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skydoc_17

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Everything posted by skydoc_17

  1. skydoc_17
    I hope you have a great time on your trip! The posters above have given you excellent advice. I would address that final drive when you change your rear tire. Like many of us older guys, that whole laying on the ground and checking the tire pressure (especially the rear tire) is not at the top of my list of "fun things to do." But regardless, it needs to be done before every ride. When I say check that tire pressure, if you are running those tires at 32PSI, then you are running them underinflated. I am assuming that you are running the "brickstones" that came with the bike, (or possibly Dunlop 404's) Try 40 PSI front and 42 PSI rear. I am sure that the Second Gen. guys will help you fine tune these suggested tire pressures. Another possible issue might be a Carb. Sync. but your gas mileage would be an indicator of this issue. Have a great time, air up those tires, and invite a VR.ORG member over for lunch with a Carbtune either before or after your trip. Make a note to service that final drive when you change out that tire. Earl
  2. skydoc_17
    Hey Barend, Not knowing how you wired the headlight up, that would be a hard answer to give but I think it is safe to say that because the back of the CMU melted is a pretty good indicator that the CMU received a bit to much amperage! This effect is simular to connecting the battery sensor directly on the battery terminal. It is why a resistor is used to lower the voltage when bypassing the battery sensor. Earl
  3. skydoc_17
    Hey Frank, By putting the shrink wrap tubing over the cloth covered wires, even if you RTV the shrink wrap, the oil could "wick out" of the inside of the shrink wrap if you don't fill that puppy with the RTV. Just a thought. Earl
  4. skydoc_17
    Hey Barend, You toasted your CMU by allowing full voltage to run thru it. I just had a 1990 VR in the house with the same problem. I ran the wiring directly to the fuse box for the rear lighting system. Lights worked fine but the tail light Icon stays on all the time now. At this point, even if you run the wiring for your new headlight on another circut, the damage has been done. That circut in the CMU is toasted. If I can steer you in the right direction as far as the tail light bypass goes, send me a PM. Sorry for the bad news, my friend, Earl
  5. skydoc_17
    Hey Jack, Drop me a PM and we can work out going halves on a set of 4. Earl
  6. skydoc_17
    Hey Bill, I have the 87'VR myself, and I hope you have as many enjoyable miles on yours, as I have on mine. One of the things that Seafoam will do in the fuel system is to wash the carbon deposits off of the valves and combustion chambers. Once the deposits have been dislodged, they exit the engine thru the exhaust system. Over time, these deposits should decrease. The best thing you can do for this bike now is to "ride it like you just robbed a bank!" Keep the RPM's up and don't "chug around" in 5th gear at 50 miles per hour. Alternate tanks of fuel with no Seafoam with tanks of fuel with only a few ounces of Seafoam. When you are done riding for the season, dose the last tank of fuel with Seafoam and be sure to allow the Seafoamed fuel to run thru the Carbs., then put in on the center stand, attach the battery tender, Push your nose against the window in your livingroom, and wait for spring!:rotf:That's what we do here in Pennsylvania! Earl
  7. skydoc_17
    Hey Al, I love to hear a story with a happy ending! It's great to hear that you scoot is up and running again. I admire a person that takes the time to keep these older bikes running. Now, get out there and go for a ride! Ya' done good! Earl
  8. skydoc_17
    The Dunlop E2 is not in production any more and has not been in production for over a year. If you happen to come across a "new" E2 check the date code. I have received these tires here at my shop and a few were over 4 years old.(and returned) I have seen a few on Ebay and when I asked the seller for the date code I either got "No Answer" or was told that they were 5 or more years old. So be very careful when buying those old, new E2's. I have an E3 on the front of my 87'VR with 4 miles on it, (because of my back surgery) but the E3 I had on the 87 before, got 17,500 miles on it and still had good tread on it but had gotten a bit noisy. I have run the Avon's both front and rear and the handling and noise were much better than the Dunlops but above 100MPH the bike was nearly uncontrollable. The mileage was not as good on the Avon's as well. Both tire brands work very well in wet weather with the Avon being ever so slightly better. For the money, the Dunlop E3's are hard to beat. The other thing I wanted to mention is that if you have mechanical issues, (worn out fork springs, loose or damaged steering head bearings, worn out swing arm bushings, etc.) then the newer tread style of the Dunlop E3 and the Avon Venom don't last as long as the old Dunlop E2. Those old E2's would rot off of a rim before they would wear out. Just some observations of tires that have come into the shop. Earl
  9. skydoc_17
    Knowin' Jeff, He'd be the first to say, "Get off me Duke, you're crushin' my smokes!" Earl
  10. skydoc_17
