Jump to content

skydoc_17

Supporting Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    2,282

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    41

 Content Type 

Everything posted by skydoc_17

  1. skydoc_17
    Hey Sam, There is a pinch bolt that keeps the Axle bolt from coming loose while the bike is riding down the road, by chance did you forget to loosen and remove the pinch bolt and this is why you can't get the axle back in? Just a thought, Earl
  2. skydoc_17
    Hey Clint, I have had the Garmin Nuvi 855 on my 87'VR for over a year now and it functions really well. I have attached a few pics of the home made mount I made. I have this unit directly wired to my fuse box with a fuse just for the unit. It has gotten pretty wet and never malfunctioned. I do carry a zip loc bag that I have used when it was really raining hard. I got this unit for my birthday as a gift from my wife and it costs around $200.00 It has the MP3 player and another feature I like is it has the FM transmitter so my music plays thru the stereo system and even the little british girl comes in over the radio. I use the screen protectors from Wal-Mart to protect the screen from my gloves and dirty fingers and have gone thru 3 so far. This was my first GPS, and for the money has been like "sliced bread" for me. I never get lost now, Good Luck in your search for the right GPS, Earl
  3. skydoc_17
    Hey Rick, Jean here, I asked Earl about your bike and he said to look at the pic attached below and make sure the spacer marked with the red arrow is between the rear caliper bracket and the swing arm. If this spacer is missing, the final drive will float laterally. You do not want to run this bike for very long like this. The pic is of an MKII VR but the set-up is the same. As far as the fan goes, start your bike, let idle, squat down near fan area, when fan comes on, note where the temp gage is. If your bike has never boiled over, then your fan is working. Jean/Earl
  4. skydoc_17
    Hey Sean, There is a "Freeze Plug" right behind that "door", at this point you need to be sure what is actually coming out of the weep hole. If it is indeed engine oil, then most likely your Valve Cover gaskets are leaking and the oil is ending up at the bottom of the cylinder. If you find that the fluid is actually anti-freeze then the freeze plug is leaking. Earl
  5. skydoc_17
    If the dealer where you get your tires mounted is using "pull Thru" automotive type valve stems, then you are not getting a quality product. I have seen this more than once, it allows the dealer to install valve stems "faster"?!?! :confused24:The reason a dealer would do this is, it is an easy install for the dealer and they are dirt cheap compared to the nutted type motorcycle valve stem. If you do find that you have an automotive valve stem, I would get it swaped out the next time you have your tire changed. Earl
  6. skydoc_17
    There were TWO rear bumpers offered for the MKI VR, the first being the Ventureline and the second which I think we are seeing on Trader's bike was offered from Markland. These are lighted BUMPERS ONLY!, and are not trailer hitches. The object of the Markland rear bumper was to allow access to the luggage to be removed from the bike. Which was a really handy feature in it's day. The reasons you don't see more of the Markland rear bumpers on the MKI's is that the Dealers sold the MKI VR's with the Ventureline rear bumper from the Dealer (a) and the Markland rear bumper was quite a bit more expensive than the Ventureline rear bumper. Earl
  7. skydoc_17
    Hey Sean, Under that "special Tape" that should not be there is an O'Ring at each end of the plastic tube that looks like a 90 degree elbow. If the O'Ring at the elbow is leaking, then the gasket and O'ring that is at the other end of the elbow is not far behind. If it was my bike, especially if I just purchased it, I would r&r the elbow and the thermostat housing with new gaskets and O'rings. This is not what I would call a "fun" job, but better to deal with it now in your garage than to have a major coolant leak on the side of the road. Then this repair goes from "not a fun job" to "Possible engine damage", and certainly a major inconvenience. Earl
  8. skydoc_17
    I have had 3 1986's and 1 1987 VR's and have always run the 20/w50 Castrol GTX motor oil in them for a combined mileage of over 350,000 miles and counting. I have never had a motor fail, and my current 87'VR has the VMAX top end on it and I red line it regularly. with no ill affects. (except it makes my legs shake!) I put 23,000+ miles on my bike last year, 20,000+ miles the year before that, not quite so lucky this year. (Medical Reasons) I've heard good things about the Rotella as well. I have always been a Dino guy. (It's been quite a few years since I have owned a brand new car) One other thing I do regularly is keep the shifter lubed and adjusted properly. (if hard shifting is one of the symptoms you are having) Earl
