500/750/800/900cc

[Jehamlin]

On the rear drum, does the place marked "unusable range" mean you need new rear brakes?

[Mercury]

jesse - i would not bother with the regular one and just go get a good one from kawasaki...

as for your rear drum.. if its in unuseable range - you need new rear pads

kenny

[Jehamlin]

Thanks again I will change the pads and look into that manual

[Jwan]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to find replacements seats for my 01 Vulcan 750 because I would like it to slope back and not up. I can't find them anywhere. Are custom seats my only option, and where would I go look for some. Thanks.

[jetman4u]

moparman,When i got my bike it spit and sputtered around so i took it back and had them adjust the carbs and it's been fine ever since ( i even took the baffels out )

[jetman4u]

Hey guys, does changing the front sprocket to a 18t make it a lil higher geared???? And what could i do to make it a lil quicker and get a lil more top end??

[briang0]

HELP!! my 1999 800a is sick. I had to move so I drove it about 50 miles to the new house. It has no power had to down shift on the highway going up hills. Last night I replaced the plugs, filled it with fresh gas, and put a new airfilter in. It is not running much better. It idles fine but backfires. I noticed it was smoking from the top exhaust pipe. Smells like oil. It is backfiring through the exhaust. I have had it for 4 years and never had a problem until now. I have only been out on it 3 or 4 time this summer so it sat a lot but it ran fine about 1 month ago hauled my wife and I around no problem. If it was a car I would be thinking valve hope not though.

[JimFitz]

Jetman,

To improve the acceleration, "Scooterize" the bike. You'll be amazed. I "Grampized" mine but then had to go back and remove more of the backing plate (a-la-Scooterize). Follow this path for instructions.

http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/russwolf/bikes.html

We get a lot of cross winds here in South Texas and I was actually getting a ram air effect when the wind came from the right. This caused a leaning out at 70 MPH or better when going East with a South wind. It didn't do it going West. Took a while to figure this one out. The rear of the backing plate was holding the air in and forcing it through the carb. I Scooterized the remainder of the airbox and "viola" She is fixed. I am now running a 175 main with 55 pilot and 1/32" spacer under the needle, K&N filter and have removed the rear baffles from the stock pipes. This Sounds like a dramatic change compared to the stock 135/48, but my gas milage hasn't suffered. The bike is breathing better, just like they did pre-EPA. I still get 45 to 48 MPG and just run around town mostly. It may be a little rich, but you definitely don't want to go lean (distruction by detonation is not pretty). The Bike has no "Carb Farts" (even at below 50 F). I use full choke just to start and 1/2 choke for two minute warm up and then for two blocks. And, if temp is over 70 F, she doesn't need the choke at all. I love the acceleration (and noise). You'll hear the carb huffing during acceleration, but that just adds to the cool.

The other "Best Thing" I have done to the bike is to change the sprockets to 18 engine / 40 rear. It was like adding a 6th gear, yet I can still smoke most un-modified bigger bikes.

Many thanks to this web-site and to "The Wolf" for this info. My dealer and even the local custom (H-D Minded) motorcycle shop said I was crazy to do this and actually wouldn't sell me the jets or sprockets. I even promised not to sue if it didn't work. I had to order them on line. Thanks to Rage and Sprocket Specialists too.

http://rageperformance.com/carburetorparts.asp
http://www.sprocketspecialists2.com/sprocketmain.aspx

Good luck!

Jim

[JimFitz]

Jehamlin,

I posted this earlier to address this problem. Sounds like you have a vacuum build up in your gas tank preventing the fuel from being gravity fed to the carb. It's been more than a year since I did this modification and have had no "magical shutdown" since

Originally Posted by vanb
Iwould like to know if anyone has drilled the vent hole bigger in the gas cap to prevent the vapor lock problem the 800 are famous for.I don't know if it would work but tempted to try it.Also has anyone had a problem with running the 10% ethonal gas?The manual says it's fine but the dealer told me not to.I haven't had a problem so far.

Van

No, I haven't drilled out the hole, Mainly 'cause I didn't think that would do much good. What I did do is remove the small 1/4" diameter plastic disk inside the vent-one-way-valve on the cap. It is easy to get to by just removing the phillips screw holding the latch and valve system together and then take apart the valve removing the small plastic piece that captures the valve disc. Then put it back together without the disk. Do note how it goes together before taking it apart. Might be important. (I saved the disk in a little sip-lock just in case I might need it again). Doubt it though. This allows the expanding vapor to come and go freely in and out of the tank. I know it aint too EPA friendly but I haven't had the "Magic Shut down" after a fillup and bumpy road anymore. Besides there aren't any EPA mandated things within ten feet of my Bike now, anyway. (2003 800A). The chamber holding the little disk would get gas splashed up into it if the bike was filled up and I rode it down a bumpy road. the disk would get gas on top of it while it was in it's chamber and seal off the vent. This was also the whistling sound of the tank when it sat in the sun. It doesn't do that any more either. The only issue would be the slight gas smell when I approach the bike when sitting in the sun. I Don't smoke anymore so "no worries".