    I would defiantly check the overflow bottle and make sure you have coolant in there. I am thinking that after 27 years your thermostat has seen it's better day. Yamaha makes a very high quality, long life thermostat. Basically, it costs you $1.33 a YEAR for the last thermostat. Since it is a project to get to it and replace it, I would spend the extra money and put one in there that was going to last another 27 years myself. When I did mine I also ordered the thermostat housing cover, unlike the housing itself the cover is plastic and I have seen the cover leak AFTER the replacement of the thermostat. Because this is a messy, time consuming job, I put as many new parts in as my budget would allow. My thinking was, If I never have to remove this new thermostat again, that would be fine with me. I have a very nice down loadable instructional file of the removal/install with pics, I can also help with parts. Earl
  11. skydoc_17
    Prayers Sent from both Jean and I. Earl and Jean
  12. skydoc_17
    Hey Mike, Without pics, we are shooting in the dark here, but here goes. If the left side panel has a lock in the upper left side on the panel, use the ignition key to remove the panel. This will expose the wiring and the back of the radio unit. If there is no lock, then remove the allen head screws holding the panel to expose the wiring. Check to be sure that the wires are not just twisted together or not connected at all. If this is not the problem and it were me, I would disconnect the speaker wires and connect a known good speaker to the speaker wires on the radio unit. If the radio is good, then check the wiring to the speakers and the speakers themselves. If the radio unit is bad, then measure the outside dimentions of the radio and purchase a new one. Perhaps one that will accept a CD or an even better unit with an IPOD connection. Keep us posted on the results and don't be afraid to ask more questions, by the way, welcome to the VR.ORG site. Earl
  13. skydoc_17
    Hey Richard, There is one more area that you will need to address as far as lube goes, and that is the plastic cylinder under the rubber grip on the right handle bar. You may need to disassemble the housing that holds the run/kill switch, (2 or 3 screws on the bottom) crack the case open, you will see the two throttle cables connecting to the white plastic "sleeve" that allows the throttle to rotate. While you are in there, this is a perfect time to use contact cleaner on the kill switch and starter ingage switch. It is not a hard job, just a time consuming one. Use an Impact driver to remove the Phillips Head Screws in the bottom of the switch housing so you don't strip out the Phillips Head Slots. Just an FYI here, a metric Phillips Head Screw has a steeper angle than an American Phillips Head Screw, that's why it is so easy to destroy the slots in the head when you try to remove them with an American Phillips Screwdriver. Good luck with this project, Earl
  14. skydoc_17
    I am not trying to "nit pick" or start a "pissin' match" here but the dielectric grease that is sold at most auto parts stores is designed to "insulate" and waterproof things like spark plug boots and the plastic connectors that the connecting pins are housed in. Conductive Grease on the other hand is specifically designed to be placed inside of electrical connections. It conducts electricity and keeps water and corrosion from forming inside of electrical connections. It is pricey in comparison to the dielectric grease but functions MUCH better. It's acid base strips away corrosion and makes copper connections look like new. I have purchased it at electronic supply stores and have seen it at marine supply stores for boat trailers that are submerged into water. I use the Conductive Grease on every electrical project I do here at the "Little shop by the creek" and have had excellent results with it. Just an FYI, Earl
  15. skydoc_17
    I was riding at dusk in Southern Cali on an 86'VR with two friends, clipping along at 60 MPH or so and rounded a left banked sweeper when a big ol' hoot owl crashed into my helmet! That ol' owl broke my face shield, I had a mouth full of feathers, and it knocked me silly. I got the bike stopped on the side of the road, barely got the kick stand down, and slid off the left side of the bike and melted to the ground. My buddy behind me said it looked like a "feathered missile" had exploded into me! I sat on the side of the road for 25 minutes before my marbles in my head stopped rolling around. I was able to ride home, but every bug that hit the windscreen scared the crap out of me! Took years to forget that one. Earl
  16. skydoc_17
    So, my friend, it turns out that you are not such an old goat that you can't remember what it was like to be a child, and have an adult show you some positive attention! Good for you! Glad to see you are up and around. Earl and Jean
  17. skydoc_17
    The exhaust Collector is the same on all of the First Gen. VR's. However, the exhaust pipes are different between the MKI (1983 to 1985) and MKII (1986 to 1993) VR's. Earl
  18. skydoc_17
    The difference between the sliders in the 1300 Carbs. and the 1200 Carbs. is that the body diameter of the 1200 Plastic tube (slider) is smaller. That is why the 1200 Carb. slider would "fit". (and I use that term loosely) The 1300 slider will not fit in the 1200 Carbs., period. The reason that Charlie's bike is high idling is because the sliders are too small in the larger 1300 Carb. Body Bores. Air is leaking past the Clarence between the slider and the bore of the Carb. The Diaphragms are the same on all of the First Gen. Ventures. Earl
  19. skydoc_17
    Nice looking Chrome add ons Tom! You can't have too many tail lights! It's a shame she won't be able to see the "Safety Chrome" brake pedal under that big Sasquatch foot of yours! Earl
  20. skydoc_17
    It does this old First Gen. owner good to hear you have a "heartbeat" in your First Gen. again. Now, get out there and RIDE! As for you Painterman, you are going to force me to come to North Carolina and fix that darn bike of yours! This might be the beginning of a 2010 Maint. Tour!! Earl
  21. skydoc_17

