98 vulcan 1500

[rocky555]

about to trade existing bike, sports tourer for a real tourer, for 98 vulcan 1500. can any one help with a list of probs to look for. she has 19000 on the clock ,screen hard bags ect .

[rfb92345]

One problem that I have is when I get home from a ride......I want to ride some more. Truthfully, except for some very minor problems, mine has been pretty trouble free. It has 73K on the clock. The last 7K have been mine.

[Classic]

On the early 1500's, 1999 and before, there was a problem with the oil pump drive gear which was made from a non-metallic material. Kawasaki was fixing these failed gears (POG's aka Plastic Oil Gears) for free but only after they failed and only if the rider didn't keep riding the bike after oil pressure went to zero and the engine got all clattery. You can also get something called "Judges Steel Oil Gear" and proactively change it yourself. The early 1500's also had a problem with 2nd gear but I think the 98's were not affected. I could be wrong. Best way to tell is to really get on the throttle in 2nd gear and see if it jumps out of gear.

Wish I had better news but the early 1500's had their problem potential.

[ohiovulcan]

Check out this post from a few days ago. It`s about a 1997 Vulcan. Same bike." 97-vulcan-1500-good-bad-etc. " And also welcome to the site. Your gonna like it here!!

[rfb92345]

I sure am glad my bike can't read.

[ohiovulcan]

Originally Posted by rfb92345

I sure am glad my bike can't read.

Agreed!!!!!!!!! Hate to have the old girls feeling bad after all the great service!!!

[rfb92345]

Originally Posted by ohiovulcan

Agreed!!!!!!!!! Hate to have the old girls feeling bad after all the great service!!!

With all this bad press about our bikes (early Vulcans), I am reconsidering wearing some kevlar underwear. Sound like we are both due for a massive explosion between our legs. I don't know about where you live, but I guess every morning they must scrape all the dead Vulcans off the freeway, because by the time I get there, they are all gone.

[ohiovulcan]

Originally Posted by rfb92345

With all this bad press about our bikes (early Vulcans), I am reconsidering wearing some kevlar underwear. Sound like we are both due for a massive explosion between our legs. I don't know about where you live, but I guess every morning they must scrape all the dead Vulcans off the freeway, because by the time I get there, they are all gone.

Haven`t seen any dead one`s on the roads around here either. But I`m thinkin maybe we better get rid of these old death traps before Spring so we can maybe buy something more reliable to ride the rest of the year.

[rfb92345]

Yeah, we are on borrowed time for sure. If you happen to see a mushroom cloud to the west, one morning, that will be me. I think I'll rename my bike from "the grenade" to the "grim reaper".

[ohiovulcan]

Originally Posted by rfb92345

Yeah, we are on borrowed time for sure. If you happen to see a mushroom cloud to the west, one morning, that will be me. I think I'll rename my bike from "the grenade" to the "grim reaper".

Just a couple more posts and I think I may just put her out on the curb.
Or maybe dismantel the beast and put her out of her misery. Then scatter her parts across this great land so no one can put the beast togather again.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Classic

On the early 1500's, 1999 and before, there was a problem with the oil pump drive gear which was made from a non-metallic material.

It appears that the POG was used in 98 and 99 only according to sources on the Delphi forum.

Even at that, it seems to be the Nomads that have had an "unfair" level of failures.

Part numbers:
1999 - 2008 1500 Classic: 16085-1345 (has holes in the "webbing")
1996 - 1998 1500 Classic: 16085-1177 (solid wheel)
1996 - 1999 1500A: 16085-1177
2001 - 2005 Drifter: 16085-1345
1999 - 2000 Drifter: 16085-1335 (solid wheel)
2001 - 2008 Nomad (EFI): 16085-1345
1999 - 2001 Nomad (Carbed): 16085-1344 (solid wheel)

The 1996 - 1998 Classic and 1996 - 1999 "A" models do not show the same part number as the 1999 - 2001 Nomad.
The -1335 (Drifter), -1334 (Nomad), and -1177 (Classic/A) show as "canceled" under item status. -1345 is a replacement for all previous gears, and it is the only part showing as "active"... and while I suspect that the 3 "solid" gears are plastic, the fact remains that the early 1500 Classics did not come with the same part that was on the 1999 Nomad.

The current 1600 models show the same part as the later 1500's (-1345).

When reports on Delphi say "'98 and '99", they probably mean that the POG was put into production in 1998 for model-year 1999 (since the Nomad didn't exist in 199.

[ohiovulcan]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

It appears that the POG was used in 98 and 99 only according to sources on the Delphi forum.

Even at that, it seems to be the Nomads that have had an "unfair" level of failures.

