500/750/800/900cc

[jeffs99vulcan]

You've got a good eye Tim... what do you shoot with?

[mcwrath]

You mean my camera?
Its a Nikon D50 with a Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens.

[DevilDogge]

Originally Posted by rustygunner

Got back a couple hours ago from an all-day ride in beautiful southern Indiana. I regret not bringing my camera, but awesome ride through some serious twistys. As close to a perfect day as any. I may re-run the route specifically to take pics next month or so. I did get one with the crappy cell phone camera. This was during our rest stop at the Highway 58 Cafe.
[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks for the call man ... It's not like I live in in SO. Indiana or anything.

I was busy all day anyway. Pretty much finished up the other panel to the bike. Just gotta do some body work, and paint 'em both tomorrow, then apply the vinyl stickers I had made to them, then clear coat 'em. I REALLY want to check the valves while I have the tank off, so I may do that too.

Also, when I hooked the fuel line back up to make sure my petcock knob could turn 180 degrees with the new panel, I noticed that the carb is leaking gas like a stuck hog. So now I have to find out what the hell that's all about. Oh well, I have to put the new needle and 165 jet in anyway.

[jeffs99vulcan]

GUYS!!! I'm so excited I don't know where to type the news!!!

Better put it in the ticking thread... I THINK I FOUND IT!!!

[Joram]

There is a 800 newbie with carb problem that needs our help. Please rush to his aid.

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...00-vulcan.html

[mcwrath]

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

GUYS!!! I'm so excited I don't know where to type the news!!!

Better put it in the ticking thread... I THINK I FOUND IT!!!

Dude, you have the ticking thread, and about a thousand other threads to answer to!!

[DevilDogge]

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

GUYS!!! I'm so excited I don't know where to type the news!!!

Better put it in the ticking thread... I THINK I FOUND IT!!!

Well?!?!?!?!?!?

[DevilDogge]

While the panels were drying, I decided to check my valves, and fix up the carb.

I put the dyno jet needle Danase sent me in, and since I had the main jet out, the needle jet went shooting out the bottom as soon as I dropped the needle in. I think I got it back in correctly (I have been known to put carb parts back in upside down ).

RG, I forgot to mention, I have HD jets in with the HD emulsion tube, so that jet you sent won't thread into it. I looked for my stock emulsion tube, thinking SURELY I wouldn't throw something like that away.... well.... I think I did in the last move. So I still have the 170 in. My idle mixture screw was about 4-5 turns out, and leaking gas all over the place, so when I got down to the carb, I turned it out 2 turns. It was running pretty lean still, so I put another 3/4 turn on it.

The valve covers were cake to get off. I guess it helps when you have 8 extra inches to play with.... ( I know I know... that's what she said.)



Plus, I didn't have to disconnect any coolant lines or anything... just the breather tube and the spark plug wires.

However, I did find this, which looks like cat litter or something in the front jug....




I got the shop vac, and whatever it is, it's not there anymore.

All valves were in spec, a couple were a bit on the tight side, but still in spec. Will they get looser or tighter over time?

[Wiscblue]

Alright here are the pictures I took this weekend of the shield and some other random stuff.


I really like the look of it, at least of the chrome cross bar and everything

And here is the picture of the horn setup...


Now I need to decide what to get next, it seems like every vn800 mustang seat that hits ebay is bought up IMMEDIATELY! It's crazy.

[mcwrath]

They will get tighter over time. When you cant fit the thinnest feeler guage in, its time to replace the shim. I had some of that white crap in my covers too, but not that much. I wonder if that is something that comes from the factory or a by-product of running the engine. ???

(edit) This was a response to DDs post, but blue jumped in ahead of me

[mcwrath]

Originally Posted by Wiscblue

And here is the picture of the horn setup...

Now THATs a horn!! What kind is it?? How does it sound and where do I get one??

[jeffs99vulcan]

Looks like a pair of Fiamms... I think he said he was having trouble with the wiring... I think...

Hey dogge... did you see that really bad burr? WOW, sorry about your luck. Have you decided if you're going to try to save the head? All that work on the frame and now this... oh well, with the extra clearance, should be easy to replace the engine. And that guy was selling an 800 engine not long ago on eBay. That sucks... you know what that's from right? I've never seen anyone be able to fix that.














(just kidding!)

[jeffs99vulcan]

OK boys... chain time... I'm leaning toward X-ring, from motorcycle pro shop, good price, and I think with the 17/38 I need 112 links. Any way to check that to be sure? Thoughts on chains at all?

[Wiscblue]

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

Looks like a pair of Fiamms... I think he said he was having trouble with the wiring... I think...

Yeah I think that is what they are, or at least they are similar if not exactly Fiamms. I'm not sure what the previous owner did with the wiring but somehow they changed the accessory wire to only be powered when the horn button is pressed so now the rear accessory wires are worthless

Anyway I was having trouble with neither horn working but then I got one to work and not the other, by opening them up and tightening the screw inside they are both now making noise, although they are slightly higher than I would like....but I do like the loudness.

[bdlk15]

Hello all. I have been interested in picking a Vulcan 500 for a first bike, but I hear getting replacement parts is tough. Is this true?

[rustygunner]

First thing's first;
Welcome to the forum bdlk15!
I guess it depends on how good of a deal you are getting on it. The 500LTD's I have sat on feel about the same as my 800A, except for being much lighter. It shares the same engine as the 500 Ninja, and there are plenty of those around. I would think the engine parts would be very easy to find, but maybe not so much for accessories.

[jeffs99vulcan]

Hey bdlk, welcome to the forum! I have little to no experience with the 500, so can't offer much other than a hello!

[bdlk15]

Thanks for the welcome!

I see. The current deal on the table is an 01 Vulcan 500 for 2300, the only issue is that it has some miles on it (4k). I just wanted to make sure that if something wore out or broke, I'd be able to get it replaced/fix without taking a killing in dealer fees.

[rustygunner]

The group I rode with Saturday was the Columbus chapter of the CMA. Really fun bunch who love to ride as much (maybe more) than I do. Although I'm not a member, someone always calls me when they have a ride.
Well organized ride I thought. They even had a trailer following us to pick up the dead bikes... and block traffic when needed.
I had the only Kawasaki in the group, the rest were HD's and Honda's. Just about everyone asked me about my bike though.

[rustygunner]

Originally Posted by bdlk15

Thanks for the welcome!

I see. The current deal on the table is an 01 Vulcan 500 for 2300, the only issue is that it has some miles on it (4k). I just wanted to make sure that if something wore out or broke, I'd be able to get it replaced/fix without taking a killing in dealer fees.

4K is nothing for mileage, just broken in. Price sounds a bit high to me, but I really don't know much about the 500.
(I paid $2K for my 1995 800A, but it needed some work when I bought it.)