Virago Forum?

Does anyone know of a good forum for the Virago? I've been looking at an XV920 that I want to ask a question about. I tried to get on this one called viragotechforum.com but can't sign up because of the control pictures that have 8 icons you have to enter but they won't come up and all I get are boxes with the symbol for a broken graphic in them so I need a forum that works.

 

heyya, AZ. being a forum admin (elsewhere) myownself I always enjoy going to a different forum and see someone else in the hot seat :wink: But I had no probs with the viragotechforum you cited. They did say they had just been having some problems so maybe you tried to join during (Un)Happy Hour. Or the admins were backed up right then (it's wrong, and annoying, but all too common).

anyway, discussion seemed pretty good so it might be worth another try

just me two pence worth.

 

I just went there; it took a second or two for the images to load, but load they did.

 

Here's a link to the home page: Viragotechforum

Got a Virago Steve ? Just sold one a few months ago... Problems ?

 

gcrick, I just went to Viragotechforum again and tried to register but only 1 of the pictures will come up. Even if I right click and click Show Image it won't come up so it's pretty useless. If you have a way to contact someone there you might tell them to use reCaptcha like everyone else since that works. Sometimes it asks you to guess how to spell something that's not even a word but at least it doesn't hang and not display the characters.

Anyway, I was looking at a VX920 the P.O. had taken apart due to a burned exhaust valve and after a year now wants it out of his garage. When I looked around it seems that nobody sells parts for those and don't even have the parts list online anymore so where do you get parts? Also, I wonder if it's worth getting one that some moron took apart and try to reassemble it?

 

I haven't been in the Virago Forum since selling mine a Looong time ago. I just remember reading the technique some member had for installing new transistors and capacitors in the Igniter Box. Virago Boxes were notorious for failing because of the placement of the Box and its close proxsimity to both vibration and heat.

Of all the Viragos still around the 920 seems like the one that made it. The 700 and 750's couldn't hack it and the starter's were NO Fun to service every couple months after they started acting up.

I'm surprised anything is left to look at.
They had the same problem that the OLD XJ-Group had with a site owner that flew the coop and just let the thing carry on.

You might like wrenching onn the 920. If the parts arent all rusted and pitted you can make a pretty nice and comfortable cruiser out of somebodies screw-up ... provided everything is there to rebuild it.

 

Well he still has most of the parts in boxes and there's no rust of course but everything is covered with lots of dust. He only wants $200 for it and used ones are selling for about $2000 so it seems like a pretty good deal if I can get it back together.

 

man, having that 920 (running well) would be pretty sweet, wouldn't it? Strong bike! Of course that kinda lust has gotten me into some really-not-smart projects. Anyway, please report on how this turns out.

puzzling that you're not getting graphics on the capchas. I have that happen on some site once in a blue moon, and dammedifiknow why. Maybe connection congestion, format incompatibility... I dunno. Did you hit 'refresh'? not a likely fix, but only gambles one more mouseclick.

I've got no bias whatever re: this site. never been there nor heard of it before your mention. but you might just drop an email to forums@viragotech.com note registration problem, ask they register you directly. (this is fairly common: the way we register blind Internet users)

if they have their act together you'll hear back w/registration. if not, I personally might probably just think, ah... Forget them and the Virago they rode in on! :wink:

 

I believe they were only made 81 - 83. There are still parts available for them at some of the online parts houses. Only problem I had was getting thos dam dual carbs setup correctly. A real pain to get those carbs in and out again for float adjustments. Finally got them real close before I sold it. Alot of guys have converted them to the single with a custom intake on the 700's, 750's, 1000's and 1100's, but never seen a single on a 920. As Rick pointed out the 700 & 750's had a real starter gear problem, not sure about the 920. The 920R would be a good bike to get for the resale as it's a chain drive I believe out of Europe, pretty rare.

 

I tried emailing forums@viragotech.com but they never replied. However I found a couple others that look good such as the Virago Owners Club.

 

Someone with cash in hand beat me to the XV920. Whew, what a relief! They sure saved me a lot of work!

 

Someone with cash in hand beat me to the XV920. Whew, what a relief! They sure saved me a lot of work!

 

ArizonaSteve, Sorry you didn't get your XV920? I have one that I just picked up. The Virago Tech Forum seems pretty good. Same problems as the XJ's ........ Carbs! Carbs! Carbs!

