Geobob

The short story is the bike started running on what must have been only two cylinders after is got rained on all night. I limped out to the interstate and ran it hard and the problem when away and has not returned. I would really like to fix what ever the problem was but since it is no longer happening, it is hard to diagnose. The bike is a 1988 Venture Royal with 69K on it. I have never replaced the coils or plug wires or caps. I assume is was water or rain related since it went away after it got hot enough to dry everything out. It never completely lost the two cylinders, they would stop for a minute or two and then fire for a 20 seconds and then cut out again. I have never had this problem before but I have also probably never had the bike out in the rain for so long. We were on a trip down the Blue Ridge parkway two weeks ago and we probably had rain every day of and on. By Tuesday night it had seen rain of and on for four days. I actually saw water pooling in the gas cap compartment. I noticed a drain hole in there. If than leads to the tank then I definitely got water in the tank. I noticed when I put the bike back together from a repaint, the small section of rubber was missing from compartment with the gas cap is. I'm sure water was getting in there than never has in the past. I thought that if it was water in the fuel it would have affected all four cylinders. So I'm not sure what the problem was. So is this a common problem that all of these older bikes have stated to experience. If it is water/moisture getting into someplace it should not, where is the most likely. I have experience cracked coils or seen spark plug wires arc in the dark after wetting down the engine on a car. I read someone post about water in the spark plug sockets. I actually had this problem on a 500 Vulcan. It had a deep hole where the spark plug installed and there was a drain passage in the cylinder head to let water out. Well sure enough it was clogged with dirt. Anything like that on the venture. Any ideas of where to look first or should I start with hosing down the bike till it starts to miss fire.

For those still interested, I think the backup fuse might also hold the CB station. Mine always went to channel 9 but think I fixed that by replacing it.

My cb worked great a couple of weeks ago after tuning it with the SWR meter. The last week it started to get worse and worse with respect to transmitting. Tonight it dropped down to 3 feet. Literally, my girlfriend was on her bike sitting right next to me and we could talk but that was it. It went from a mile to several hundred yards to 50 feet and now less than 5 feet. This is a timely thread. It is not often that I do a search and find someone with exactly the same problem. I checked my coax connection to the antenna first since I have replace the stock set up with some off the self connectors. It all looked good. I have had connection at the radio come apart or disconnect (or maybe I forgot to plug them in LOL) so I should probably check their first. I think it started after I was in their attaching a antenna tie in for my sirriusXM radio. I think they are common items. You unplug your antenna, plug in the external signal and then plug your antenna wire into the added on item. I'd be willing to bet that connection of my antenna to falling out. The sirriusxm radio still plays fine but when its off I noticed almost nothing coming across 88.1 which usually gets a little something. This site and everyone's and other sites like it are so helpful I wonder how we managed without them.

Did anyone pick up their windshield mold. I purchased my second one about ten years ago and I thought someone else was making them. It really is a great windshield. It is still as clear as the day I bought it.

Is anyone still making the old tristar windshields. Im on my second one and it makes the bike so nice to ride. Id buy another just to have a spare one.

Thanks for the input. I kind of came to that same conclusion this morning after someone suggested the tank contents would not all drain out the vent line if I removed it. So the tank is coming off and the little cheap tool kit is going in the saddle bag and relay and fuse panel is going on top of the battery. I actually found a step by step guide with part numbers from radio shack for putting another panel and relay on. I am curious as to how that head light comes off still.

I was trying to get in the headlight to look for a wire to power my cb or heated hand grips. How do you get the headlight out. I pulled the four bolts so it looks like it should just pull out. Is this the case because it will not pull right out.

There is a second line off the rear of the tank. I assume it is a vent line and can just be removed without fear of fuel draining out everywhere. Can anyone confirm this. The fuel line appears to have a petcock that can be turned off so it make sense that the rear line is just a vent since there is no valve.

Well that was just to easy. I think I just forgot to plug that one in when I was putting everyrhing back together. Now onto tunning the cb. I .ooked into it on here last year but never got a meter to do it with.

Owego is different than Oswego. Owego is just west. Of Binghamton between Elmyra and Binghamton. We have now moved to Williamsport Pa. I guess I need to update my profile.

I had to wire in a new fuse holder for that circute. I had a five in and now I understand it should have been a ten. I also understand that an after market ceramic plug has been used by others suggesting im not the first to have this pro lem. Thanks to all of you for your help so far.

