GaryZ

Good info . . . Thanks for posting!

My beast had floor boards when I first got it. I quickly hated them because they cramped my ankles in an uncomfortable position. My fix was to remove the floorboards and install the original driver foot pegs. Now I can hang my heels on the pegs and straighten my ankles every so often . . .

93210-43713-00 o-ring $2.59 (item #29)

I recently had to put a heli-coil type of device in a Ford spark plug hole (aluminum head). The device came with excellent instructions specifying how to tap the hole without dropping shavings in the cylinder. Coat the tap with axle grease and the grease catches the shavings. In the case of your master-cylinder, I would consider leaving the top on and tight while drilling and tapping.

I cause trouble at most of the fast food joints around here when ordering a combo meal. I ask for a combo by number and they respond with 'medium or large?'. Now the fun starts. I ask what comes with the combo for the price on the sign and they say 'small'. So I ask if they plan on giving me the medium or large at the same price, as implied by their question. Of course the answer is 'no'. To me this is a classic bait and switch tactic. They should clearly ask if I want to 'make it a medium or a large for an additional charge'.

Ain't that the truth . . .

Although I have not had this happen on a motorcycle, I did have a collapsed brake line (rubber) cause my truck brakes to act really weird. The lines did not pass fluid at first, then extra pressure would force some fluid through. Fluid stayed trapped when releasing the brakes causing them to drag. The result was the truck would pull violently to the right under initial braking (the right side was working correctly) and then pull to the left when leaving a stop (the left side was dragging).

I did try "oil type", "engine oil", and a couple others. Each attempt would ignore "oil" and find stuff for the other word. That's why I started this thread. I read your answer above and your thread (http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?threadid=67330). This Google Search method works well. Searching "oil types" got me a very manageable 194 posts. Thanks!

I had the bike clamped on four-wheel dollies so it could be moved around the garage. I removed the engine and replaced it without removing the rear wheel, final drive, driveshaft and swingarm. I was able to stab the driveshaft back in when re-installing. I pulled the engine with the fairing installed and broke a tab. Be careful and this won't happen to you . . .

Lots of good information from everyone. Thanks! However, nobody has answered the title question; Why didn't I get any hits using search?

I checked the local Wal-Mart and found Castrol GTX 20-50 in a 5-qt jug for $15.97 I think this is what I will be using . . . Thanks Yammer!

I have heard this "no friction modifiers" thing before. Never really paid attention on any of my bikes. I have always used 'car oil'. I looked for something about this on the oil jug . . . Nothing. Where do I find this?

I promised I would send it to you and have been lazy. I will get it off the engine and ship it this week . . . Thanks for the 20-50 input.

I searched the site for information on VR engine oil and came up with nothing! Where did this stuff go? I know I have seen many threads on this hot topic . . . Anyway, I have a question. The manual says to use; SAE 10-30 type SE when not operating above 60 degrees F SAE 20-40 type SE when not operating below 40 degrees F We get to operate from 10 to 110 in Oklahoma. What are you North Texas boys running?

My 2 cents; 700-R4 = TH350 with overdrive 4L60E = 700-R4 with electronic shift 4L80E = TH400 with overdrive and electronic shift There is a lot of power lost through a TH400/4L80E. Most small blocks do not make enough power to need a TH400/4L80E. Your stock transmission is probably a well worn 700-R4. Unless you are drag racing every weekend, a rebuilt 700-R4 will support a more powerful small block engine. I recommend a re-manufactured 700-R4 from someone like Summit Racing. It will have a little extra 'beef'. The 4L60E will require adding a shift computer kit and the cost goes up by $500-$1000.

It is certainly possible to put too thick a washer, or stacked washers, and damage the cover. However, a thin washer should not be a problem and adds a little pressure to a worn gasket. I will use this idea on my VR.

