Venturous Randy

I am so glad that you chose to do the 2nd gear fix while you have the engine out, rather than putting it back together after fixing the frame. Just remember, this is like eating an elephant, which is just one bite at a time and you are definitely gnawing on this one. Randy

I have used the Rotella for years in all cars, motorcycle. lawn mower and water pressure washer. Many years ago I did try some synthetic in my 83 and got some oil leaks I had not had before. I used to be a Valvoline guy. The only thing I am doing different now is I am not using Fram filters if I can find anything else in my cars. Randy

I have yet to see a 2nd gear problem that did not have considerable wear on the leading edges of where 2nd gear engages. Many years ago when I had problems with my 2nd gear, I did what was known as the undercut on the gear after grinding it back to a sharp edge. I also had to fix my bent fork where 2nd gear had put so much pressure on it that it also limited the depth of engagement, therefore adding to the problem. With what I know now, I would not do any of this. If you are interested, I will make you a deal on a COMPLETE 2nd gen transmission and throw in the solid motor mounts. PM me if you are interested. Randy

I think they are. The difference is the spacing between the transmission gears. This is why the VMax ratio, being about 10% lower is so good. I know that a lot of 2nd gen guys did VMax swap and I also did the 2nd gen trans swap and VMax rear end swap on my 83. What you get as a comparison with stock on a 1st gen is 1st gear is about 10% lower. 2nd is 5% lower. 3rd and 4th are the same and 5th is about 5% higher. Not only does it give you that killer acceleration in 1st and 2nd, but at highway speeds, that 5% higher gear in 5th keeps you from feeling like you need one more gear. It also solves the shifter drum problem and bent fork problem. One other thing, if you have a 2nd gen rear end already, the driveshaft should fit a VMax rear end, but an early 1st gen driveshaft is different and had its own problems and that is probably why your bike ended up with a replacement 2nd gen rear end Randy

It probably is if you do it that way. I have made suggestions and you keep ignoring them. Randy

Barry Weiss is in ICU due to being in a motorcycle crash where someone pulled out in front of him and another rider. Both riders hit the car and were hurt. Barry has several broken bones and internal injuries. Randy

Hey Earl, I sure hate to hear you got hurt. I suspect you are like me and have "lived" for spring and great weather finally getting here. You are correct in how a second in time can make a big difference in our lives, even when we think we are not doing anything wrong. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted. Randy

Hey pucster, hope you had a great day and many more. Randy

How complete is the 88 engine? That would be a good option. Randy

Why only go with a late 85 engine? If I were you I would also include the 1300 engine. I think the last couple years had a different ignition system, but there should be a bunch of those around. Randy

If you pick up a trans out of a later model engine from above S/N 1413 on an 85, you will not need to disassemble the gear shafts. So, Damon's video may help you. There are several 1st and 2nd gen transmissions on ebay, some cheap and some not. I would not buy any that says 83/85 unless you knew it was a later 85. Now, another thing to consider on replacing the gear/shaft set is many bad 2nd gear trans have a slightly bent fork due to 2nd gear kicking out against the fork. I know many years ago when I did my 1st trans repair, my fork was bent. I am still saying that the best bet is to go to the 2nd gen trans and I have everything you need, including the upgraded shift drum that was a definite problem on the 1st gens with the pins coming out. According to which pin that came out, you may only have 1st or you may have 1st,2nd and 3rd gear as it would only shift so far. Randy

I came across this and want to thank all that served. Randy

OK, my friend was able to find a set of the six solid motor mounts that he had set aside to go on the 83 Venture that my grandson had bought from him. If you will PM me your address, I will get them from my friend Steve, who used to be SGN on here, and I will mail them to you. This is part of the pay-it forward like bongobob sent me a fuel pump many years ago. Again, thanks Bob. Many of us prefer the solid mounts because they stiffen up the frame some, and this is especially true for my 83 as with running the bikini side covers I don't use the long bars that go along the side of the engine. I could really tell the difference on my bike with the solid mounts. I attached a pic with bikini side panels. Randy

Looks good, I think you now have a frame that is stronger than even the later ones that were an update from Yamaha. Now, if you got 2nd gear fixed, you would have a very nice sport touring bike that will last you a long time. Randy