  9. skydoc_17
    Dingy Would be the man to talk to, but I just wanted to mention, replace the stock front fork springs with the progressives and remove the front anti-dives all together. They are a "battery hog" power wise,and the newer springs really do a good job of solving the front dive problem well. The Venture Standards offer Manual (non-electric) air fill ports for the rear shock, and you can run the front shocks without air with the Progressive springs. Another gent(genius) would be Steve Crossley, His MKII VR has had most of the electric items removed, not to mention his bike looks like a Space Ship Compared to the regular MKII VR. I have attached a pic. I don't know if you are aware or not but Yamaha offered the Venture in the "Standard" version. where most of the electrics were removed. I have seen some pretty "minimalist" looking bikes. Earl
  10. skydoc_17
    Hey Jack, That Second Gen. Needs an extra hole in the VMAX Final Drive for the speedo sensor. Unless of course you use your GPS for your Speedo. Still, it would only be a lazy day for the install, and if you were installing a new rear tire, you would be half way there. Please don't take this the wrong way but at 29MPG's you have other problems with this bike. V7Goose seems to have a pretty good list of Carb. related items that you could start with to get that back to a respectable number. I haven't tinkered with enough Second Gens. to direct you to a overwelming single cause other than to say, fresh set of plugs, Carb. Sync. and clean set of air filters. Good Luck with this project, Earl
  11. skydoc_17
    Hey Bernie, I would have a good close look at the steering head bearings on your scoot, If I were you. Sorry, not trying to steal this thread. Earl
  12. skydoc_17
    Hey Jack, Jean and I went to New York over the 4th of July holiday 2up fully loaded. Over 600 mile trip thanks to Bob's directions, we averaged 50MPG. With the old, stock final drive I have gotten as good as 55MPG. So even though I lost 5 MPG, for the extra gitty-up I am not complaining. Now for my disclaimer, I have run this bike solo, at 108MPH for an entire tank of gas on the 4 lane highway and only got 34MPG! Past about 4500 RPMS, the VMAX heads and Cams really start to "breathe" and gas milage goes out the window. The biggest benifit from the FJR/VMAX final drive was as I loaded the bike up with a passenger, luggage or even a trailer, the final drive moved the tranny into the power band of the engine. It seems like the motor doesn't have to "LUG" as much, and because I can stay in 5th gear more but still have power, the bike actually gets better gas milage, until "I drop the hammer" then the gas gage and the speedo start racing each other. I hope this answers your question, Jack. Earl
  13. skydoc_17
    GOT'UM! Earl
  14. skydoc_17
    That Wayne is in fact, a Great Guy. He just lives to darn far away! Hey Wait, we could move the border! Earl
  15. skydoc_17
    Hey Bob, Earl Says that when using the front fork lock, you have two options, front froks locked, no lights, front forks locked, Right and left "running light" on. He thinks it would be for if you broke down, you could lock the forks, and still have lights on, (but not headlight, and not flashers) and take the keys with you. Neat option, just not talked about very much. His thought on it is, if you are having a problem why compound it by draining the battery as well. Jean
  16. skydoc_17
    OK, I'll be the "crash test dummy" here, was this footage a joke or did the "crashproof bike" just get run over by a truck? My German is a bit rusty. Jean
  17. skydoc_17
    Without knowing if it IS actually running on less than 4 cylinders and not nowing if it is the high side two cylinders or the low side two that appear to not be firing it's basically a crap shoot. You say an 08', 12 miles, 12,000 miles??? Have you ever put a set of plugs in this bike, Pulled the current set out and looked at them?? Is the low side exhaust set smoky when you first fire it up? I have seen MORE than one person foul a set of plugs getting heavy with Seafoam/Sta-Bil. Carbs. Synced? Float Level checked? If it turns out to be both rear cylinders not firing, it could be coils, Fuel Filter, A bit more info on the condition of some of the perishable items would allow someone to point you in a direction. Earl
  18. skydoc_17
    Both Jean and I want you to know that James is in our thoughts and prayers. Earl and Jean
  19. skydoc_17
    I have tried to share the fixes I have used on my bikes to keep them running. I think it is a show of respect to keep motorcycles of our vintage in top running condition. It is my pleasure to be of service. Earl
  20. skydoc_17
    Hey Brandon, Down by the front wheel, left side is the connector for the speedo cable, unscrew the cable connector and try putting some grease on the speedo cable. If the noise is closer to the dash, that is going to require the removal of the windshield and dash and the lubing of the bushing in the gage cluster. Earl
