speaking of the "doo"

[Harry Seifert]

In the summer of '67, I drove a delivery truck for my grandfathers brewery, Piel Brothers.  What a fine brew.....hack, hack, coff, coff.The NY state inspectors would redline the Piels trucks if they had recaps in the front.  Maybe they wanted Piels................There's talk of resurrecting that fine brew?!?!?! Buddy

On Feb 8, 2010, at 2:52 PM, Bogdan Swider wrote: When I was 18 years old I drove my 57 Chevy to California on recap tires at 80 - 90 mph. There is a God.

For a little while I drove a moving truck for a small outfit in New York City. We were on the interstate, returning with a full load of furniture from Boston when one of the front tires blew. Managed to pull over safely. Upon inspection it was revealed that our cheap boss installed recap tires. Not good for a moving truck. Bogdan 

[David Brewerton]

Just wondering if the Doohickey problem has been rectified on the new '08+ version of the KLR? With all the changes they made, are some of the known problems like the Doohickey,the shift lever, etc been fixed or are they still a problem? Just got a new '09 last month and can't wait for the snow to go so I can get out riding again. [b]From:[/b] Thomas Komjathy [b]To:[/b] RobertWichert [b]Cc:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Mon, February 8, 2010 2:52:05 PM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey   I've seen two of them on both my KLRs [b]From:[/b] RobertWichert [b]Cc:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Mon, February 8, 2010 2:47:19 PM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey   Has anybody actually seen a failed doohickey, with their own eyes?  Not "I heard it thru the grapevine... "  I mean "It happened to me". I'm waiting. Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========

On 2/8/2010 10:57 AM, roncriswell@... wrote:   Yeah beware if you are a company that is on the media and government as a target. Exploding Pintos and Corvairs that like to go backwards hitting something or rolling at 80 mph come to mind. Still I really don't understand companies that make really good machines that don't heed early signs of warning (as in the doohickey on a KLR). This is going to cost Toyota millions probably billions. Besides, if you are on a cell phone texting, it is a severe test of multitasking if the throttle jams, to shift into nuetral and pull over. Or if the brakes fail to remember to hit the emergency brake. Remembering to pull in the clutch on a KLR and hoping that works if the engine suddely tries to lock up because of a defective design is another form of multi tasking split second decision I hope I don't have to make. Criswell On Feb 8, 2010, at 11:30 AM, klr6501995 wrote:   Thank You, I'm so glad that this thread started as I have been wanting to post a same topic message. This is really starting to feel like the firestone/ford explorer "problem" a few years back. As a media watcher (to much tv) this topic got nasty when a "48 hours" or "20/20" did a re-enactment of a family getting themselves killed with a stuck accelerator. But the MAN of the family was recorded on a 911 call pleading for help as his car wouldn't stop. They pleaded for help, And the collision and OMG, crash sounds were heard. Very scary. America are you shocked. of course! I'm sure I'm missing something. But from the very begining of the story didn't we on the list and the rest of America who believe in self responsibility "predict" the media/govt response to the toyato recall? Yes! I have had a throttle stick in a car and motorcycle. I damn well knew that if I could call 911 and yap for help I could save my ass before the call. 86 ford escort hatchback- klr6501987. BTW kenda 270's made me leave skid marks in my drawers on wet and dry roads. Like them off road. But Avon gripsters never leave marks on roads and I have been able to conquer the same off road conditions that I did with k270's. --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, Jeff Khoury jeff@... wrote: > > Is there something about: > > 1. Apply Brakes > 2. Turn key from "ON" to "ACC" > 3. Coast to side of road > > That I'm missing? Isn't that in every driver's ed. course since the 1950s? > > -Jeff Khoury > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "fasteddiecopeman" > To: "DSN KLR650" > Sent: Sunday, February 7, 2010 10:19:22 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey > > > > > > > And, by the way, the latest issue of either "Automobile" or "Car and Driver" has an article wherein they tested several Toyotas, and were able to stop in very close to normal distances, with WIDE OPEN THROTTLES AGAINST FULL BRAKES! > Ed > > --- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com , Stephen Grisanti wrote: > > > > Good luck on all those points, but the Toyota incident involves a brand that is one of the national symbols of Japan and a high-profile product that affects millions of customers in easily dramatized life and death situations (Unintended acceleration! No brakes!). The humble KLR, by comparison, merely destroys its engine due to a manufacturing flaw that has never been officially addressed by the factory and it only affects a relative few, insignificant members of the motoring public who don't even buy "real" vehicles. Broken toys, guys. Don't hold your breath. > > > > Stephen > > > > --- On Sun, 2/7/10, roncriswell@ wrote: > > > > From: roncriswell@ > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Toyota & KLR doohickey > > To: "Billy Brooks" , CurtisDrew@, "Don & Jewel Gil" , "GARY PATTERSON" , "Fred Hink" , "KLR Group" < DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com >, "Michael McSpadden" , "rocky heuer" > > Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 8:00 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I was reading an article in the Wall Street Journal this morning about Toyota's big problem with it's accelerators and Prius brakes. It was interesting in the article that how the most successful car company in recent years both in quality and safety has let this happen. The article itself speculated that it may be a cultural issue with the Japanese in that it is considered a no no to question authority or admit mistakes. How this relates to our motorcycle is we have known and Kawasaki have known for years about the problem with doohickey breakage and spring breakage on an otherwise very reliable motorcycle. The doohickey on the new KLR is stronger but I have heard they still break. I still wonder where that 3/8 inch piece of my doohickey wound up on my '99 KLR. I don't really want that chunk to work itself free from where it might be and suddenly surprise me at 75 mph by locking up the engine. You would think Kawasaki would have made a stronger piece > > much earlier than it did. I have ridden Japanese bikes and cars since 1968 and they have been proven to be the most reliable and trouble free machines I have owned. But still....... I think the Wall Street Journal article does have merit. I still would like for the Japanese to own up to their war crimes with especially China,Korea and other places that they really have never really done. Instead they ask why did we drop the bomb? It ended the war.......quickly. > > My wife works for a company that runs numerous car dealerships. The number one dealer for them for years has been their Toyota dealership. It is dead in the water right now. > > Criswell > > >

