hard to beleive

DSN_KLR650
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svlandman
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2014 7:01 pm

getting loose

Post by svlandman » Sun Mar 30, 2014 8:01 pm

The other day following a paricularly hard run up to the ranch (about 3 miles of rocky road) it seems that my front end has become a bit squirrely.  It also seems pretty wobbly at 65mph in the wind.  I always thought it needed a steering damper, now more than ever. Is there any thing that could suddenly affect that?  With the VMax we had the Furber Fix (re washering the steering head) Anything in the steering head for a KiLleR. It really is as loose as my first wife at the bar on a Saturday night...

ron criswell
Posts: 1118
Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2000 5:09 pm

hard to beleive

Post by ron criswell » Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:08 am

I'm with you Andy, a '99 also with 57,000 on the clock and it still runs great and fun to ride. My 2001 Concours with 65,000 and '09 Versy with 12,500, all 3 great bikes. I got my old '83 Yamaha IT 175 going the other day after sitting up 8 or so years. I cleaned the carb and put new gas in and it ran like bike of old. Love 2 strokes. A friend said check what the pilot air screw is supposed to be turned out. He put it at 2 and a quarter turns out. Ran great. I can home put a new tire and chain on, the book said one turn, Internet said 1 and a quarter. Did that and gas ran out the overflow tube when tried to start (and wouldn't)???. Got tired of trying to start it and rode the Versys yesterday. I will try it again today. I hate kick starts (heh). Criswell Sent from my iPad
On Mar 31, 2014, at 6:47 AM, wrote:
  Hard to believe I still have the same KLR I bought in the winter of '99 when the '00's came in at Lake Charles Yamaha/Kawasaki. A place that I worked as service manager for a year and had enuff putting up with whinny public, Mostly PWC people. We had the Seadoo and Yamaha line of those. Plus Gravely Lawnmowers, Polarcraft boats and Yamaha Outboards. So, my hat is off to those whom have made their living dealing with the public. ;-) . And, only 35,600 miles on it. But, it's seen 7 other bikes come and go and never been the only bike in the garage. My 3rd KLR after a 600 stripped dirt bike ( forgot the year ) and a '92 which was. My first street bike after 6 years of not riding due to head injuries causing vertigo problems for most of those years due to a hit and run and left in a ditch for dead in '86 on my '82 XV920SJ Yamaha. She , the ;'00, sits in the shop in her brightly colored John Deere Gloss Green paint job along with her pard, my ;'07 ( bought in the spring of '08 ( Suzuki Bandit 1250S with 70,000 miles on her clock. Been a good ride and though not doing any long distance stuff anymore, don't plan on either of them leaving me.  UNLESS, Kawasaki ever deems fit to put FI on the KLR and, I can still ride.   ;-) Andy in Jennings

RobertWichert
Posts: 697
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:32 am

getting loose

Post by RobertWichert » Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:46 am

I suggest that you check the tightness of the head bearings. There is a big notched nut below the handlebars. It needs a pretty good tension on it. If it is loose, the front end will wobble. For a Gen I: Best to get the front wheel off the ground and then: Take the handlebars off. LOOSEN THE LOWER FORK PINCH NUTS. Remove the bearing head lock nut. Tighten the slotted bearing tension nut. You will need a spanner wrench to tighten it. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/t_10153_12605?tName=adjustable-spanner-wrench.html Don't be afraid to put some tension on it. Check for free play. Free play is bad. Re-tighten the lock nut. RE-TIGHTEN THE LOWER FORK PINCH NUTS. Fred taught me how. If I've forgotten anything, maybe he'll straighten me out. Makes a big difference. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================
On 3/30/2014 6:01 PM, davidgreenberg@... wrote:
The other day following a paricularly hard run up to the ranch (about 3 miles of rocky road) it seems that my front end has become a bit squirrely. It also seems pretty wobbly at 65mph in the wind. I always thought it needed a steering damper, now more than ever. Is there any thing that could suddenly affect that? With the VMax we had the Furber Fix (re washering the steering head) Anything in the steering head for a KiLleR. It really is as loose as my first wife at the bar on a Saturday night...

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