Jim

[Mercury]

wow 175 and 55 sounds very rich... is that on an 800?

Phew..

I just did the okie air system with a roadhouse exhaust and I did a 165 main jet, the dynojet needle and a size 50 piolet... i think im still rich even at 2.5 turns out.

If its running lean i would expect the rider to detect the case correct? Id love to have a gas / exhaust air analyzer but i dont

Thanks, Ken

[JimFitz]

Merc,

Yep, Its probably a little too rich at Idle, although I've cranked the idle mix screw back in to only about 1-1/4 turn. But on the road, even on hot days it seems pretty good. Great!! acceleration, no bucking at cruise and fairly good gas milage (47MPG) city and highway about 60/40% each. I checked my plugs Just for the heck of it. They have 4000 miles on them since I did this mod, and they look pretty good, especially after the hour ride before I checked them. I would guess they would be pretty black if I idled it for 10 or 15 minutes. And, although I love to hear it Idle, it sounds best at somewhere North of 65 MPH. I'm still running the stock needle. I just put a 1/32" shim under it to lift it for the midrange. The Dynojet needle is somewhat thinner, so we actually may be in the same ballpark at mid-range cruise. My bike would be lots richer at wide open throttle, but I don't feel that it is too rich because It's not bogging down at WOT and it doesn't get that slight hesitation when you close the throttle slightly, 1/8 turn, from WOT and above 4000 RPM, that you would get if it was too rich. (if it is too lean the bike will accelerate slightly when you back off 1/8 from WOT). The best Carb tuning reference I have found is on the site below. Okay it's a Harley site. But a CV carb on an EVO engine reacts the same as a Kaw. Besides I'm open to any info. Actually the SU Carb book for my Dads antique Jaguar is the best reference for a side draft, needle and piston, carb. But that is another story

http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/hd_cv_mods.htm

[Mercury]

I just cant beleive the milege youre getting... i get about 40 but i do have a windshield... and i do get on it alot.

Before the mods i was getting 42 - 44 MPG

i might be a hair rich, but im going to look at the plugs after another 2000 miles
Kenny

[JimFitz]

Kenny,
I have a windshield too, but it is little bitty. Not much wind resistance. And, I also really like the twisty thing on the right handlebar. I think the main reason I'm getting the milage is I run the tires (Michelin Commanders) at 35 psi F & R. I also have a 18 tooth primary (engine) sprocket and a 40 rear. It's like having that 6th gear overdrive youve always wanted, plus you don't even have to change the chain length. Engine turns about 3000 RPM at 55 MPH. It used to be 3400+/-. That 10 to 12 % reduction is probably the real reason, even around town. A Drift is a little heavier than the 800A, but I wouldn't think that much more.

Keep the greasy side down.

Jim

[Mercury]

yeah i think my front sproket is a 17, and the rear is a 42 so who knows where I end up

kenny

[rhino8572]

Hi

I'm new to this forum and from the UK. Looking at the members list and postings I guess this is an American site - hopefully you can help.

My 1997 Ltd has suffered from the UK weather and the previous owners had it stood outside, the salt water from wet riding and rain has corroded the engine casing and was was hoping some one out there would know how I can restore it back to its true glory.

I'm not afraid of elbow grease to get this tip top but i don't want to start using any old abrasive and make it worse.

Also does anyone know any good dealers who supply parts.

Thanks

[moparman]

I have used Mothers and Blue Magic with very good results. Not sure if you have access to them on your side of the pond but as long as you use a polish and not a coarse abrasive, you should be OK. More work involved of course but you did say you had no problem with that.

Originally Posted by rhino8572

Hi

I'm new to this forum and from the UK. Looking at the members list and postings I guess this is an American site - hopefully you can help.

My 1997 Ltd has suffered from the UK weather and the previous owners had it stood outside, the salt water from wet riding and rain has corroded the engine casing and was was hoping some one out there would know how I can restore it back to its true glory.

I'm not afraid of elbow grease to get this tip top but i don't want to start using any old abrasive and make it worse.

Also does anyone know any good dealers who supply parts.

Thanks

[Mercury]

jim - all...

I have the option of dynoing my bike for 75 bux for 3 runs.

Its a dyno day but not a tuning day

i may be better off getting it tuned somwhere for that much money

I talked with russ wolf and he told me the ratios im looking for on the fuel / air curve...

kenny

[su1kil]

Merry christmas everyone!

[JimFitz]

Kenny

Great! I have heard that there is no one better than The Wolf for the 800's. I have learned a lot from just reading his website. Plus there is another smart guy on the 800's out there. Check out this site.
http://www.2vulcans.net/

Tweeks bike and LoRidr's bike have been customized with lots of goodies and have been upgraded in the power department as well. Nice Photos.

Could you take your 3 runs at different times? I mean run it stock to get a base line and then do the scooterize with jets and pipes go back and do the thing again.

Probably not, but it might be worth a try.

Jim

[Drifter41]

Wahoo! A place for Drifters to hang out. '99 1500 here.