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[Bogdan Swider]

Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey Robert, You’re not saying anything that a number of people have not been aware of for more than a decade; Eldon Carl first brought the problem to light. Most important, some klr heroes have been coming up with solutions The late Jake Jakeman manufactured the first aftermarket doo. I installed maybe the second or third  lever that Jake  fashioned.  Devon in New York City installed the first and then informed Jake of the necessary modifications it needed. Not long after, Eagle Mike came out with his version. Fred, at Arrowhead, and the Happy Trails outfit made them available. The lever was the first concern as a failed lever could be very dangerous. Kurt Grife’s engine locked up at speed. Latter Eagle Mike came out with a number of improved springs. It’s always been routine to replace both the spring and the lever. Bogdan

On 2/9/10 7:24 AM, "RobertWichert" robert@...> wrote:

        OK, so it's mostly springs. So changing the doohickey itself doesn't solve ~2/3 of the problems. Who makes better springs, and why are they better? I'm not afraid of the engine going BANG. Shit happens. But if I am going to fix something that is a problem, I'd like to actually fix the problem. Springs. Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ======================================================== -------- Original Message --------     Subject:  Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey    Date:  Mon, 8 Feb 2010 17:04:58 -0600    From:  roncriswell@... roncriswell@...>     To:  RobertWichert robert@...>    Robert here is the total of just one guy who has done a lot of doohickeys in my area. I have found about 60% are broken when we open them up. About 1/3 are the actual do hickey and 2/3 rd's are the springs. We've opened up probably 50 to 60 KLR's so far to check to see if they are broken. Tell him it's not a big problem and he should go ahead and keep riding his bike like it is. Maybe someday he can give his testimony about when his let go and killed his engine. Maybe he'll get lucky and it won't kill him when it locks up. . Yea, we are all crazy. On Feb 8, 2010, at 4:01 PM, RobertWichert wrote: [quote]     More broken springs than broken doohickies. Interesting.         Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068           ========================================================   On 2/8/2010 12:30 PM, Bogdan Swider wrote:   Can’t remember the exact numbers. A couple of broken levers and number ( 7?) of broken springs should be close. Bogdan     On 2/8/10 12:47 PM, "RobertWichert" robert@... //88/robert@...> > wrote:         Has anybody actually seen a failed doohickey, with their own eyes? Not "I heard it thru the grapevine..." I mean "It happened to me".   I'm waiting.     Robert P. Wichert P.Eng +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068         ========================================================   On 2/8/2010 10:57 AM, roncriswell@... //88/roncriswell@...> wrote:      Yeah beware if you are a company that is on the media and government as a target. Exploding Pintos and Corvairs that like to go backwards hitting something or rolling at 80 mph come to mind. Still I really don't understand companies that make really good machines that don't heed early signs of warning (as in the doohickey on a KLR). This is going to cost Toyota millions probably billions. Besides, if you are on a cell phone texting, it is a severe test of multitasking if the throttle jams, to shift into nuetral and pull over. Or if the brakes fail to remember to hit the emergency brake. Remembering to pull in the clutch on a KLR and hoping that works if the engine suddely tries to lock up because of a defective design is another form of multi tasking split second decision I hope I don't have to make.   