which motor oil

[teamster1997]

My Doohickey was broke on my 06 but the spring was intact . Changed at about 7000 miles.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "usa1911a1" wrote: > > My doohickey was in good shape except there was an indentation in the area > when the clamping shaft held it. In addition the spring itself was broken > just inboard of the hook on the end. In other words my doohicky was there > but doing nothing since the spring broke. Mine is a 2006 and at the time it > had 3000 miles on it. Thank you Bobby Chay for the doohickey party a couple > months back. > > Captain Bob in CT. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Hedrek" > To: "Michael McSpadden" ; > DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 2:54 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] why? > > > > > > This one is a mystery to me. I thinks someone > > mentioned the other day that acknowledging the problem > > would open them up to alot of recall fixing. Easier > > to let those obsessive KLR guys have doohickey parties > > and enjoy the fix themselves. > > > > Doohickey question. The spring just hold the balancer > > shaft in position during adjustment right, then it's > > clamped down at the doohickey? Vibration breaks the > > doohickey itself? and the spring just goes limp over > > time? > > > > > > --- Michael McSpadden wrote: > > > > > Why does the manufacturer of these motorcycles NOT > > > address the problem > > > of the balancer adjuster doohicky, and make the > > > motorcycle MORE > > > perfect by eliminating the problem with the > > > doohicky?????? > > > What is thier problem? do they want thier customers > > > to absorb the cost > > > of what they would spend in correcting the problem, > > > or are they just > > > lazy??/Answers can be directed by contacting > > > skyrider053@..., or > > > by posting an answer on klr650.net in the "central > > > texas" forum. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Hedrek]

Kawasaki could probably do a 650 gs really well, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are working on one right now. A few engine improvements, another 20 years without significant changes ihn the new bike - i.e. a good intitial design. Someone in 1986 was on the ball to design the KLR and the Concours. I suspect we owners of these bikes respect good design and continutity, like BMW once provided (I suppose they still do better then most). better engine/body protection modular stuff like BMW does lighter - a la KTM better lights, more power for warm stuff more crash worthy than a WeeStrom or funduro --- Darren Clark wrote:

> If they did that they'd have to change the name from > KLR650 to GS650, > maybe put a BMW logo on it! > > > Brent Tegler wrote: > > > Yeah!!! and why doesn't Kawasaki just........ > ....... > > > > 1. Put a stronger brake on the front? > > 2. Use progressive fork springs? > > 3. Turn the idle mixture screw out one more half > turn? > > 4. Use a stronger shift lever? > > 5. Make the headlight brighter? > > 6. etc > > > > Anyone care to add to the list..... > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > > > > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com > > > [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogro > > ups.com ] On > > Behalf Of Hedrek > > Sent: August 11, 2006 2:55 PM > > To: Michael McSpadden; DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com > > > > > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] why? > > > > This one is a mystery to me. I thinks someone > > mentioned the other day that acknowledging the > problem > > would open them up to alot of recall fixing. > Easier > > to let those obsessive KLR guys have doohickey > parties > > and enjoy the fix themselves. > > > > Doohickey question. The spring just hold the > balancer > > shaft in position during adjustment right, then > it's > > clamped down at the doohickey? Vibration breaks > the > > doohickey itself? and the spring just goes limp > over > > time? > > > > --- Michael McSpadden > > > > wrote: > > > > > Why does the manufacturer of these motorcycles > NOT > > > address the problem > > > of the balancer adjuster doohicky, and make the > > > motorcycle MORE > > > perfect by eliminating the problem with the > > > doohicky???? ?? > > > What is thier problem? do they want thier > customers > > > to absorb the cost > > > of what they would spend in correcting the > problem, > > > or are they just > > > lazy??/Answers can be directed by contacting > > > skyrider053@ yahoo.com > > > , or > > > by posting an answer on klr650.net in the > "central > > > texas" forum. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ > _________ __ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > > http://mail. yahoo.com http://mail.yahoo.com> > http://mail. yahoo.com > > http://mail.yahoo.com>> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > >

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[Andy T]

think alot of the failures that have been recorded with this part can be due to operator error. In the Owners manual and the Clymer manual, it says something to the affect of adjusting this balancer lever every oil change. I know we are all guys here and it just ain't manly to read the directions but, hell, I do it. I replaced my balancer lever with the "Doohickey" and every time I change the oil, I adjust it. Just pop out that rubber plug, insert a 5/16 socket, loosen about 1 turn and retighten. Takes less time to do it than it took me to write about it. -Andy jokerloco9@... wrote: The answer may lie in the legal world. If Kawi makes a change, that is like admitting that there was a problem. And that my open themselves up to a lawsuit. But you need to keep in mind that this list is a very skewed sample of KLR owners. How many KLR's have been sold in the last 20 years? My guess is hundreds of thousands. How many engines have been damaged by this problem? My guess is no more than a few hundred??? And I think I am being generous. How many guys here with 20,000+ miles and no problems chime in on this list with "so what is a doohickey"? Yes, I know Eagle Mike can produce perhaps hundreds of damaged doohickey and spring parts. But how many destroyed an engine? I suspect very few. Most guys have to search for the broken parts with a magnet in the sump. Remember, just because the spring broke or the doohickey broke, doesn't guarantee imminent engine failure. Usually a lot of noise. But it can happen, no doubt. Yes, it can cause a catastrophic engine failure, but how many have there been? I have been on this list about 2 years, and I only recall reading about, what, maybe 3???? Is anybody keeping any statistics?? Wasn't there a major failure of an engine last week due to some part of the clutch shaft? By the way, I installed an Eagle Mike doohickey and spring a few months ago, and it is very nice. Quieted the bike down. Jeff A20 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 Yahoo! Groups Links --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta. --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1 /min. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[teamster1997]

