2001 Kawasaki Vulcan problem!!!!!!!

[CrawlinWS6]

Ok, this is about my 2001 Vulcan Classic 1500 fi. It currently has 16,000 miles on it. And I bought it back in June with 13,000 miles on it.

Here is what happened. I was giving my cousin some a chance to learn how to drive a bike. (Never drove one before). So like most, he had troubles with getting the whole clutch release and giving it gas. So he had alot of stalling going on trying to take off. He probably killed the bike about a dozen times learning to take off. And when he got it moving, he shifted to 2nd. Well, as he turned around he forgot to shift it back to 1st to take off again. I did not know this, since he was down about 2 blocks. Well he tryed taking off about 15-20 times in 2nd, and killing it everytime. And as he started to drive back to me, it was reving like hell, and the clutch was not engaging.

So I jumped on, and told him the lesson was over. Well, as I put it 1st to drive it back to my garage, the clutch won't engage. It is in 1st but won't move. Then I notice that I can push the bike while it's in gear, and the clutch lever not pushed in.

As I pushed it back into the garage, I could get a small smell of clutch (not much). I put a fan on the trans for about 20 minutes, thinking that maybe he over heated the clutch. After the 20 minutes I started the bike, and put it in 1st, and gave it some gas, as I slowly released the clutch lever. And the bike would not move, but instead it would just kill the bike.

Now about 5-6 hours later I went back out to the garage and started her back up. And the same problem as before. I will put it in gear, release the clutch lever, and nothing. It just remains running. And as the bike is in gear, I can push the bike back and forth, as I was normally not able to do so before.

Sorry for the novel. But I wanted to see what you think it maybe. This is my first bike, and I am not the savy on them yet. What can it be. A worn out clutch? Bad clutch spring? While the clutch got hot, I somehow got air in the line? Something else? I have never had any problems with the clutch what so ever. So it is odd to me to loose everthing. And the bike did get hot while he was trying to drive it. It was night time, and around 65degrees outside, and when he rolled back to me, the damn cooling fans were running.

Please tell me your inpute.

[CrawlinWS6]

Well 20 people viewed. But no inpute. Any idea's will be great!

[SixFiveOh]

Might be two seperate issues.

My guess is that your cousin toasted your clutch. But you already knew that.

The racing idle could be a loose throttle cable. Make sure it's tight where it comes into the hand throttle assembly. There is a barrel adjuster that you can turn to tighten it down.

Might check the clutch cable as well. Heck, maybe they were both loose.

[CrawlinWS6]

The idle, was because he was giving it gas, trying to get it to move. But since the clutch was fried it was not going anywhere.

I took the clutch off last night. The oil smelt burn to hell, and was dark. And the clutch pack was well burnt with clutch material all over.

[david8200]

That makes for an expensive lesson. Sorry about that.

[CrawlinWS6]

Well, I just changed the clutch out. 4 of the plates, were cracked in half with no material left, down to the metal!

Now that it's all changed out and drives great.

Charged the parts for the repairs to my cuz. I did the labor myself. And then he will owe me a GOOD bike cleaning!