 

The Virago Tech Forum seems to be very slow to respond to newly registered members.
I registered about a week ago, yet still have not received the 2nd confirmation/activation e-mail so I am unable to post over there.

I will give them one more e-mail and then I'm done, I'll find another forum for my Virago ?s

 

Osage, I have not had any problems with them and have found them very responsive and helpful with my new project XV920. Go to the registration site and drop them an email. Wish you the best. I have had a good amount of experience with the older XV's, if I can help. Let me know. My XJ750 is running like a top....

 

Osage, try this link......... and send them an email explaining your problem.

mailto:forums@viragotech.com

 

I had problems with hotmail recieving from that site.

 

Another good place would be to check out the Virago Owners Club
http://www.viragoownersclub.org
I like them both, but the VOC is pretty good. My main ride is a 1983 XJ650 Maxim. You can see it in my gallery. I have others, in various stages. I do have some virago projects: an 81 XV750, and am building an XV1100 from three different bikes. I also have a bunch of virago parts. If anyone needs something, ask....I may have it available.

dave

 

Osage, If you have a Spam blocker, their email to you could have been blocked.
hogfiddles, what have you got? Send me a PM.

 

Yes I sent them another e-mail this AM......
I did not mean to say they were unresponsive on the forum as much as slow to send a activation link for a newly registered user.

Luckily I have no problems with my Virago, just wanted to have a place to post if something comes up in the future.

 

Wish I could say the same, but for $250, what do you want. I am getting things sorted out. If I can help, I will be glad to try. You can find me here or on the Virago Forum under the same Goofy logo. What year and model Virago do you have? Thankfully my SECA is running fine.

 

89 XV250 5k miles.
I got 75 mpg on my first tank, it is going to be my daily driver for work.

 

Thanks,
XV920's don't do quite that well on gas mileage, but still 40ish if you treat her nice. I get 50 plus on my SECA 750, but it will be my son's bike as soon as I get the Virago running right.

 

Yea, those carbs on the Virago are fun to get setup, but once you get them cleaned, levels set and installed for the n'th time... They run great. I was getting around 38mpg with the XV700 I had for about a year, too much fun to ride or I probably woulda got more. Like here, alot of good folks and information over on ViragoTechForum.com.

 

In my case the carbs aren't the problem, my issue is ignition and has been narrowed down to the Igniter unit. I have ordered a new (used) one which should be here next week. Then I will send my old unit in to have it rebuilt and I should be down to finding a Fairing mount and doing the cosmetic stuff which needs to be done. Paint, cleaning and such.

 

Hey i've also got that same virago 920. I got it from a friend who rode it for two years before putting it in storage for three. I can get the engine to turn but it won't start. I had to take off the carbs to clean etc. will it start if they aren't syncronized? Any advice on getting it to start?

 

Make sure you have a good battery and that it is fully charged. Make sure you have spark at the plugs, you can use a timing lite to check that if you have one available. Otherwise there is a nice little tool that goes between the spark plug and the spark plug wire that has a window in it that lets you see the spark. Available at any auto supply store. Try using some starting fluid and see if will hit, if so, its probably a fuel problem. Check the float level on the carbs using the clear tube method. The pilot screws should be turned out 2 1/4 turns from a soft seat. In other words, screw them all the way in being careful not to seat them hard as that can damage the seat and the needle. The turn them counterclockwise to the distance indicated above and all things being equal it should start. Once started, then there are methods to sync the carbs.

 

i've been trying to start the bike with direct circuit cause the starter button wasn't complete after reassembly. so i checked the spark and there is no spark. I don't know if the starter button would complete the circuit or what. i tried looking at the wiring diagram and couldn't make heads or tails of it. i have found a loose wire... yes i am a novice. i can't find its connecting wire. this could be the problem, but i'm at a loss with those wiring diagrams

 

Where is the wire physically located on the bike and what color is it? What model bike do you have?

 

I can't be 100%, but pretty sure it is a xv920rj, it was made in 1982, it is the shaft drive model. The wire is a red/white wire located to the left top rear of the battery. Note:i did get some action before dissasembly.

 

also it is the electronic dash, and square light model

 

Check your kill switch on the right handle bar, Check the main fuse under the seat as well as the other fuses in the fuse holder under the headlight. I will trace the wire out and get back to you later today.

