Yamaha XV500k Virago...anyone?

[LoHo]

If anyone has a working model or some experience with this old bike, please let me know,as I'd like to ask some questions.

[Pat Kelly]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/viragoownersclub

Quite similar to the XS Yahoo group.
Flagman is quite knwolegeable on these bikes.
My wife rides a 96 1100 Virago. I have a manual and might be able to answer some questions

[LoHo]

Thanks Pat...I've got a manuel, but the 500 was only one year, 1983, and the Clymer's doesn't cover it. I've figured most of it out, but there are a couple of quirks that have got me stymied. That, and the bike has passed through several careless hands before I got my meathooks into it, so there are the "who-the-hell-repaired-this?" sort of problems.
For example, the fuel petcock has a double chamber: there is a line to a fuel pump, then to the carbs, and then a return line back from the carbs into the tank, as well as a vacuum attachment. Some PO pulled the two diaphragms out of the petcock and replaced them with gasket material, so they are always on. Another took the gas cap off and let water into the tank and carbs years ago. I have gotten it to start up and run for a while after cleaning the carbs, but there are still issues. The starter button wiring is suspect and the solenoid is rusted solid. All of the connectors have baked in the sun so that they crumble into white powder when touched. I got a manual on CD about just for the 500, and it made a big deal about leaving the pilot circuit screws alone, so I did, but I know that those two passages must be as gunked up as the others were. Oh well...having only two carbs to screw with seems like a picnic!

[Pat Kelly]

I would join the Yahoo Virago group. They are as nuts....um....knowlegable about Viragos as this group.

[LoHo]

They don't know any more about Viragoes than this group does? These guys don't know anything about Viragoes!

Yep, I have already joined up. There are several sites similar to the old XS11 site with tips and info. My wife's bike was a '95 XV750, so I already had some familiarity. The fun is in the details.

Thanks, Pat!

~LoHo~