cimmer

try your local hardware store as a lot of them stock metric screws and such.. Rick F.

I would be game for it. I think if it is going to be the first weekend in May, the a restaurant might be better idea with the was our Mays have been lately. And I think this would be one I would be able to attend also as I usually am free that weekend it seems. If a maintenance day or weekend, I would l think a early June would work. Just my thoughts. Rick F.

I have had mine 89 VR for 8 years now.. with no serious plans to replace it. Rick F.

The bolts call for 5.8ft pounds and my mind screwed up and was torquing them to 8 ft lbs. I ended up breaking just one but the others did stretch right where you said. I think my Harbor Freight torque wrench is going to be replaced with a high quality one very soon. I have yet to get a test ride in as the weather went cold and wet on me but I am still hoping to get one in before there isnt a chance.. thanks guys.. Rick F.

I replaced my clutch diaphragm with an EBC and noticed that the 6 bolts holding the spring in placed seemed stretched at bit. Might be part of the reason I was getting high torque clutch slippage. I haven't seen it recommended but I would think that after 25 years of being stretched that it would be a great idea to replace them as part of the clutch spring swap out. I also found a slight glazing on the plates and did the cross hatch sanding on these to knock it off. Just wanted to let you know what I ran into. Rick F.

He could have shot his eye out, kid. Rick F.

Mine was leaking a bit of gear lube. I did work the seal loose but I didnt pull real hard on the shaft. I was afraid of damaging something in there. I will order some new seals and work on it this late fall and see what I can find. I am just wondering why Yamaha stated it was oiled by the gear lube in the differential. And why an oil seal on that end of the drive shaft, mine was seal tight to the housing. This is the first time I have tried to remove it and who knows if it had ever been grease before. Thanks for the input guys.. Rick F.

Doing some preventive maintenance on my 89 VR and got to the drive shaft and wasnt sure what to do with the end that goes into the differential. Mine would not pull out of the diff even with the circlip and washer removed the oil seal wouldn't come out. I also still wasn't able to pull the drive shaft out of the coupling gear it slides into. I worked on the oil seal and was able to loosen it and pull the outer part back and see if there was a retainer of some sort in there holding it in place. I should also state that the drive shaft could be pushed in the coupler and the spring in there would push it out. So while thinking this over I sat the unit down, leaning it down on the drive shaft and when I came back there was a small puddle of gear lube leaking out under the seal. Now the question I have is, I have read here that you need to grease the spines on both ends but it appears to me that this differential is greasing the end of the drive shaft with gear lube which makes sense to me that is should. Why else would you have a oil seal and have it sealed to the housing like it was if that isn't gear lube greasing the spines. The parts manual and maintenance manual are not very clear on this but I did find a Yamaha document in the library of the other site and it stated that the gear lube did grease the spines on the differential side of the drive shaft on the 86 -93 Ventures. What have others found when trying to remove their drive shafts from the differential on their MKIIs. Thanks Rick F.

My cracking wasnt the sidewalls, but in the actual tread itself. I have decided to go with the Dunlop E3 as they have a matching front tire for the VR MKIIs and the place I called here in the twin cities has one sitting in stock and can mount it right away and has a decent price for it. It is also less then a year old from the build date. Thanks for all the input. Rick F.

They also had a tendency to stretch the primary chains and was one of the big reasons that Yamaha went to the gear drive primary. I had a 77 XS750 triple. It was a good bike but I ended up trading it in on a 80 Maxim I 650 when they came out. Hope that helps. Rick F.

Look up the Marshall Mod, http://bludolphintravel.com/gmg/marshallmod.htm It will help you out on how to do it and what to use. I ended up splitting the radio from the CB and use two antennas. There is a travel trunk rack that has the proper mounting tab to attach two of the antenna mount bars. Hope that helps you. Rick F.

I wondered about that happen with the splitting on the Cobra tire also. What are the riders here using as a replacement for the rear tire on their VR MKII now? I plan on keeping the front tire a Venom for now as it only has 7.5k on it and looks good but I am watching it closely. Thanks Rick F.

I just found some major cracking on my rear tire that is 8 years old per the build date code. I was looking at an Avon Cobra Bias tire for the rear. Has any one tried this tire on the back of the MKII yet. I have the Avon Venom AM41 on the front and had the Venom AM42 on the rear. Just curious how you might like the Cobra. Thanks Rick F.