    Resignation

    skydoc_17 replied to a topic in Watering Hole

    Hey Ralph, As a person that has spent most of his life "following the road less traveled", I know that you didn't make this decision lightly. I have the utmost respect for your decision to spend more "quality time" with your wife and family. It sorta' goes against the core value of a Harley Rider not to be the "strutting cock of the walk" and show off your riding skills and your bike to ALL that will look. I wish I would have learned that valuable lesson earlier in my own life as it costs me my first marriage. Then again, I would have never met Jean and this "band of brothers" we call VentureRiders. You will always have a home here, my friend, and always remember, you are never alone when you are a VentureRider. I salute you for making a tough decision for the betterment of your family. Earl
  22. skydoc_17
    Last year, about this time, the weather had started to get bad here in Pennsylvania, but I wasn't quite ready to call it quits for the season. I posted on this site that if anyone would feed me and allow me to camp for the night, I would come to their location, and if they would buy the repair parts, I would furnish the labor and repair their bikes as best as I could. I left on October 12, 2009 with my tools and a sleeping bag and tent. After repairing 20 or so bikes and approx. 2600 miles later I came home. I never did have to camp, I was able to put faces to the many names I see on the site, and SteveD and I worked on a early 70's BMW that had not run in many years. Much to our surprise, the bike ran well and to see the look of delight on the face of the young military man that owned that piece of history made the trip worthwhile. On my way home, I ran into some very foul weather and even though that didn't need any work done on their motorcycles, JRichards and his delightful girlfriend put me up for the night out of the rain and sleet. The last leg home was thru some of the worst weather I had ridden in since I was a young man. I would ride from gas station to gas station stopping not for fuel but for a cup of HOT coffee and a place to get in out of the rain, sleet and snow. More than once, complete strangers, not even on motorcycles, (I was the only bike I saw that long, cold day) bought me coffee, allowed me to sit in their vehicle to warm up, and one family offered to put my bike on their trailer and tow me close to where I lived! Towards the end of the ride, as I became overcome with the weather, and the kindness, the rain was the only thing that hid my tears from the folks that shared their time, their food and drink, their family members and their stories about their travels across this great country and the kind people that they had met. It has been, and will continue to be an HONOR to be of service to the members of this site! I truly feel that by showing kindness to our fellow man, (and woman) we as VentureRiders can turn this country around, and teach other people that it is OK to be kind to each other, as it was in an earlier time in my life. I try NEVER to pass up an opportunity to bestow an "act of random kindness" to people that pass my way. Take a moment, and ask yourself, WHAT HAVE I DONE LATELY, :confused24:If you don't have an answer, it's NEVER to late to bestow an "act of random kindness" on someone you don't know. Earl and Jean
  23. skydoc_17
    I am a "night owl", Jean is not! I have a 9 speaker audio system on the main computer in our house, (for DVD's) sitting late at night, with the lights down low, reading choise posts, Dark Side of the Moon, STILL after all these years runs chills down my back. Old Hippy's never die, they just just become VentureRiders! Earl
  24. skydoc_17
    Hey Coy, Welcome to the site! You sure did find an excellent example of an 83'VR there! Take some time and spin that baby around in a parking lot so you can get used to the weight and get a feel for her. Those Dunlop E2's are a good dependable, long lasting tire, I would wear them out before spending a bunch of cash on new ones. I hope you have many "miles of smiles" with your new VR! Earl
  25. skydoc_17
    Hey BigD, Could it be that the HID light came with an Adapter that you connected to the wires that powered the old Silverstar bulb? So you need to remove the adapter and the socket for the Silverstar light will be exposed? Earl
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