winter work

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Lucasind
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Re: winter work

Post by Lucasind »

Hello all ! Last Sunday ,A rare 55 degree, sunny day in Feb. here in northern Ohio gave me the opportunity to test ride my latest Voyager to grace my workshop airlift for the past 3 months ! I took my van a hour north of Detroit around the end of November and got this one from its resting place in a guys garage for the past 3+ years ..... A very long list of issues kept me busy with this 87' .Fuel leaks from everywhere ! I musta had the carbs on and off this darn thing 5 times before it was right ! :tho: I didn't think it was possible for a Voyager to leak so many fluids ,from so many places ! The strangest one being BOTH counter-balancer shaft seals on the lower R.H. side had been leaking for many years,(never seen one leak from there before) along with the oil pressure sending unit leaking.....had the underside of this engine a filthy mess ! But ...one repair at a time , till the list was complete ....so I thought ....upon my ride last Sunday , the dash lights would flicker, then the turn sigs. wouldnt work without wiggling the key....so called our friend Carl for a new/used keyswitch,, installed that yesterday after work , and now I have the list completed except I would like to replace the stereo's "mute button" on the left handlebar ,(sprays didn't help much) I have a few of the rear passenger radio controllers in like new condition, in my parts cabinet , gonna rob a mute button from one of those and see if it will interchange. Now just waiting for Mother Nature to call for a end to cold and snow ....so we can go riding ! :thmup: ..........................Tony D. :-D
90% OF ANY JOB ...IS GETTING STARTED !
cushman eagle
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Re: winter work

Post by cushman eagle »

Hi,Tony,Long time since we last communicated. :thmup:
I did not know you found another VXII. :clap: It must be giving you something to do in your spare time! :rolling:
How have things been going for you since Summersville?
Are you planning on going to the Rally in New Hamshire?
'99 Voyager VXII,'58 Cushman Eagle
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Lucasind
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Current bike(s): 2003 Voyager 1200
1988 Voyager 1200
1985 Voyager 1300
2008 Concourse 1400
1985 LTD 1100
1981 CSR 1000
1981 CSR 650
1979 KZ 650
1973 XL 350
1988 Eliminator
1975 CB 125
1965 S 65
and a bunch of parts !
Location: Toledo, OH
Has liked: 198 times
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Re: winter work

Post by Lucasind »

......Hello Loren , same old stuff going on, I will send you a picture of the latest XII, ....not sure if we are going to NH this summer , likely not , as Florida friends are coming up to Toledo that week, gotta return the hospitality that they have shown us while visiting FL.......... :-D
90% OF ANY JOB ...IS GETTING STARTED !
cushman eagle
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Re: winter work

Post by cushman eagle »

Tony,if you don't,we should make plans to find some fish somewhere :thmup:
Then get caught back up on news. :woohoo:
'99 Voyager VXII,'58 Cushman Eagle
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joelcolletti
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Re: winter work

Post by joelcolletti »

Hi Tony, I'm interested in finding out how you repaired the leaking Gear Balancer. I noticed I have a slight trickle of what I'm assuming is oil, being pushed, from the front / right sealed bearing. I read on these boards, the bottom end on these machine don't leak, so I'm wondering - Is this likely going to need a tear down; has anyone had this happen and had the repair made?
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cushman eagle
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Re: winter work

Post by cushman eagle »

I never had a leaking balancer shaft, :hmm:
I have had oil leak out of the water pump,but a new seal held in with blue locktite fixed that :thmup:
Tony,aka, Lucasind had the balancer shaft seal leaking.
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joelcolletti (Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:28 pm)
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joelcolletti
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Re: winter work

Post by joelcolletti »

cushman eagle wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:42 am I never had a leaking balancer shaft, :hmm:
I have had oil leak out of the water pump,but a new seal held in with blue locktite fixed that :thmup:
Tony,aka, Lucasind had the balancer shaft seal leaking.
Sorry / Thanks for the 411
1994 Voyager XII- NorCal Voyagers, Montara, CA
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GrandpaDenny
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Re: winter work

Post by GrandpaDenny »

joelcolletti wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:38 pm
cushman eagle wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:42 am Tony,aka, Lucasind had the balancer shaft seal leaking.
Gene Kap explained to me that the balancer shaft leaking is usually caused by using a high-pressure car wash nozzle in the vicinity of the balance shafts. It forces dirt and junk into the seals.
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joelcolletti (Thu Jul 30, 2020 3:08 pm)
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Dennis Fariello
Philadelphia, PA
2000 Voyager XII "Gertrude" - deceased
1993 Vulcan 88 "Emily"
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VXII Manuals:
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joelcolletti
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Re: winter work - Gear Balancer Shaft Seal Leaking = Death Sentence?

