[Pete Ruland]

Fuel Dripping from Air Filter

Hello all,

I'm a new rider and purchased a 2002 Vulcan 500 a few months ago. I haven't been able to take out til recently. I had put some fresh gas in the tank to mix with what was in the tank. I went to take it out and saw a puddle of gas and it dripping from the air filter. What could cause this?

Pete

 

[RoadRunner322]

Carb needle/seat is leaking and overfilling the carb.

 

[penguinologist]

so i've got a rather noobish question: if i were to open the timing inspection cover from a VN800b (the classic, although i'm sure it's the same for all 800s), will there be any fluids coming out? I'm planning on adjusting the valves and i will need to undo the inspection cover to rotate the engine into the correct position, and i noticed two o-rings where the cover and the viewing ports meet to see the flywheel. I'm assuming the only possible fluid would be oil, but this is the flywheel side... does it even have any oil there? thanks!

 

[xxxstefxxx]

Official Kawasaki dealer neglect to install the original front tire. according to him, it is better to install an exedra max e instead of the original exedra g703. also could not order the exedra g703. so he decides which tires go on and it's my bike. I want a full refund from Kawasaki.

 

[xxxstefxxx]

so i've got a rather noobish question: if i were to open the timing inspection cover from a VN800b (the classic, although i'm sure it's the same for all 800s), will there be any fluids coming out? I'm planning on adjusting the valves and i will need to undo the inspection cover to rotate the engine into the correct position, and i noticed two o-rings where the cover and the viewing ports meet to see the flywheel. I'm assuming the only possible fluid would be oil, but this is the flywheel side... does it even have any oil there? thanks!

to see the flywheel, no, no fluids. but the cam cover iv saw on vids that some water cooling passage is there so hmm.

 

[xxxstefxxx]

Official Kawasaki dealer neglect to install the original front tire. according to him, it is better to install an exedra max e instead of the original exedra g703. also could not order the exedra g703. so he decides which tires go on and it's my bike. I want a full refund from Kawasaki.

eh its drives better, cornering feels more natural. i am happy after all.

 

[xxxstefxxx]

In the manual, it shows a diagram of how the oil passes through the engine. oil routing. I wonder if anyone found one with the routing of the coolant? I measured the temperature of my cylinders outside wall (fins, some spots were 163 degrees Celcius,325 Fahrenheit while the shiny cam rear cover was 45 Celcius.113F) but the front cover was 83 celsius 181 F.

 

[Lutjanus]

Wondering if one of you could help with a question. Just picked up an '01 EN500 for dirt cheap. It runs rough but probably just needs to be tuned out. There is a oval hole on top of the airbox that looks like its missing something. From the parts diagram, it looks like a curved plastic or rubber hose. Does that do anything other than prevent large objects from coming in? Thanks.

 

[aidenrosenblatt]

it i so hard for me to remove the battery from my 500cc vulcan, any help? The rubber band gets in the way and even when i pull it back, it is so hard to pull out

 

[coolbreeze]

Just got my license and i am in the market to buy my first Kawasaki Vulcan® 900 Classic LT, i think i found a great deal on a 2015 but i am leary about the miles "261", the price is under $6 so i am foaming at the mouth. does this sound strange to anyone, a (3) three year old bike with less than 500 miles on the clock?

 

[Keepersteve]

That's not uncommon, my first bike was two years old and had 451 miles on it. Some people think that they want to ride motorcycles and can't deal with the risk or they just don't ride much and decide to sell them. I have a 2014 900 classic with 29000 on the clock and runs like a dream.

 

[art487]

Thanks all, yes change the oil around every 2500-3000 miles, where can I get Seafoam?

walmart, O'reilly Auto Part, Tractor Supply, Just about anywhere that has an automotive section.

 

[supercoup93]

What gas are you using? I just purchased an 02 Vulcan 500 used. Someone told me it has a high performance engine so I should use premium gas. Is this correct?

I have the 02 800 classic. been burning 93 from day 1. No ping, no carbon buildup. Runs great. your getting 50 miles to the gallon. feed it some good fuel. Heaven knows, they have lowered the octane ratings down to that of bituminous coal. 93 gets more refined than 87. By the way, if you own an 02 or earlier 800, make sure you adjust or check the clearance of the valves at least every 6000 miles or so. Its really important

 

[1981GPZ550]

OK, does not matter what forum one reads the fuel issue always comes up. First, octane is in no way a measure of energy contained in the fuel, it is only an anti knock rating. Now it can get confusing. Suppose you have a highly tuned engine with modern electronic controls. It may make more power with high octane fuel, but not because the fuel contains more energy but because the high octane resists knocking and therefore the ecu can run more aggressive settings. Running a higher than needed octane fuel is a total waste of money. The lowest octane on which the engine ecu does not need to pull back timing and other settings is the most efficient. Piston driven aircraft routinely run 100LL, this is 100 octane but it actually has less energy per unit than pump gas.

 

[WFO-KZ]

All true but there can be other reasons for running higher than required octane gasoline in your vehicles.
Some gasoline retailers do not put any ethanol in their high octane fuels, and those of us who despise ethanol and the damage it does, will pay a few cents extra to avoid ethanol.

The other reason is to get the benefits of additives that some retailers add to their high octane fuels.

 

[Roadtripp]

I have the 02 800 classic. been burning 93 from day 1. No ping, no carbon buildup. Runs great. your getting 50 miles to the gallon. feed it some good fuel. Heaven knows, they have lowered the octane ratings down to that of bituminous coal. 93 gets more refined than 87. By the way, if you own an 02 or earlier 800, make sure you adjust or check the clearance of the valves at least every 6000 miles or so. Its really important

Mine is a 03 Vulcan 800 Classic and I have not checked the valves yet. I will within the next few weeks but I have not done it before. Do I need to buy a shim kit first or take it apart and leave it apart while the right shims arrive? Maybe there’s a motorcycle shop nearby that has shims. I’ll call around.
What’s the difference between a ‘02 and a ‘03? Thanks

 

[Roadtripp]

I got my ‘03 Vulcan 800 Classic on a trade. I’m really happy with it. My first metric cruiser. But a previous owner did a lot of work on it so I’m not sure what is original. It’s a rather choppy ride. The guy I got it from got it on a trade and could not tell me much about it except he said it was lowered. Reducing the tire pressure helps a little. Is a bumpy ride normal?
I have not been able to figure out what pipes it has. There is no brand stamped on them. I need a experienced person to look at this bike. Thanks

 

[rbentnail]

On the 800 I had, there was a single rear shock absorber under the rear seat. If previous owner(s) was heavy that may need to be adjusted. Did you get an owners manual?

 

[WFO-KZ]

Depending on how the bike was lowered, this will cause a stiffer ride. If you are tall enough, consider going back to stock heights by removal of the lowering kit.

 

[Roadtripp]

On the 800 I had, there was a single rear shock absorber under the rear seat. If previous owner(s) was heavy that may need to be adjusted. Did you get an owners manual?

I did not get a Owner’s manual. I’ll try and download one. I’m heavy at 260 lbs