master cylinder plunger. Then again holding the screw in place tighten the nut. Hope this helps, Rick
  14. Rick Butler
    Your bike is still under warrenty......so have Yamaha replace it. My 02 has over 130k and I've never had a fuel pump issue. Now your filter my be causing issues if it's choked up? Hope this helps, Rick
  15. Rick Butler
    Rick, If they are 1/2" holes, there should be no more than 4....in the top cover. If they are larger than 1/2", you are getting too much air, so just tape them up with some black Gorilla duct tape. And if you need a untouched top cover, I have one left over just laying up in the attic that you can have. Let me know, Rick
  16. Rick Butler
    David, I wouldn't worry about it if this is the bike you really want. This was an issue more on the 1st gen Ventures, where these 2nd gen Ventures are for the most part solid at any speed. Just about any bike will possibly suffer from a deceleration wobble, but this can be easily corrected with slightly tightening the steering head bearing. Hope this helps, Rick
  17. Rick Butler
    Gosh Gary, The picture of the interior sure brought back old memories of a cold Kansas morning, setting the choke and hitting the gas & starter pedals and hearing the sound of the starter as that cold six fired. Then the smell of the cab, especially when the heater finally started putting out a little heat. Thanks, Rick
  18. Rick Butler
    Nice Larry, But who is that "Wild Bill Hickock" character with the hot babe? Rick http://www.brotherhoodoftherosycross.org/resources/Wild%20Bill.jpg
  19. Rick Butler
    Dennis, The Avenue of the Giants is north of Redscrest. But the bigger trees are south of Cresent in the Redwood National Park. And you can't go wrong with any of the area on 101 north of Cresent City which hugs the coast and runs all the way to Coos Bay. Have fun, Rick
  20. Rick Butler
    Do you know what went through his mind, just before he died? Yeah, a 9mm
  21. Rick Butler
    Dennis, While you are hugging the coast, you would be hard to beat Redwood National Park north of Eureka on 101. But my favorite is south of Yosemite in Sequoia National Park, but is not that easy to get to from Yosemite. Hope this helps, Rick
  22. Rick Butler
    Guys, The real point of this issue is that our bikes (the TD included) need 4-piston front calipers and probably a 1 piston rear caliper. But Yamaha will never make this change because of the liability they would face from a law suit. I've lost count of how many of us who have gone down from a rear wheel lockup and I know personally of two who have died because of this issue. They know this, and if they made a change to the caliper configuration, they would be admittimg fault. This is the main reason I chose to develop an adjustable proportioning valve to keep rear wheel lockups to a minimum. However it is interesting to realize that Yamaha had this same 2-piston front, 4-piston brake configuration on the Road Star in the 1999. But more interesting is the fact that they changed the front calipers in 2004 to a 4 piston design.....the very same calipers they used on the early R6 and R1s. But.....it is even more interesting that when they designed their big hp Road Star Warrior, it came with these same 4-piston R1 front calipers that they later put on the standard Road Star......and even more interesting is they used a 1-piston rear caliper. So based upon these facts, what would be the best brake caliper configuration you would choose to be on our Royal Star Ventures and Tour Deluxes? Especially when it is well known that 70% of a bikes stopping power comes from the front brakes. Hope this helps with this conversation, Rick
  23. Rick Butler
    Well Iz, By now I think you should have concluded that the oem brakes on your MM need some attention. I have no idea why Yamaha chose to put 2 piston calipers on the front and a 4 piston caliper on the rear, which is completely opposite of most other heavy bikes like ours? But they put 4 piston calipers on the Road Star in 04 but not the Ventures...go figure? Since your scooter is over 10 years old, the brake lines are most likely getting a little spongy. So, if I were in your situation I would: 1. Install EBC HH pads on the front and oem (not HH) on the rear 2. Install stainless lines on the front (not on the rear) These 2 changes will make a world of difference. And the front lines are not the easiest lines to bleed, where there will always be a bubble that will hide at the juction. So when you get to the point that you think you have all the air out of the lines, continue pump bleeding, but this time get ugly with the brake lever before you hold it and loosen the bleed valves. There is one other trick that I use to make sure all air is out of the line, which is to tie the brake lever down (with a long piece of double edge Velcro) and let it sit for a while with just the rubber cover on the reservoir. This will allow any bubbles to rise to the top of the reservoir. Then most of us us a synthetic Dot 4.....your choice of brands. Hope this helps, Rick
  24. Rick Butler
    Well Frank, You are more than welcome and it was my pleasure to help you out, just as I have with many others on this forum with their seats. And I just found out yesterday that my Butt Butler classified ad is gone and neither Don or I can explain how it happened? So, I'm in the process of putting it back out there and bringing the description more up to date. So, take care and enjoy your pillow tops, Rick
  25. Rick Butler
    Hey Don, I'm curious where you found this vinyl? The reason I ask is that it is the same pattern that we have seen on Kawasaki Concours seats and even some of the Corbins in the past. And I heard from one of my sources that it can't be found today. Thanks, Rick
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