  21. skydoc_17
    My 87'VR has a late model FJR1300 final drive in it and I'm at 4800 RPMS in that 75 range. For the 82 plus thousand miles I have on this bike, if there was a day that I rode and it didn't see "Red Line", I went for another ride. With the VMAX top end, I can solidly and dependbly run the tach. to an honest 8000+ RPMS and so far have never damaged this motor. I think Jimbob hit the nail right on the head, with the higher speed limits, and most people looking for the "Cruiser" style of riding, the Second Gen. RSV and RSTD reflects the change in the reving of the engine with almost two overdriven gears in their transmission. Earl
  22. skydoc_17
    Hey Bill, You seem like a forward thinking kinda' Guy, depending on the mileage on the exhaust, I would open up and gut the exhaust collector since it will be removed from the bike during the engine swap anyway, Nothing worse than a newly worked on, great running engine and a rattly, crappy sounding exhaust collector. Shift Shaft Seal, that whole mess where the gear selector sensor is. (who designed that mess) And just a note about solid motor mounts. I have had the 86'VR with the rubber mounts, I currently have the 87'VR with the solid mounts. I can absolutely say that tyeing the engine to the frame with the solid motor mounts Turns the VR into a different machine, much more stable in the turns, less frame flex when you drop the hammer on it, If I was 25 years old, it would be a mod one step away from sex for our machines, at 54 years old, shock and vibration that was once absorbed by the rubber engine mounts is now transfered into my "less than youthful body". I'm not gonna' say it beats you up, but you do feel it. BUT I gotta admit, when you are winding up 2nd gear on a freeway on ramp, and the engine and frame are rock solid, you bang third gear in triple digits, (and you may even have seen a moment of "blue sky action") That still gives this good old boy a "chubby" every time. As with most mods like solid motor mounts, there is a give and a take. I am personally one of those people that like my "take list" longer than my "Give list". If you are too, buy the big bottle of Ben-gay and "drop the hammer" on that sucker every chance you get. Just my thoughts, Earl
  23. skydoc_17
    You Know Dingy, (Gary) you and I have butted heads a few times on this forum, Until I actually met you at Don's Maint Day this year, saw what you had done to your bike and talked with you a while, I have decided that you are very passionate about the information you share with the other members of this forum. I have to say that you are right on this time! Some members are just plain mean by nature, and the price you pay for what little bit of information you receive is far outweighed by the amount of BS you have to tolerate to get to it. I for one am glad that Hunter1500 was able to get his clutch and brake lines installed , and bled properly, with the help of the good natured, helpful and friendly members of this forum. If I was doing something that was making "Blood Squirt from my eyes" while I was at it, perhaps I would take up Gardening. Moderation of plant growth might be at a more suitable pace than interacting with fellow human beings. Earl
  24. skydoc_17
    Hey Grisolm, The MKI and MKII VR Rims are interchangable at 16 inches, the VMAX rear wheel is a 15" rim and also uses a wider tire that will not fit the MKII VR. Earl
  25. skydoc_17
    Hey Curtis, You have a MKI and a MKII VR listed in your profile, far and away the MKII VR would be the better bike to pull, (and Stop) a 500 pound trailer with. The 1986 to 1993 VR has the 1300cc engine and the 4 piston calipers standard. Plus the room for improvement with the VMAX final drive, R1 Calipers and other mods makes this the vehicle of choice for pulling a heavy trailer. On a Personal note, EVERY RIDER needs to know their limitations! The few dollars you save on that "good deal" you got on that trailer will all be down the drain the first time you lock the brakes up while riding 2up heading down a switchback mountain, because if your wife is like mine, she will wait patiently until you get that bike stopped, then she will get off that bike, and proceed to slap you all about your face and head then pull out her cell phone and call a cab!:rotfl:All kidding aside, Are there members of this forum that can pull a 500+ pound trailer thru the "Dragon's Tail" draggin' the pegs the entire way, I am sure there are. ARE YOU one of those riders that can do this with your wife on the back of your bike, ONLY YOU CAN HONESTLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION! If it were me, I would jump on that deal in a minute, but if I wanted my wife to ride with me, I would spend the extra bucks, get a later model trailer that was lighter and handled better and keep everyone happy, but that's just me. Earl
×
×
  • Create New...