sfair

Hey sfair. I have a 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 classic. I replaced the oil pump gear and went through the whole motor and rebuilt it. k&n and v&h pipe aftermarket accessories. I finally have the engine in the frame and everything turns over fine by hand. problem is I can get it to start easy, when it does run it seems to run good but doesn't stay running & dies. stock jets. I have to turn the carb screw way out about 5-6 turns out to get it to start easier(which isn't that easy). it needs a jet kit but theres a bigger problem. Problem is that when it doesn't turn over and fire up it makes a horrible noise & pops white smoke out the carb. Starter clutch looks good tho. its sounds pretty violent. Its very loud and only does it when its trying to start. I've cleaned the carb, spark plugs are new gets good spark. fresh oil, coolant. comp is around 175 in all four. Thanks for your time.

I have a 1988 1500A. Over the last couple of days, I've noticed what felt like something was grabbing perhaps plastic and then popping loose as I turned the bars. It has gotten a little worse, so I pulled the tank and plastic frame covers off, thinking that something might be catching them. It didn't stop. The bars can go back and forth a few times smoothly, fell no tightness, or roughness, then suddenly it catches, put more pressure on them and then it makes an audible "pop" and continues to turn smoothly again. Does this sound like I have a bad bearing, or what??

thanks so much

hi this Sloancrete im the one doing timing on the 1999 vulcan 1500,,anyway im putting it back together after i re-timed the rear cam..my question is on the stator/alternator..there is two wire connections with the same type of plug..one set with 3 wires coming out of the case nearest to engine,and one set of three wire coming out same cover but closer to the middle of the case...both have same plug..and the female end i have for them,one has 3 wires all yellow,and other has 3 wires yellow with black stip..dont know which one goes were as the one coming thru case are all black.. any idea's

I finally.......... got back to checking my bike. I posted a reply on my thread.

Having a couple problems with a my 94 Vulcan 1500, and after researching and looking around the site for ideas I've seen how helpful and knowledgeable you are I was hoping you could help, rode fine couple weeks ago, week later I went to take if for a ride and the it's not turning over, you press the start button and you can hear it click in junction box that's its, if you jump the solenoid you can smell the gas but it's not getting spark, I dunno if they're related or not but.. I've noticed some of the main questions you ask in regards to not cranking over so I took some of those readings ahead of time,
the battery reads 12.26 battery w/ power on is 12.02 after five minutes battery 10.06
key on voltage at solenoid yellow/red wire .05 key on start pressed same wire 7.95
start pressed heavy cable to starter 0.0 start pressed battery to solenoid 9.95
I also did the resistance of the yellow green with positive terminal of battery disconnected 1.5 ohms

sfair....I was advised to ask you.....hw hard is it to switch the throttle cables down by the carburetor....need to remove the old ones with new ones.....any info on what to remove to get to them would be greatly appreciated...thanks

Sorry about the ambiguity of the 3rd question. I should of added any tachometer.

any reason why it doesn't matter.....just for knowledge...thanks sfair
-Tim

Question for ya I've got an 08 vn900 custom and am having a starting issue intermittently when trying to start starter relay will buzz sometimes will just click but sometimes cranks over and starts fine when it had just clicked I held starter button down and tapped starter relay with screwdriver and it started cranking and started making me think a sticking starter relay will be metering the system on Monday my meter is at work but with it starting fine sometimes makes me think voltage is probably good any thoughts?