Jump to content

Props

Expired Membership
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    46

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Props

  1. Props

    IMG 1495

    Props posted a gallery image in Member Albums

    IMG 1495

    From the album: Props

  2. Props

    DSCF0940

    Props posted a gallery image in Member Albums

    DSCF0940

    From the album: Props

  3. Props
    Usually put away 20K a year minimum. Got the 89 VR at the end of April and have ridden her 9500 so far... not counting the miles on the Virago.
  4. Props
    Just replaced all my 161 bulbs with LED's... so I have got about 30 of these little beasts taking up room on my toolbox. Anybody who want's em just needs to get me an address!
  5. Props
    When I bought my 89 this spring it had not been ridden much and ran kinda rough. Put a can of Seafoam in a tank of gas and ran it at highway speeds for 150 miles. After that the idle was up around 2500 RPM... have you thought of adjusting the idle screw? That's all I did with mine... and 8000 miles later she still idles at 1000.
  6. Props
    I have been able to isolate the leak... between the 6 o'clock and aft most bottom bolts. Degrease and wipe her down till she's dry as a bone, let her sit till the cows come home and nothing happens... but put her up on the center stand and set the RPM at 2000 and 10 minutes later you'll start to see seepage at the split line between those two bolts... another 5 minutes and you have a drop forming on that little tit on the case that sticks out by the #6 bolt... you can almost set your watch by it! That's why I originally thought that the stator wire boots were leaking and running down and forward along that flange when static... since it's the lowest point... but they are dry, dry, dry. Also thought that I had a clutch line leak, since that hard line connection is right in the same area... but haven't been losing clutch fluid, and fluid sure don't run up and jump an air gap while she's standing still! Even pumped the crap out of the clutch while everything was clean and dry and couldn't budge a seep of any kind. Quite the conundrum... even my cover or case crack theory bothers me... knowing that the cover went on easy and the bolts were never over-torqued. I really am trying to guard against over-thinking this problem, and there doesn't seem to be any reason for a crack in either the cover or the case... but 30 years around turbine and piston engines tells me that even the most irrational things can happen! Word to the wise... with as many miles as I ride every year, if I can't find a crack and double gaskets don't work... buy stock in Maxi Pads!
  7. Props
    Had the same problem with the forks bottoming out when I bought my '89 earlier this year. Holding air, but a bit too mushy even when not on bumps. Replace the fork springs with Progressives and WOW!!!... let's just say it makes it a whole other bike. Don't even have to mess with air in the fronts... it it a perfect ride anytime, whether 2up or not, and rock solid in hot cornering! Progressives are THE way to go!
  8. Props
    Well... Old Blue is still piddling like a bad puppy ... even after all the cleaning and sealing. Give her 15 minutes to warm up and that side case starts a dripping. An old HD rider friend of mine recommended Excell sealant... said it's the only thing he's found that'll keep a Harley from leaking. The bad part about it is if you ever want to take it apart again, you'll be sorry you used it. Going to dye penetrant both the side cover and the crankcase after hitting it with a little heat. The only thing I can think of is there is a crack somewhere that isn't visible, but opens up when the engine comes up to temperature. If there isn't a crack will try to double gasket it next time along with a good dose of Permatex. Meanwhile I bought a box of maxi-pads... just slip one between the clutch line and the case and it'll keep it from making everything oily from mid-ships aft for about 200 miles.. get funny looks from folks at the gas station when disposing of them though
  9. Props
    Since I REALLY want this to be the last time I pull this cover off for a LONG time, I just want to be sure about how you applied the Permatex... did you apply it one or BOTH sides of the new gasket? If you applied it to only one side... which one? She is all prepped awaiting the arrival of the new gasket... both mating surfaces have been hit with a block of 600 grit emory cloth and are, for the most part, as clean and smooth as a new baby's bottom...and have been wiped down several times with degreaser. Thanks again for your patient support!
  10. Props
    Did you torque the bolts to book specs when you used the sealant or something else?
  11. Props
    It didn't appear that the PO had the cover off before... and the gasket appeared original with no sign of any sealant whatsoever... it came off clean from both surfaces. So, when I went back with that first new gasket, I put it on dry and torqued it down. That copper washer theory still bugs me some... one because I know there wasn't one on there to begin with, and second because it isn't included in the parts manual. Please don't get me wrong... I am not doubting what at least two witness have shared at all... so I am definitely putting one on that lowest bolt position. My theory: I suspect that the factory might have had some trouble with cases leaking at that bolt location during the assembly process, and used the copper washer as an "on-line" fix that never made it into the manual. Believe me, I've been around manufacturing operations for a number of decades and guys on the line are a amazingly creative bunch when it comes to saving themselves from grief... I was one of 'em for a while!
