Venturous Randy

And just think, I paid $49 bucks for a complete 03 RSV trans that also had the shift cam with the upgraded end that is made as one piece and does not have the pins to worry about. This is what the new one looks like. RandyA

This is a little more scientific. RandyA [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t3r0kBT0vY]Man's vs. Woman's Brain (see the difference!) - YouTube[/ame]

A couple of days ago I was on Craigslist and ran across an ad about an 83 Venture with the owner saying it had about 5,200 miles on it. I looked at it yesterday, thinking it must have 105,200 miles, but I am confident it had 5,200 miles. He had gotten the bike from the son of a guy that had it for a long time and had parked it because of dropping it due to the weight. This bike still had the original white lettered Bridgestone tires that came on the bike new. The rotors on the front looked almost new as did the exhaust. It was like looking back in time. He said the bike ran good and had a lot of power, but needed a battery to run. The plastic was in good shape other than the upper right fairing where it had been dropped and a piece broken out. It was a blond Royale, but what killed the original value of the bike was he had spray bombed the front half of the bike blue to see what it would look like, as he liked blue. He wanted $1,500 or make offer for the bike and I told him with the paint job, he is probably looking at a parts bike now and his price was probably a bit high for that. He and his son both had bikes with the son riding a VTX1300. They were both nice folks and I told the son that he should keep the bike and put a good paint job on it and keep it and I told him about VR.org. I noticed that this morning the bike has been removed from CL. I thought it was interesting to look at a bike that was over 30 years old and only 5.200 miles on it, but I also know that it would probably take a lot of work to get the bike streetable. RandyA

Wow, this post is over four years old. RandyA

There comes a time when we all must accept that slowing down is part of the maturing process. To accept with grace that comfort and going slow is a good thing. Just remember, it happens to all of us................. But, I am NOT there yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cool10::cool10: RandyA

I have almost always used Automotive oil, Valvoline 10 40, and for a while now used oil designed for a diesel engine, Rotella T 15 40. My bike has 164,000 miles on it and still does not use any oil. The only engine related failure was the thrush washer wear causing the 2nd gear problem and I doubt motorcycle specific oil would have helped, as I am confident that many other Venture and V-Max engines had the same problem with only running Yamalube. I did experience clutch slippage at one time and replaced the six springs and that went away. Now, this is on a bike that has also pulled a 450 pound camper all around these mountains and also a bike that has NOT been babied. I can not imagine how many times it has exceeded 8,000 RPM's. Right now. if I crank it on and hit 2nd gear hard, the front wheel will definitely come up. So, given my experience on this bike for the last 17+ years, my Yamaha seems to do just fine with automotive oil. RandyA

When you are replacing the seal, are you covering the groove where the ring clip goes with tape? I use scotch tape to keep the sharp edge on the ring groove from damaging the wiping edge of the seal. Is your seal leaking on the area wiping tube or on the outside of the seal? Are you using Yamaha seals or after market? RandyA

Gee, I enjoyed the debate and thought it enlightening, Debates can be fun and interesting and I enjoyed our lengthy debate...... RandyA

As a suggestion, rather than cram it in to 1st gear with it running, kill the engine and put it in 1st and then pull the clutch in and try to start the bike. With the clutch in, the starter should turn over and pull the bike forward enough for it to start. RandyA

Herb, to me, the correct position to run the bike on the bypass is if the top of the letters are pointed toward the 5 o'clock position. RandyA

I called you before it ended and did not get an answer. I used the number in your profile. I also sent you a PM with the link earlier. I don't know what else to do other than buy it for you and then come up there and put it in for you. RandyA

Ya done good. The best I have done was 50 mpg going from about 1,300 feet up over 6,000 feet going from Asheville to Cherokee and back to Asheville on the BRP. I wasn't behind a 2nd gen, but I had one behind me that I had to go slow not to loose him. Is there anything you have done that you want to share with us? RandyA

Not sure where it is going, but highly suspect where it is not going. It does not take much of a leak to empty the clutch master cylinder and from the master cylinder through two hoses and a metal line there are several places to leak, especially the hose going from the metal line to the slave. Also, unless I missed something, I did not see where he stated that he did not have any visible leaks or smoke coming off the collector. He just suspected it was leaking and wondered how difficult it was to remove the slave and he has not made another post since. All the speculation was done after the original post and he has not been on here in over a week. OK, your turn. RandyA

Yes, I have had several complete clutch systems apart and that is why I questioned getting brake fluid into the engine oil. Not to say it is not possible, but to me the likelihood of getting leaking brake fluid past the clutch rod seal seems highly unlikely unless there is virtually no sealing of the clutch rod seal. And, in this case, the amount of oil coming out of the engine would probably prevent or wash away the brake fluid from getting in the engine anyway. Sorry, just cannot see getting brake fluid into the engine, but I've been known to be wrong before, just ask my ex. RandyA

It drops in just like replacing the stock one. This one had the forks, the shift drum, which is different than your 84 and everything you would need to upgrade. The big difference is the gear ratios are wider spaced and 5th gear is a little higher. I have a 2nd gen trans in a spare 83 engine I have, but have not installed it in bike yet. RandyA

I just could not pass up a deal from Pinwall on an 03 RSV 2nd gen trans. I waited to the last second to see if anyone else was going to bid, but ended up being the only bidder. I got the complete trans for $49.95 +$24 shipping. I would like to pick up a good MKII 1300 engine and put that trans in it for future use. RandyA

If brake fluid will leak into the engine, you would know it by all the oil leaking out of the engine. Not sure what you mean by "push rod channel". RandyA

How can you get brake fluid from the slave into the engine? RandyA

I wonder why the motorcyclist's name was not listed? Did the news video state his name? RandyA

This is what I do. Turn in the ignition switch and cycle the kill switch several times. I will do about half choke and most time fires right up. Sometimes I will have the choke off and as it starts cranking over, I will start adding choke. Never use any throttle until it starts. RandyA

And, when are you having your first maintenance day? RandyA

Yep, this is typical of a cold solder joint in the CMU. RandyA

You need to remove the CMS, the readout in the middle of the dash, and take it apart and resolder the connections. There is a how to in the 1st gen tech section. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=33328 RandyA

I counted the teeth on both the 1st gen and the RSV and everything was as is noted on these specs. RandyA

Several of us have picked one up from Pinwalls when they are listed on ebay. There was one on there about a month ago with a $50 starting bid and I am not sure anyone ever bid on it. I got one for about that price a year or so ago and I think I was the only bidder. RandyA