Enjoying your write up. Any chance you could work around the decal leaving it there? Mask it carefully, sand, paint the color, unmask, and clear coat over everything?
I used the white connector under the seat by tinning two wires with solder and jamming them into the empty connector. Plugged that connector into the one connected to the bike and it has held for a few thousand miles. I used this to feed ignition on power to my passing lamp relay
I have a late '90's model Wheel Horse (bought new) and it has been a great little garden tractor. Primarily mow with it but have a snow blade and rototiller I bought with it.
Only problems with it have been related to the location of the battery. It is under the hood and right behind the dash so the electrical connections require lots of maintenance. I have to replace the fuse panel due to the fuses corroding, getting hot, and melting the plastic. After I became aware of it I now stay ahead of the issue. Great and rugged little tractor.
I bought a new 2012 Venture leftover last month and love it. I traded in my 07 Tour Deluxe after I removed most of the accessories. I have added all of them to the new Venture plus a few new, used, and custom made pieces. Plan to add even more over the winter.
I test drove Victory and Indian and while I liked the looks/styling they just didn't feel "right".
As stated frequent stops helps. We found it helps to stop before feeling the need to stop and stretch. Waiting until numb butt sets in and then stopping leads to quicker numb butt once you start rolling again.
Bluetooth headsets with her own choice of musics helps also
From experience: Yes - it is worth it to drain it down a little. I used to fill mine to the mid point in the window and it makes a mess in the air intake. Oil will seep out, usually on the left side, down the sides of the carbs. To clean you have to pull the tanks and the plastic air runners on top of the carbs.
There are a couple of guys who mounted an additional trunk to match the upper one in the same manner as the cargo rack. Still will need lights. There is always the discussion of whether or not the license plate is visible or needs to be visible
I had hydro lock once. Left rear cylinder filled with fuel and luckily the piston was at the top of its travel so no damage. I shut the fuel off EVERY time since then.
If you are using a swivel I am guessing you are removing the plugs with the fuel tank in place? If so, it may help to pull the tank first to make it easier
Sarge,
I think the bolt under the saddlebag has to come out from above, right? As I recall one has to remove the saddlebags which is no big deal, only four bolts for each one.
"instead of getting that list of hardware at HD or lowes,
why can't I just get this??"
I think I paid around $25.00 for the 42S at a local O Reilly auto parts store and your links show a higher price. The hardware is needed to connect the fuel lines and still keep the location of the new pump in the same area on the bike as the original fuel pump.
If not already stated, with this pump you will need to be get in the habit of turning off the fuel at the petcock when you turn the bike off.
There is another aftermarket pump mentioned in other posts you can use that does not require turning off the fuel