Part numbers:
1999 - 2008 1500 Classic: 16085-1345 (has holes in the "webbing")
1996 - 1998 1500 Classic: 16085-1177 (solid wheel)
1996 - 1999 1500A: 16085-1177
2001 - 2005 Drifter: 16085-1345
1999 - 2000 Drifter: 16085-1335 (solid wheel)
2001 - 2008 Nomad (EFI): 16085-1345
1999 - 2001 Nomad (Carbed): 16085-1344 (solid wheel)

The 1996 - 1998 Classic and 1996 - 1999 "A" models do not show the same part number as the 1999 - 2001 Nomad.
The -1335 (Drifter), -1334 (Nomad), and -1177 (Classic/A) show as "canceled" under item status. -1345 is a replacement for all previous gears, and it is the only part showing as "active"... and while I suspect that the 3 "solid" gears are plastic, the fact remains that the early 1500 Classics did not come with the same part that was on the 1999 Nomad.

The current 1600 models show the same part as the later 1500's (-1345).

When reports on Delphi say "'98 and '99", they probably mean that the POG was put into production in 1998 for model-year 1999 (since the Nomad didn't exist in 199.

My 97 Classic had a POG. I broke it off myself and put on the JOG

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by ohiovulcan

My 97 Classic had a POG. I broke it off myself and put on the JOG

How did the teeth look? I've read reports of them looking pretty bad at low mileage.

[rfb92345]

So, Rich, what are you saying?

[president]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

How did the teeth look? I've read reports of them looking pretty bad at low mileage.

Mine is 97 1500 Classic, it has POG, i had to change the 2nd gear.
Upon rebuild the POG looked like new. When i rebuilded it it had 16222 km on it (aprox. 10000 miles).
i dont have any problems with POG.

[anrfknm]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

It appears that the POG was used in 98 and 99 only according to sources on the Delphi forum.

Even at that, it seems to be the Nomads that have had an "unfair" level of failures.

Part numbers:
1999 - 2008 1500 Classic: 16085-1345 (has holes in the "webbing")
1996 - 1998 1500 Classic: 16085-1177 (solid wheel)
1996 - 1999 1500A: 16085-1177
2001 - 2005 Drifter: 16085-1345
1999 - 2000 Drifter: 16085-1335 (solid wheel)
2001 - 2008 Nomad (EFI): 16085-1345
1999 - 2001 Nomad (Carbed): 16085-1344 (solid wheel)

The 1996 - 1998 Classic and 1996 - 1999 "A" models do not show the same part number as the 1999 - 2001 Nomad.
The -1335 (Drifter), -1334 (Nomad), and -1177 (Classic/A) show as "canceled" under item status. -1345 is a replacement for all previous gears, and it is the only part showing as "active"... and while I suspect that the 3 "solid" gears are plastic, the fact remains that the early 1500 Classics did not come with the same part that was on the 1999 Nomad.

The current 1600 models show the same part as the later 1500's (-1345).

When reports on Delphi say "'98 and '99", they probably mean that the POG was put into production in 1998 for model-year 1999 (since the Nomad didn't exist in 199.

rich, my '97 classic had a pog. also, i've never had any 2nd gear isssues in almost 70k miles. (?)

[Classic]

Originally Posted by anrfknm

rich, my '97 classic had a pog. also, i've never had any 2nd gear isssues in almost 70k miles. (?)

It wasn't a 100% failure rate but it was enough that Kawasaki issued a FAR (Factory Authorized Repair) for the problems. The FAR for the 2nd gear problem has been discontinued if memory serves but for the POG it's still in effect.

For someone about to purchase a bike in the affected date range, it's worth checking out especially the 2nd gear health where all he really needs to do is jump on the throttle a few times while in 2nd. The oil gear wouldn't stop me from buying the bike but I would certainly install the Judges Oil Gear and be done with it.

All you naysayers with high mileage on your POG's - the gear failure won't kill you or make you bike explode but when it fails it'll punch big holes in the ozone layer and make polar bears drown.

[dickwol]

Originally Posted by Classic

It wasn't a 100% failure rate but it was enough that Kawasaki issued a FAR (Factory Authorized Repair) for the problems. All you naysayers with high mileage on your POG's - the gear failure won't kill you or make you bike explode but when it fails it'll punch big holes in the ozone layer and make polar bears drown.

Not only is it not a 100% failure rate, it was somewhere around 8% for Classics and about 17% for Nomads. I remember seeing these stats posted on one of forums a couple of years ago. As for those polar bears I thought they were pretty strong swimmers but I see that there is an effort underway giving those bears a status of "threatened".

[rfb92345]

I think I can live with 8%....as far as the polar bears, they will have to fend for themselves. As far as 2nd gear, I have noticed that sometimes it takes a firm heel to engauge...no big...I'm used to it now.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by rfb92345

So, Rich, what are you saying?

I think you've got the POG, and might want to consider a JOG retrofit, but it's not something I would worry about on the Classic.