 

i checked the fuses under the seat and under the light, they are good, i haven't checked the kill switch yet, i'm not home right now, i'll check it tonight, thanks

 

The red/white wire is a power wire that supplies power to most of the bike through the main fuse located under the seat. It goes to the starter relay and to a number of relays located under the seat on the rear fender. It also powers the coils through the ignition fuse as indicated on the wiring diagram. You need to take a volt meter and check continuity to all the places indicated on the wiring diagram where the red/white wire goes. Then you need to make sure you have 12 volts at the coils on the red/white wire. As for the loose wire, I would check the starter switch first, it is located by the battery box next to #1 (Rear) cylinder. You might also try the following site; http://www.nabble.com/Yamaha-Virago-f13916.html and yamaguzzi might be able to help. You need a Clymer or Haynes manual for the bike and the wiring diagrams for it as well. The bike sounds like an '82. On the front cylinder at the base of the jug 920cc should be stamped in the jug.

 

alright, i found the problem, the starter cut-off relay was bad, and i can get the power from pushing the start button. but i still get no spark. thanks for your help

 

Make sure you have power to the coils and to the Igniter unit under the gas tank. If you have power to both the coils and the Igniter, check the continuity of the grey wire from the igniter to the front coil and then do the same from the orange wire to the rear coil. If these are good, pull off the small plug on the igniter and check that the pickup coils read 155 ohms across each coil. Then check from each pin on the pickup coil connector to ground and this should read open. If you get a short, you have a bad pickup coil or a wire shorted to ground at the case opening where they go into the clutch housing. If these all check correctly, you probably have a bad Igniter unit. Don't forget to check the ignition fuse with a meter.

 

Make sure you have power to the coils and to the Igniter unit under the gas tank. If you have power to both the coils and the Igniter, check the continuity of the grey wire from the igniter to the front coil and then do the same from the orange wire to the rear coil. If these are good, pull off the small plug on the igniter and check that the pickup coils read 155 ohms across each coil. Then check from each pin on the pickup coil connector to ground and this should read open. If you get a short, you have a bad pickup coil or a wire shorted to ground at the case opening where they go into the clutch housing. If these all check correctly, you probably have a bad Igniter unit. Don't forget to check the ignition fuse with a meter.

I have power to the coils and to the igniter unit. I checked the continuity and it is good from ignitor to coils. the pickup coils read 152 ohms across each coil, they read open to ground. I replaced a fuse in the fuse box under the light, all check out good so i'm going to see if the yamaha shop can test the ignitor. thanks

 

Good Luck with getting the Yamaha dealer to check it out. There is a guy in Illinois who rebuilds them for $99. He turns them around very quickly. If you are interested I will give you his contact info.

 

http://viragotechforum.com/phpBB/index.php . The Virago Forum is back on-line as of this morning. There are some very knowledgable people there who can probably tell you things to try that I may have missed. Check with EB and Gazer, both are very knowledgable regarding Virago's. I will continue to try and help as best I can, but I don't want you to miss out on some expertise.

 

ok i finally got spark, i bypassed the power from the starting circuit cutoff relay and the cutoff relay and giving power from the battery to the igniter. I can get it to start, but as soon as i let go of the start button it dies. thanks for the help earlier. any help is good help thanks.

 

You need to follow the battery for the igniter through those relays to see where you are losing it. It is the red/white wire, I believe. The reason it dies when you let off the start button is because you are getting power to the igniter from there somehow. Power for the igniter should come from the ignition fuse to the ignition switch through the kill switch and then through the relays you mention as well as the neutral switch and the side stand switch. So you need to start at the ignition fuse and follow the red/white wire to find where you are losing +12 volts.

 

Thanks, i can now get it started and it runs at idle, but as soon as i touch the throttle it dies.

 

Now locate the pilot screws. They are on the bottom of the carbs fartherest away from the cylinder each carb feeds. There may be a cover over them, if so, it has to be removed. Turn the screws clockwise until it seats softly. Make sure you don't seat the needle firmly as it will damage the seat/needle. Turn each pilot screw out (counterclockwise) 2 1/2 turns. This is a good starting point and each cylinder low speed circuit can be adjusted for the smoothest idle from this point. Out to inrich; in to lean.