I have the same problem so im curious which DIN plug or pin was the problem. Im going to dig in to it in a few min.

So I replaced the o rings with the stock ones I just received and now it appears the plastic pipe seal is leaking at the water pump. And I think the by pass might also be leaking but I did not replace that o ring. \ Not sure what to try next.

I'll change it and see if it ever happens again.

Has anyone experienced a reoccurring headlight fuse blowing. I replaced a damaged fuse holder last time it blew and the head light socket. I put a new 2 amp fuse in and yesterday it blew the new fuse. I looked at the headlight but could not tell if it was the stock wattage or not and I think the fuse holder indicated the circuit should have a 5 amp fuse. Previously, the fuse holder got so hot it melted and the head light socket was melted. My only theory is the wrong headlight but this one has been in for years, or the switch sitting in between high beam and low beam and both being on. I had all the fairing off and could see all the wiring harness. I did not see any obvious damage. Any ideas.

It has been a long time since this bike looked this good. I purchased it in maybe 1991? with only 1,200 miles on it. It was perfect for a good 5 years. It was totaled in an accident that did not really damage that much but it has never been fully repaired. It has had two more falls but they were minor and I have been riding a loving owning this bike the whole time. I think it has been to at least 4 class reunions so much more so it has a lot of good memories. I guess that is why I did not just go buy another low mileage one to replace this one. I also like the color. The plastic repairs and repaint cost $2,000 so I don't know if I would recommend it for what the bikes are worth but it was for me since at this stage of my life the money was not worth as much as the bike looking right again.

I toyed with the idea of looking for a perfect one like that or putting the money into my 88. Now that I have spend the last week trying to get all the parts to bolt back up, I'm thinking maybe I should have just gone out and found another one that has never been down. Are you willing to tell us what one has to pay for a nice one like that. I'm really would like to know what an excellent condition 89-91 would be worth. And if you want to part with the fender emblem I'll be happy to buy if from you. Mine fell off a couple of years ago. Found one on ebay but the seller never sent it then disappeared. I did not care so much about the money as much as the part.

This is an interesting idea. I have a break line kit. I will have to try making some up. So far remounting the fairing has been very difficult since I'm sure the fairing frame is not right. I'm close but would love to have a straight fairing frame at this point. But like so much else, no longer available from Yamaha.

I gave up on o rings from else where. I just got the OEM ones and it looks like I have a big flat rubber washer for the thermostat?. That one looked like it could used replaced but I thought it was attached to the thermostat. Guess not.

Can anyone on here tell me if this shop is still in business. A dealer told me they have in stock a part that is no longer available (side vent for an 1988 Venture Royal). When I tried to call the number that is listed for the shop I get the recorded message that the number is no longer in service.

So you think the second gen is worse. I did not think it could get worse. All I can say is I'm glad this bike has never needed any work since V4s are the worst

I think they were tri star industries. Someone correct me if I'm wrong or they are now under a new name. The windshield they sold for the venture was perfect for me. It is tall and wide and took some getting used to but it is one of the reasons I love this bike over so many of the new touring bikes. The still air pocket behind this thing is enormous in my opinion. I was thinking about buying a spare one just incase they stop making them. I'm on my second one and it has a small crack from one of my accidents. Don't think I would like the bike so much with out it.

Its funny that you mention this since last night after about 4 beer at about 2 am in the garage I took the rubber mallet to the engine guard and I do think I manage to move it back close enough to mount up the lower cowling with out forcing it. I am working on the fairing frame now. The mirror holder sections look a little too high for the panel to mount up properly to the lower screw hole. I figure beating them down with the trusty rubber mallet might do the trick. I really don't want to see these new panels crack. Waiting on my O rings.

Some here can probably appreciate this. Just got all the parts back from the painter. Even he was surprised at how many individual pieces there were. They came out looking beautiful. I have been wanting to repair and repaint all the parts for probably 10-13 years now. It's been so long since the first accident I can't remember what year it was. The bike was good as brand new when I purchased it in 1990 or 91 with 1200 miles on it. Having it all back together and looking this good is worth way more than the $2,000 the repair and paint job cost. This is the one place where I think some others can appreciate just how good this feels. I still have not really found a new touring bike that has made me want to give up the venture.

Did you find a clutch replacement procedure somewhere. I have to replace my friction plates and don't think my manual has a good explanation of the procedure. There must be one out there somewhere on this site.