  12. Props
    I can't find the copper washer that Dan and JT have mentioned in the parts manual... so I ordered one for the Middle Gear case bolt and will install it with the gasket sealer George recommended. All the parts are supposed to be in Friday... so I should be able to report out on a successful reinstall by the end of the weekend. Thanks for all your help... frankly, if you guys suggested it, I would have been willing to dance around Old Blue with a sack of chicken bones around my neck if I thought it would cure this leak.
  13. Props
    Thanks a lot for the suggestions... responding to more than one here... Master Guns... The wires are dry... no seepage there. They were one of the first things I checked because of what I read on threads here. Dano... I don't recall any of the bolts in the side cover having a copper washer like the one on the middle gear cover. I am pretty meticulous when it comes to disassembly and remember distinctively that the middle gear cover had one... but must have missed the side cover... cause I know it definitely ain't there now! Is it the same washer that the MG cover uses?
  14. Props
    Need your help! Did a preventative stator change on my 89 VR getting ready for a 3000+ mile trip since the original stator had almost 60k miles on it and I run a lot of extra lights. Installed the new stator (high output) in under two hours and was feeling really good about it until I got back from a 30 minute ride and had oil dripping from the kickstand. The leak has definitively been isolated to the bottom most seam of the side cover (between the rearmost two bottom bolts) and is making a real mess. Have changed the gasket now 3 times... once without sealant and twice more with two different types of sealant (yamalube, RTV gasket sealer) applied with no luck. There are no cracks, scratches or dings, and both the side cover and case look square with a straight edge applied. This bike was tight and dry until the cases were split... and as an old aircraft mechanic leaks drive me CRAZY! Thinking about double gasketing... any other ideas? Thanks in advance for your help!
  15. Props
    I just finished installing Progressive fork springs in my 89VR about 3 weeks and 1500 miles ago... man, what at huge improvement over stock! They are MUCH different in size and thickness... much more than the 2% mentioned above... wishing now that I would have taken pictures to show just how much difference there really is. Using the Progressive instructions to measure the 5.5" from top of tube to the top of the oil is the ONLY way to get the fluid levels right. Just using fluid measures will almost guarantee that you will have unbalanced oil levels and have handling issues.
  16. Props
    Anyone know where I can get a look at a wiring diagram for 1st Gen audio system? My cassette deck has gone AWOL and would like to remove it and wire in a stereo connection to plug in my IPOD, but the wiring diagrams in the manual seems to have identified every wire except those from the deck to the amplifier. Appreciate your help.
  17. Props
    Bought an 89 VR this past Easter weekend and fell in love with her on the ride home from Houston... only problem I am having is a persistent ignition noise (increases with RPM) in the headset only in intercom mode. Stereo and CB are clear as a bell... but at highway speeds the intercom sounds like a herd of bumblebees are in my nut cover. I have checked the threads here and haven't found anything addressing ignition noise except from a system-wide perspective. Cleaned and dielectriced all the connections in the headset system... both driver and passenger... no help. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
  18. Props
    Thanks for the info... have had my 89 for about two months and have put a couple thousand miles on her with and without the trailer. Coming off an 1100 Virago I have been impressed with the git up and go from a bike that weighs almost twice as much... but would always welcome another little bit of torque. Really concerned about taking big chunks out of the mileage though. Your experience with this mod is great news!
  19. Props
    What kind of mileage did you get pre-mod if you were into the throttle?
  20. Props
    Put me down for a sample... monsoon season is in full swing here!:322
  21. Props
    Just wanted to publicly thank Freebird for taking the time to post the fix to the air ride controller E4 code. I flew to Houston this past Friday to pick up an 89 VR with a matching trailer and found the air suspension AWOL. Pulled up this thread, printed out the fix, and within 30 minutes had it apart, repaired, and working! This is the best owner's site I have ever seen... and folks like Freebird make it that way! Love ya man!
×
×
  • Create New...