What I did was to use a zip tie and cut it to fit and made an indent holder on the back side of the vents. There is a screw hole on the back side that you can use and it does a great job of holding the side vents in the position that you choose. Take off the side covers and you will see how it works. Hope this helps. Rick F.

If you need some help with it, let me know as I have rebuilt mine a few years ago. I just live in Bloomington and have some time I can assist you. Rick F.

It is at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield IL. One mile dirt track that use to be one of the fastest tracks around for its size. Have fun if you go... Rick F.

When I asked about the motor, I was told that it is longer then the venture motors so you might have to lengthen the frame for it to fit. Good luck.. Rick F.

I have had the HH on my bike for a couple of years now.. very good stopping power and I am very happy with them. I also upgraded brake hoses and rebuilt all of the calipers and master cylinders at the same time. Rick F

I used a Pioneer 4" speaker I picked up from Best Buys years ago. Not sure if they even make them still. The key is for them to be 4 inch speakers and waterproof cant hurt either. Do a search and you should find some old threads on this subject. Hope that helps Rick F.

I called Big Bike Parts at 888-244-2453 ext 10. The part numbers are as follows: Center red lens 900100L Left amber lens 900100LL Right amber lens 900100RL They had all 3 items in stock as of last Thursday, 7-18-13. To remove the lens, I just slowing worked them loose as they are just help in with silicon or some soft glue. Just take it slow and work it back and forth slowly. It will slowly come loose. I then used a LED strip that I purchased off of ebay. Here is a link to the type I used. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-5M-SMD-5050-300-Leds-Flexible-Car-Strip-String-Light-Waterproof-IP65-12V/251085445707?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D42235430572908007%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D161034279472%26 I was able to get 4 strips of LEDs in the center part of the housing which made it as bright at the brake light in the tail light housing. Here is a link to a thread on how I did it with some pictures. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=71811 I also added a modulator from BikeVis, http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-tail-brake-converter.html It lets me use the LEDs as tail lights and a flashing brake light. I just wanted to been seen. Hope this helps and ask more questions if you need to. Rick F.

I just order replacement lenses for my light bar for the travel trunk. I was surprised to see that they had added a diffuser to the amber turn lenses now that helps to spread the light out and light up the turn signal a lot better. They still have all the replacement lenses for the light bar also. I included some pictures of how it lights up different now and how the new part looks if you are interested. First picture is without the diffuser and the second is with it. Third picture is how it looks with the diffuser and then the parts separated in the 4th.. Rick F.

just a note to any of you heading down US Hwy 61. There is single lane traffic where I-90 crosses the Mississippi River into Wisconsin and Hwy 61 heads south along the Minnesota side. I came across there about 430pm on Friday and traffic was backed up about 3 to 4 miles before the single lane. Just be prepared if coming this way. Rick F.

The ride along the north shore in Minnesota is nice. You are along the lake in a lot of places with many scenic overlooks. Gas, food and lodging isnt a problem with lots of places along the way. You can do the 4 lane from Duluth to Two Harbors and then it will be 2 lane road rest of the way, or you can take old Hwy 61 and it goes along the lake and is two lane all the way to Two Harbors. Depending on traffic and stops, it can take 4 hours to get from Duluth, Mn to the border. About another hour to Thunder Bay, Ont if I recall correctly. I would recommend staying in the Thunder Bay area and heading east from there. From there you will see the lake off and on if I recall correctly and it will be 2 lane road around to Sault Marie, Ont where you can cross back over to the US and head south to the Mac. It will be a nice ride that is for sure. The Northern Lights will be hit or miss, just depends on the solar flairs and such. But it will be dark enough up there. I am not sure on places to came or stay as it was years ago since I have been that way. Hope that helps. Rick F.

I just installed a pair on my 89 VR. I ended up mounting them on top of the vents on each side of the fairing. I also got their flasher for the lights that make them twinkle. I have taken one trip with them and they seem to get the attention of the cagers. I plan on posting some pics and video when I get a chance. Rick F.

I would also check the a-arm and it joints to make sure they are properly greased and have free movement as if they are binding it will cause the bike not to track well in curves. Also make sure all the bolts on the frame attachment as tighten to specs as the rear subframe bolts to the main frame behind the engine and under the seat. Good Luck and welcome to the group. Rick F.