Criswell On Feb 8, 2010, at 11:30 AM, klr6501995 wrote:      Thank You, I'm so glad that this thread started as I have been wanting to post a same topic message. This is really starting to feel like the firestone/ford explorer "problem" a few years back. As a media watcher (to much tv) this topic got nasty when a "48 hours" or "20/20" did a re-enactment of a family getting themselves killed with a stuck accelerator. But the MAN of the family was recorded on a 911 call pleading for help as his car wouldn't stop. They pleaded for help, And the collision and OMG, crash sounds were heard. Very scary. America are you shocked. of course! I'm sure I'm missing something. But from the very begining of the story didn't we on the list and the rest of America who believe in self responsibility "predict" the media/govt response to the toyato recall? Yes! I have had a throttle stick in a car and motorcycle. I damn well knew that if I could call 911 and yap for help I could save my ass before the call. 86 ford escort hatchback- klr6501987. BTW kenda 270's made me leave skid marks in my drawers on wet and dry roads. Like them off road. But Avon gripsters never leave marks on roads and I have been able to conquer the same off road conditions that I did with k270's. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com //88/DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> , Jeff Khoury   wrote: > > Is there something about: > > 1. Apply Brakes > 2. Turn key from "ON" to "ACC" > 3. Coast to side of road > > That I'm missing? Isn't that in every driver's ed. course since the 1950s? > > -Jeff Khoury > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "fasteddiecopeman" > To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com //88/DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > > Sent: Sunday, February 7, 2010 10:19:22 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey > > > > > > > And, by the way, the latest issue of either "Automobile" or "Car and Driver" has an article wherein they tested several Toyotas, and were able to stop in very close to normal distances, with WIDE OPEN THROTTLES AGAINST FULL BRAKES! > Ed > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com //88/DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> , Stephen Grisanti wrote: > > > > Good luck on all those points, but the Toyota incident involves a brand that is one of the national symbols of Japan and a high-profile product that affects millions of customers in easily dramatized life and death situations (Unintended acceleration! No brakes!). The humble KLR, by comparison, merely destroys its engine due to a manufacturing flaw that has never been officially addressed by the factory and it only affects a relative few, insignificant members of the motoring public who don't even buy "real" vehicles. Broken toys, guys. Don't hold your breath. > > > > Stephen > > > > --- On Sun, 2/7/10, roncriswell@ wrote: > > > > From: roncriswell@ > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Toyota & KLR doohickey > > To: "Billy Brooks" , CurtisDrew@, "Don & Jewel Gil" , "GARY PATTERSON" , "Fred Hink" , "KLR Group" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com //88/DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> >, "Michael McSpadden" , "rocky heuer" > > Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 8:00 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I was reading an article in the Wall Street Journal this morning about Toyota's big problem with it's accelerators and Prius brakes. It was interesting in the article that how the most successful car company in recent years both in quality and safety has let this happen. The article itself speculated that it may be a cultural issue with the Japanese in that it is considered a no no to question authority or admit mistakes. How this relates to our motorcycle is we have known and Kawasaki have known for years about the problem with doohickey breakage and spring breakage on an otherwise very reliable motorcycle. The doohickey on the new KLR is stronger but I have heard they still break. I still wonder where that 3/8 inch piece of my doohickey wound up on my '99 KLR. I don't really want that chunk to work itself free from where it might be and suddenly surprise me at 75 mph by locking up the engine. You would think Kawasaki would have made a stronger piece > > much earlier than it did. I have ridden Japanese bikes and cars since 1968 and they have been proven to be the most reliable and trouble free machines I have owned. But still.......I think the Wall Street Journal article does have merit. I still would like for the Japanese to own up to their war crimes with especially China,Korea and other places that they really have never really done. Instead they ask why did we drop the bomb? It ended the war.......quickly. > > My wife works for a company that runs numerous car dealerships. The number one dealer for them for years has been their Toyota dealership. It is dead in the water right now. > > Criswell > > >  

