My new (to me) 81H

[GLoweVA]

Spent the weekend getting him road ready.
Put the fairing on, lowers too.
Flushed the brakes, put on a 160 speedo, all locks from the G, newer grips and a throttle lock.
The gears are tight since TC and Chuck did the fix.
Missing the clutch interlock switch and found out how convenient that would be.
Stalled in first gear and had a heck of a time getting it back in neutral. Lol.
Thinking about swapping lids with a spare bag instead of fixing that huge crack. Got a bungee on it for now.
Had to drill out the lock for the right fairing cover and use the one off the sg for now until i can swing by home depot for a new lock.

Here's the pics:

[cpmaynard1980]

Looking good George!

[motoman]

Looks like it'll make a decent bike with not too much work!

Someone has swapped out the front case guards and rear luggage chrome frame work. The Venturer had the longer front case guards so in the event of a tip-over, the rear frame work hit the ground same time as front case guards so that both absorbed the impact same time. Venturer also had the double rail frame around hard cases along with carrier rack and sliding back-rest.

All in all, looks like all the 'hard-to-find' pieces are all still intact.

[GLoweVA]

Looks like it'll make a decent bike with not too much work!

Someone has swapped out the front case guards and rear luggage chrome frame work. The Venturer had the longer front case guards so in the event of a tip-over, the rear frame work hit the ground same time as front case guards so that both absorbed the impact same time. Venturer also had the double rail frame around hard cases along with carrier rack and sliding back-rest.

All in all, looks like all the 'hard-to-find' pieces are all still intact.

I was wondering about that. I think it was dropped by a previous owner. There's rash on the right side of the fairing and then right bag lid is cracked badly. I also think the triple tree is misaligned too.
The bag colors seem a little lighter too.

[cpmaynard1980]

The handle bars that were on it when i got it were also bent on the right side. It wasn't bent a lot but noticeable. The guy i got it from told me he had dropped it in a parking lot around 5mph, but he is also the guy who said the transmission was fine. lol.

[GLoweVA]

Update

Rode/limped him home from work yesterday and I had an issue with fuel delivery to the left side. (#1 & 2 headers were not hot at all compared to 3 & 4)

It didn't matter if the petcock was on prime or res/on.
When I first started him up last week and took it for a test ride, I noticed that the left side fuel flow was a little slow, filled up the tank and all seemed better.
With the ride to work Monday and Tuesday, enough fuel was used that the tank level was about 1/3, so maybe there wasn't enough 'fuel pressure' to 'push' the fuel like it did last week.

I've got filters and new fuel lines on him.
So, either the tower is clogged up (not likely due to reserve not having any affect)
or the filter is clogged (new filters last week)
or the inlet screens on 1 & 2 both clogged. (both?)
Don't see any kinks. I'll try to post a pic of the fuel line routing.
Basically it's out of the petcock, (lines not crossed to opposite sides) then down the outside of the airbox just forward of the frame rail snug between the frame and the airbox so it's hidden by the side cover then as it goes under the airbox forward that's where the filter is then it goes up to the carb inlet.

Last week, when I first put the tank on and primed the system, that side (left) filter was slow to fill up and it looked like some air was trapped in there.
Before I put the tank on, both petocks flowed free in prime and flowed okay with a little mouth suction on the vac ports.

Any ideas on which direction I should try to tackle this?
I was thinking about taking the filters out first and seeing if that works.
If that's not it, then try rerouting the lines for a more direct approach so the fuel doesn't have to go up then down then up again. (minimize the path so to speak)
If that's not it, then I might try my ugly (green) G tank instead.
Then lastly pulling the carbs and try flushing the inlet screens.

[CKlamer]

I was wondering do you have enough hose to swap the vaccuum lines from the other side and see if that is it?

Have you removed the hose to see if the fuel flows after cranking the bike?

Few things you can do beforestarting the diassembly part.

I would say swap sides and see if the same happens with the other side.

Good Luck

[GLoweVA]

I was wondering do you have enough hose to swap the vaccuum lines from the other side and see if that is it?

Have you removed the hose to see if the fuel flows after cranking the bike?

Few things you can do beforestarting the diassembly part.

I would say swap sides and see if the same happens with the other side.

Good Luck

The vacuum lines shouldn't come in to play, cause the problem existed even with the petcocks on prime.

I do like the idea of pulling the line apart at the filter and see if it flows there.
DUH! That's classic troubleshooting 101, split the problem in half.
If I've got flow there, then my problem is further downstream i.e. the carbs.

Thanks for sparking that thought!
That's while I ask here @ XS11, many more minds than just mine and lots of different viewpoints!

[Nightengale]

Bike

Glad to see that that bike went to a good home. I might have some spare parts laying around if you need anything. And I just got my banjo bolts at advance auto parts, they sell a package that has a lot of different sizes in it. Good luck with the bike, I know you have wanted one for a while.

[GLoweVA]

Just another update:
Got him all together and have been riding him to/from work now for a week.
I think I've figured out the fuel issue. I was the routing. The lines didn't like going up then down. It would get air bound about the time I hit reserve and sucked some air down the hose, then I'd switch to res and it could get past the 'air bubble' in the line very well and had a hard time getting enough fuel for the highway.
I've got the lowers on now and I love them in this 30-40F weather we're having.
My Father-In-Law bought me an early Christmas present. A modular full face helmet!
No more rosey cheeks and cold button nose for me!

I'm surprised at how much power this bike has compared to my SG.
I've been averaging about 30-32mpgs, but that probably due to my going above 65 A LOT! Vroom Vroom!
I've replaced the fuel sending voltage regulator in the tach and now have tank readings, but I don't really believe it. I almost ran out of gas at 150miles while on res and the indicator read above 1/3. Put 5 gals in. I thought the venturer had a 5.9 gal tank?
I may have to pull the petcocks and look at the filter towers. Kind of hard to do with a full tank of gas though. LOL!
When I do that, I may swap out the sending unit with the one from the G and see if that makes any difference.

Anyhow, my next big project will be the SG motor repairs and swap the original engine back in her. (may have to wait a bit for it to warm up a little in the carport first.)

[skids]

I have a venturer sending unit on an earlier tank and when the needle touches the E mark, you are empty. Less warning. If you do the reverse, I would expect the opposit reaction on the fuel gage...

[motoman]

Hi George,
Fuel capacity of Venturer's tank is rated at 6.3gal. I have on occassion actually put 6.5gal. of fuel in it.

[GLoweVA]

Hi George,
Fuel capacity of Venturer's tank is rated at 6.3gal. I have on occassion actually put 6.5gal. of fuel in it.

Thanks Moto. I may have to stash a gas can in a saddle bag and suck it dry to see how far it'll go.

I may put in a fuel crossover 'T' to see it maybe one side is hindering me by emptying first.