The front hose that I used is from O'Reilly Auto Parts. It's a Gates part #19764. I installed the sharp bend on the head and stretched it over to the Y-Housing. I cut off a little bit at a time until the hose reached and did not touch anything sharp. The rear hose is also from O'Reilly's. It's a Gates part #28479. I cut off about an inch before installing it at the rear head. This made the hose 'bend' work better. I routed it to the Y-Housing and cut off a little at a time until it fit. I re-used the stock clamps at the head (per Squid's comment - Thanks!) and used new 3/4" clamps at the Y-Housing. Tomorrow I hope to fill it and ride it. Test ride complete. I had to put a new hose clamp on the small hose from the 'twinkie' (leaking at the Y-housing) and re-connect the ground to the Y-housing. Man. No ground means no temperature gauge. They sure made the ground connector hard to reach. Changed the oil and filter while I was laying on the ground. My beast is running great!

The jetting is way too lean with the airbox removed. You might be able to put spacers on the main jets and get enough fuel . . . I would give it a try. What have you got to lose?

What kinda gas mileage did ya get @ 100mph?

The manual for the VR calls out for a 120/90-18-65H. I have a Dunlop Elite III MR90-18-71H on my Beast MR90-18-71H vs 120/90-18-65H MR = 120 = 4.25 - 4.50" wide 90 = aspect ratio 18" diameter load rating = 65 is 639lbs and 71 is 761lbs H = speed rating I found these charts when looking for tires . . . Motorcycle Tire Speed Ratings, Load Ratings and Motorcycle Tire Size Designations Front Tires Rear Tires metric alpha inch metric alpha inch 80/90 MH90 2.50/2.75 110/90 MP85 4.00/4.75 90/90 MJ90 2.75/3.00 120/90 MR90 4.50/4.75 100/90 MM90 3.25/3.50 130/80 5.00/5.10 120/80 4.25/4.50 140/80 5.50/6.00 120/90 MR90 4.25/4.50 140/90 MU90 5.50/6.00 130/90 MT90 5.00/5.10 150/80 MV85 6.00/6.25 150/90 MV85 6.00/6.25 TIRE Speed Rating Chart Motorcycle Tire Speed Ratings Maximum Design/Test Speed J Type 62 100 N Type 87 140 P Type 94 150 S Type 112 180 H Type 130 210 V Type 149 240 Z Type 149+ 240+ Tires with 2.00, 2.25 & 2.50 nominal section widths are rated for 75 mph. LOAD INDEX (LI) RATING CHART LI lbs. LI lbs. LI lbs. LI lbs. LI lbs. 20 176 33 254 46 375 59 536 72 783 21 182 34 260 47 386 60 551 73 805 22 187 35 267 48 397 61 567 74 827 23 193 36 276 49 408 62 584 75 853 24 198 37 282 50 419 63 600 76 882 25 204 38 291 51 430 64 617 77 908 26 209 39 300 52 441 65 639 78 937 27 215 40 309 53 454 66 661 79 963 28 220 41 320 54 467 67 677 80 992 29 227 42 331 55 481 68 694 81 1019 30 234 43 342 56 494 69 716 82 1047 31 240 44 353 57 507 70 736 83 1074 32 247 45 364 58 520 71 761 84 1102

I had a 5x10 enclosed trailer stolen out of my driveway about 10 years ago. I called my insurance company (Farmers) and initially got a bit of a run-around. The guy tried to tell me if I did not have a dedicated policy, it wasn't covered. He got my file up on his screen, realized how much stuff I had at his agency and admitted that it would be covered under my home owner's policy (minus the deductible). He paid for the trailer and its contents (a pair of new 18" subwoofers still in their cartons). I now use a lock on the tongue and a chain through one of the wheels.

Update: I drained the coolant and found only a couple of drops of oil. No coolant was found in the oil. A bike mechanic friend says this is probably oil that got into the system when I pulled the heads. He said oil would accumulate in the overflow tank and around the radiator cap. These are my exact symptoms. He suggested running it for a while and checking again. I think I will ride it this summer and check again in the fall. Hose Info: According to Yamaha Parts Nation, the two main coolant hoses that go from the top of each head are no longer available from Yamaha. I picked up a couple of automotive hoses at O'Reilly's today. Expensive suckers! The two large hoses, one small hose and four clamps; $44

That is a good looking motorcycle and I too like the color(s)

I added a pair of temporary front turn signals and rode my '85 for almost 2 months without plastic. I wanted to give it a good 'shake down' before re-assembly. We got a lot of looks and the bike seemed more agile. The dash panel provided as much wind protection as the windshield on my sport bike!