How To's

This is a list of popular modifications that will save you money and time. A lot of which will make your Vstar look great.   We at the VSTAR Custom, Classic, & Dragstar forum and Website do not guarantee the success of the following mods. They can be done if you take your time and follow the instructions. The use of factory repair manuals and after market repair manuals may be beneficial, have useful information, and relevant information. Intake (See Performance Info section for Intake mods) Home made carb sync tool Here is a carb sync tool for under $2.00 AIS Instructions on the disable and / or removal of the AIS   Exhaust Drill out of stock (3 Hole mod) How to drill out stock exhaust for a minor gain in sound New pipe mod (Telmo mod) New way to drill out stock exhaust without rejetting. Pipe Mod (First Baffle Gut) (Pre-Catalytic Converter models) The inexpensive way to modify your pipes Slash cut exhaust (Third Baffle Gut) (Pre-Catalytic Converter models) instructions on slash cutting your exhaust Make your own baffle Build a baffle for slash cut pipes Crumb Cup mod A way to quiet down pipes. This mod is written for HK pipes, but works on others. (*External Link) Thumb screw mod How to add back pressure on Drag Pipes. (*External Link) Suspension Extending front forks How to extend the front fork by increasing the preload. Installing Progressive Springs Installing Progressive Fork Springs. Install a 21 inch Harley wheel How to convert the front end to accept a 21 inch Harley wheel Front fork tube extension Extend the front fork by adding tube extensions Rear Drive swap from Virago 535 How to swap final drive gear and splines from a Virago 535 to the V-Star. (*External Link) Julio Slam The inexpensive way to lower your bike as much a 4 inches (*External Link) Stop from bottoming out with the JSlam How to add spacers to stop bottoming out Shock Preload Adjustment Instructions on adjusting the shock preload Replace Fork Seals Step by step instructions for replacing the fork seals (*External Link) Seeger Front End Instructions on installing a Seeger raked triple tree Electrical / Lighting Passing Lamps The inexpensive way to install passing lamps 12V Outlet Installation By ShortShots How to Connect a Garage Door Opener (Bright Headlight Switch) By Lance Tracy Charging System How to troubleshoot your charging system Hidden Wires An easy way to hide the handlebar wires LEDs in HC Mod Instructions on adding LEDs in the Hyper Charger (great mod). Flasher replacement An inexpensive way to fix flasher problems after installing aftermarket turn signals Denso FB257H LED Flasher Mod By Werner Schwiering (Canuckwheels) Pickup Coil How to troubleshoot and replace pickup coil Mini passing lights Installing mini passing lights or fog lights. Tail Light Mod How to add a flush tail light to your bike Shortening front light bar How to shorten the front light bar for a sleeker look Neon Air box Mod Instructions on adding neon lights to the air box cover (great mod). Key relocation Instructions on relocating starter key to speedo Add Radio to your bike How to add a radio to your bike for under $50.00 Electrical system Calculations of electrical system uses Lamp Install Installations instructions for Yamaha Passing Lamps Diode Mod After added LED turn signals, add Diodes if both left and right turns blink at the same time (*External Link) Stator or Pick-up Coil Replace the Stator or Pick-Up Coil Clutch Clutch adjustment mod How to add some play in the clutch grip Replacement Clutch Springs Install Barnett Clutch Springs to eliminate slippage   Add-Ons / Dress Up Bag Guards Add Hard Bag brush guards True Cruise control How to add an Audiovox cruise control to your bike (not a throttle lock) CamLock Cruise control How to add CamLock cruise control to your bike Final Drive Polishing Shining up the final drive housing. Fork Polishing Low cost way to shine up the front end. Hub Rotor Instructions on how polish the front Hub rotor Harley Engine Guard Modify a Harley Engine Guard to work with Ziv's control relocation kit. Seat Modification How to cut and modify you stock seat Seat Modification by Michael Hendricks (*External Link) Driver's Backrest How build a custom driver's backrest. Driver's Backrest 2 A driver's Backrest that mounts to the Fender Stays. Should work with any seat. Horn relocation How to relocate your horn and dress up your bike Stainless wire covers An easy way cover wires with stainless steel Flush mounted gas cap Instructions on mounting a flush gas cap Ghost Seat How build a custom passenger seat Tank Stretch How to do a gas tank stretch Chrome petcock mod How to add a chrome petcock Custom Speedo Faces How to add a custom speedometer face to your bike Forward controls relocation mod How to move your floor boards/pegs forward for more leg room Tourease Board Install How to install Tourease boards. Studding your seat An easy way to stud your seats License Plate and Turn Signals Install Kuryakyn RoadStar License Plate frame and Turn Signals Keg Mod Great explanation on keg performance Classic Floor Boards on a Custom 650 Vstar (*External Link) Maintenance Valve adjustment Complete instructions on adjusting the valves Replacing the Brake Line How to replace the Brake line and bleed the new one. Install EBC Brake Pads EBC Double H brake pads - "How to install" & product review How to Change the Oild By Todd Engle Shaft Lubrication Lubricate shaft splines and final gear drive before problems occur Final drive alignment procedure How to make sure the final drive is aligned correctly Winterization How to get you bike ready for winter storage $20.00 bike lift Instructions on how to make a bike lift (*External Link) Moving the rear fender Lift the rear fender on a Custom, to get extra working room when working on the wiring or wheel. Maintenance Schedule List of maintenance schedule Misc Vented Cap (links to RoadStar clinic) How to vent a non-vented gas cap. (*External Link) V Star 650 Neutral Switch Oil Leak Fix Zia Rider Blog (*External Link) Sealing a spoked rim to run a tubeless tire By BearDad, Based on PianoV’s Procedures   * External Links are not under the control of the 650ccnd forum, and as such, may or may not contain information, thoughts, or statements supported by the forum and its moderators.