I have a late 85 that is 5000+ serial number that I got for my son and then he picked up an 86. I need to get rid of it. Randy

I know where you may be able to get some solid motor mounts. Randy

Looking good. Now here is one more thing to help you on your YICS and keep you from having problems. Randy https://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?86100-Plugging-YICS-ports

Did you show him pictures of the gusset rods I put in? He will need to know where to put the rods that they will not get in the way of the exhaust. It may have been better to put the rods in after the engine is in place so you can put the collector on first. Randy

Good point and it looks like his TCI has already been moved to the top of his airbox, which is off, since his carbs are off. Randy

To me, there is no doubt that this frame has been welded on before. It is a shame that when they did this that the gusset rods were not put in as I did in mine. This is where the real strength is as it is where the triangulation stops any flexing. As far as your "new" frame, as I suggested before, have some rods welded in and I would still contact the guy you got it from and have him pay for what it costs you to have it done. Tell him that if does not agree with that then you will contact ebay and send the whole thing back to him. There is no reason that this should cost you anymore than you have already paid out and you will end up with a good strong frame. And, on a positive note, you can now feel okay that all is not lost in getting the other frame. In fact, if it had been me and I had received a pristine 83 frame, I would still have added the gusset rods. You are going to be okay and this elephant will get eaten one of the days. And if you fix 2nd gear, you can then go eat a lot of Harleys. Randy

I may look at it a little different than some, but I see Vietnam as more of an open and capitalistic country than a true communist country and I see this as a direct cause of our involvement at that time. I feel it kept all of South East Asia from being what North Korea is right now. In 1972, at the height of the air war, I was stationed in Ubon, Thailand, 30 miles from Laos and 45 miles from Cambodia. The job that I did was in direct support of the aircraft maintenance and equipment used. I did not get drafted and had not received my draft notice, I joined because I wanted to support my country. My dad was a WW2 vet and was in Guadalcanal in the Navy when the war ended. The point I want to make here is I was told years ago by members on this very forum that I was NOT a Vietnam Vet because I never set foot in country. It did not matter to them that my direct support was to the F4 Phantoms, the AC 130 Gunships and the Sandys that were used. It did not matter that Ubon was hit by saboteurs trying to blow up the gunships while I there or the base was hit by rockets two weeks after I left, to some I am still not Vietnam Vet. If I am asked now if I am a Vietnam vet, I just say that I am just a Vietnam area Vet, not just a Vietnam era Vet. Yeah, I guess I still have a little bit of a burr under my saddle. For those that served during that time, whether in South East Asia or other parts of the world, I appreciate your service as you could just have easily ended up in Vietnam because you signed the blank check to the government. Yeah, there was a time I felt a little embarrassed to be part of that war, but not any more. In fact, I just bought my first military hat recently(Air Force Veteran) and am surprised at how many strangers will thank me for my service. Randy

Before you try to flip the bike over, drain the oil out of the engine. Randy

Just remember, "How do you eat an elephant........one bite at a time". Now, you just need to take a deep breath and figure out where you are going to start biting on next. I do want to encourage you in that when you do get this bike on the road and have these things fixed, you are going to be glad you persevered. They really are great bikes. Randy

I would not buy another frame. I would turn your bike upside down and fix yours, just like I did mine. I would ask the guy what he wants to do because if you have to take his to a professional welder to get fixed, you might as well fix yours. How much did you give for that frame and shipping? Another option would be to just use that frame as it is, considering with the grease and dirt, it has been used in that condition. But if I was going to do that I would still tell the seller you are not happy with the purchase and ask what is he going to do about it. And, it is very possible that he did not know the frame had been broken and fixed. Randy

I hate to say it, but for what you have in that frame, which I highly suspect was broken and poorly fixed, you could have done what I suggested and fixed your own frame, and you would have known what you had. Also you would not have to change everything over. I would be tempted to contact the person you got the frame from and let them know you did not expect to get a frame that had been repaired. and I think poorly at that. Now, if you are going to pull the motor to swap frames, are you going to do anything about 2nd gear while the motor is out? I am trying to help you, not give you a hard time. One other thing, I highly doubt that rust had anything to do with your frame breaking. I suspect that the two reasons were Yamaha's poor welding to begin with and someone spinning the bike around while it was on the center stand. Randy