Post by joelcolletti »

I hope You and Your Loved Ones are making it through this difficult time and Pandemic - Please stay Well!

Thank you so much for posting: That's really good to know! Thank you for passing along that valuable information on the balancer shaft seal. :perfect10:

In the 26 years I've owned this bike, right from the showroom floor, I never put a garden hose to it nor a power washer. The seeping just came from out-of-the-blue. I noticed the weeping, after taking off my floor boards and heel toe shifter for zipping around the twists here, since I haven't doing any long distance riding the past 5 years or so, since HMB Don and Thrisa left for their new digs.

I read using Loctite or super glue could be a work around, but one shop said it will either work or blow out. Not sure if anyone has a cure for my machine.

I called some "5 Star" Yelp cycle shops nearby, and am hearing 25 hours @ $150 per hour to remove the motor and split the casing; The place I'm considering quoted 25 hrs for $3500 just for labor; with work to start in October. Most places didn't want to take the project on.

I was going to post a separate thread for this matter for some ideas, and to find out if "25 hours" sounds right from Folks-in-the-know.

I was thinking/hoping it would be more like 10 hours. I'm pretty sure they know better and wouldn't want to rush a job like this. A lot of places, here, don't want to touch the bike b/c of its age. Fortunately, there are still plenty of parts out here, and I keep up the bike, so some shops will make an exception occasionally. I don't want to alienate this shop that quoted me for an October tear down.

I've saw an engine parted off of a 2001, with approximately 50,000 mile on it for about $800 on Ebay. This would seem smarter to me, but I have about 60,000 on my machine, and starting to have problems. Reminds me of when I replaced my 76 VW Rabbit motor when I was 19. The dealer's chief mechanic sent me to a wrecker for a working motor. Long-story-short, that engine wouldn't start; I had to buy a factory rebuilt afterward.

Then, I though I could drain the bike, take it off the battery, and keep it as an expensive die - cast model 1:1 scale :-D , which by the way, there isn't any other scale Voyager Xll die cast to be found anywhere. I will want to have a die cast Voyager Xll if I can't keep riding mine any longer.

The shop said riding the bike with the balancer shaft seal leaking, could be dangerous leading to the seal blowing out and spraying my tires with oil. I thought the bottom end was fairly low compression on this machine - is there that chance? In a way I guess I should consider myself lucky to find out before setting off cross country.

Is my couch on wheels done for, or is it worth anything with the needed repair, say to someone like mechanic or someone with expertise, time, patience?

I hate to part with this bike or part it out, as I'd expected to be buried on it.

So many questions: I feel Like I'm losing a Loved One

What would you Folks consider doing?

:please: :help:
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cranky
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Re: winter work

Post by cranky »

.. what if ya assume it won't blow out, put a diaper on it and add oil as needed?
Easy works for me... Ya might check the "other" Kawasaki site, VROC.org for (Vulcan group)
fixing oil leaks, there have been cases, and of course, I don't remember any,
sigh.... Bet ya can find some sticky sealant that will do the job, and of course,
I have no idea where the repair is or what is involved.... Very Best to Ya!!!
'03 Voyager - http://tinyurl.com/mqtgpwp VROC pics of Gina
Cranky - Bill Snodgrass AVA # 6544. VROC # 16804
Cranked >128K miles, Mtn bike-no motor!!!
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Re: winter work

Post by joelcolletti »

Thanks Cranky- I Really Appreciate Your feedback. :idea: I kind of have a diaper on it now-when the engine cools, but the pipes get too hot to leave it on. I'll check out the VROC Folks site like you suggested. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a non invasive sealant type solution if there is one out there. :thanks: :thewave:
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Re: winter work

Post by wyofisher »

Actually the balance shaft seals aren’t that bad. Mine took to leaking last week. I just changed them, took about an hour, and I wasn’t rushing. Took off the brake pedal, and peg. Loosened the oil line clamp, as the bolt looks trapped by the exhaust. Remove both oil line banjo bolts. Took off the balance shaft clamp, the shafts can spin easily after this. Punctured the middle of the seals with a nail, to let me get my cotter pin hook engaged. Lightly tap the cotter pin hook in and Bobs your uncle. Then just install and lightly tap it in to seat with a socket.

Why do all my photos load upside down and out of order? I even flipped them over in my photo editor, but same result...
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wyofisher
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Re: winter work

Post by wyofisher »

Now it’s bath time for my therapist (bike). Sorry, one or more grasshoppers may have been injured in the making of this mess.
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