While it's still warm.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Andy T wrote: > > think alot of the failures that have been recorded with this part can be due to operator error. In the Owners manual and the Clymer manual, it says something to the affect of adjusting this balancer lever every oil change. I know we are all guys here and it just ain't manly to read the directions but, hell, I do it. I replaced my balancer lever with the "Doohickey" and every time I change the oil, I adjust it. Just pop out that rubber plug, insert a 5/16 socket, loosen about 1 turn and retighten. Takes less time to do it than it took me to write about it. > > -Andy > > jokerloco9@... wrote: > The answer may lie in the legal world. > > If Kawi makes a change, that is like admitting that there was a problem. > And that my open themselves up to a lawsuit. > > But you need to keep in mind that this list is a very skewed sample of KLR > owners. > > How many KLR's have been sold in the last 20 years? My guess is hundreds of > thousands. > > How many engines have been damaged by this problem? > > My guess is no more than a few hundred??? And I think I am being generous. > > How many guys here with 20,000+ miles and no problems chime in on this list > with "so what is a doohickey"? > > Yes, I know Eagle Mike can produce perhaps hundreds of damaged doohickey and > spring parts. But how many destroyed an engine? I suspect very few. Most > guys have to search for the broken parts with a magnet in the sump. > > Remember, just because the spring broke or the doohickey broke, doesn't > guarantee imminent engine failure. Usually a lot of noise. But it can happen, > no doubt. > > Yes, it can cause a catastrophic engine failure, but how many have there > been? I have been on this list about 2 years, and I only recall reading about, > what, maybe 3???? Is anybody keeping any statistics?? > > Wasn't there a major failure of an engine last week due to some part of the > clutch shaft? > > By the way, I installed an Eagle Mike doohickey and spring a few months ago, > and it is very nice. Quieted the bike down. > > Jeff A20 > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta. > > > --------------------------------- > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1 /min. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Aug 11, 2006, at 4:21 PM, kestrelfal wrote:

> Simply, because the lever, spring and mechanism don't work;...... > i.e., the lever, spring and mechanism *lose their function > prematurely*

Considering 90% of the KLRs sold probably never see 10K miles before they make it to a recycling center, I have a hard time agreeing with the "prematurely" bit. Yes, we're the radical fringe, the wild ones who actually ride the wheels off of our bikes, racking up as many miles in a year or two as most folks put on their bikes over the bike's entire lifespan. Basically, the incidence of problems is so low it's cheaper for Big K to just fix the occasional broken motor than it is to re-design the part (they'd never license from a third party). Folks who ride a lot know about the doohickey and change it. Those that don't, don't, and usually don't have a problem. Besides, there isn't going to be a KLR650 by '08 because the new emissions regs will force dual cats and FI. -- Blake Sobiloff http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> San Jose, CA (USA)

[kestrelfal]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> > On Aug 11, 2006, at 4:21 PM, kestrelfal wrote: > > Simply, because the lever, spring and mechanism don't work;...... > > i.e., the lever, spring and mechanism *lose their function > > prematurely* > Considering 90% of the KLRs sold probably never see 10K miles before > they make it to a recycling center, I have a hard time agreeing with > the "prematurely" bit.

Are you *certain* about that 90% number. There have been *many* less than 10K miles reported failures in the various KLR forums. What about the failures not reported in forums? There are *many* KLR's out there that could benefit from new Kawasaki re-engineered parts.

> Yes, we're the radical fringe, the wild ones who actually ride the > wheels off of our bikes, racking up as many miles in a year or two > as most folks put on their bikes over the bike's entire lifespan.

Are you sure about that?

> Basically, the incidence of problems is so low it's cheaper for > Big K to just fix the occasional broken motor than it is to > re-design the part (they'd never license from a third party). > Folks who ride a lot know about the doohickey and change it. > Those that don't, don't, and usually don't have a problem.

Kawasaki put out a new part number for the 2007 model spring. Would it be any more effort/money to put a new lever?

> Besides, there isn't going to be a KLR650 by '08 because the new > emissions regs will force dual cats and FI.

Even if that's true ~ and I don't see how it's germain to this discussion ~ there will be a lot of KLR's out there for a number of years that could benefit from a Kawasaki-designed fix.

> -- > Blake Sobiloff > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> > San Jose, CA (USA) >

[J Fortner]

On 8/11/06, J. Christopher Krok wrote:

> > They have to be super-bargain. None of the widely-used "cheap" oils like > Rotella, etc seem to do it. The window was stained on my bike when I > bought it, and it was a pain to see the oil level. Fortunately, it's not > too hard to change the sight glass. > >

I'm guessing you mean cheap non branded oils? The cheap Mobil Delvac $5 gallon I use for the KLR has had no effect on the sight glass. jf [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]