    [/quote]                    

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "klr6501995" wrote: clip, clip, clip > > BTW kenda 270's made me leave skid marks in my drawers on wet and dry roads. Like them off road. But Avon gripsters never leave marks on roads and I have been able to conquer the same off road conditions that I did with k270's. > > clip, clip, clip ~~~You do not have linked brakes on your KLR so use more front brake while shod w/the 270=:-) Yes, the rear will lock easily with the 270 Kenda, you must use less rear brake and use the front brake more. Once you do this, no more 9 mile skid=:-) Now if you're losing grip w/o braking, slow down, especially in corners on wet roads. Square it up around the wet turns and slow down I have under 1000 miles on the 270 I mounted recently but I have to confess to liking these tires...especially for what they cost yes, there are better tires for the KLR, but they cost more. Maybe this is not a concern for you. I'll pay dearly for a product I think is better but when it comes to tires, I think it's hard to buy a crummy tire, not that you can't buy a crummy KLR tire, but the Kenda 270 is not a crummy KLR tire, it does have it's limitations but I find those limitations reasonable. Others may have better and different ideas Jake Reddick Fla. Never rely on the glory of the morning nor the smiles of your mother-in-law. -- Japanese Proverb http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote:

> > Out of the many KLRs that have come through my shop, I have seen a few broken doohickeys but I have seen many more broken springs. I have never seen a broken doohickey on the 08 and newer KLR. > > Fred > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com >

~~~Fred, What about broken springs on 08' and later KLR's, seen any yet? Jake Reddick Fla. Never rely on the glory of the morning nor the smiles of your mother-in-law. -- Japanese Proverb http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote: clip, clip, clip Remember when all the Firestone tires were blowing out and killing people? Seems like it was mostly low pressure causing a lot of it. clip, clip, clip ~~~I remember Those folks were not checking air pressure. Happened often during that summer on hot Fla. interstates and other fast roadways. Until the public learns to care for their transportation, there will be more of it It was unfortunate...there was a problem with the tires, no doubt but look at all of the folks that kept the tire pressure where it should be kept, they didn't have the catastrophic failures Jake Reddick Fla. Persist in old ways; expect different results - suborn Insanity... http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/

[sh8knj8kster]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "transalp 1" wrote:

> > The Explorer/Firestone fiasco was a weird mess that I saw differently than > the lawyers & media. The claim was the tires didn't have a sufficiant # of > plies and could fail. My take on the problem? They built SUVs with the > strength, weight and power of a pickup truck and sold them to soccer Moms > that expected a ride all soft & happy like a station wagon or car. You can > only soften up the suspension so much before that higher center of gravity > back to haunt you in a bad case of weaves and wobbles. What to do? What do > do? Ford figured it out by equipping the vehicle with suitably stout > light-duty truck tires and then specified a tire pressure right on the > verge of being too low to give back some of the ride quality. Iirc, it was > like 28psi. That's nuts in a 2-3 ton vehicle. Well, the owners didn't watch > the tire pressure as closely as they should, the tires got too low and on > the highway began generating serious internal heat. Next thing you know, a > tire degraded and gave out. It doesn't take long, either. BOOM! Accident. > eddie >

clip, clip, clip ~~~Eddie, You're right about this. The 98' F-150 we bought (still have) came with ridiculously low tire pressure recommendations for your aforestated reasons. We have the NASCAR truck, lowered suspension (from the factory) etc. I didn't care for the way the truck handled with lower tire pressure, the pressure the factory recommended, but then we use this truck to haul heavy payloads, not to shuttle kids to mickey d's Jake Reddick Fla. Persist in old ways; expect different results - suborn Insanity... http://www.shakinjake.blogspot.com/

[mark ward]

Soccer mom's?? You meen LIKE PEOPLE who get A 4 wheel drive, so they can Get better traction and GO FASTER ON ICE![img]https://ec.yimg.com/ec?url=http%3A%2F%2 ... fZhxAw--~E[/img] [b]From:[/b] sh8knj8kster [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Tue, February 9, 2010 1:34:55 PM [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey  

--- In DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com, "transalp 1" wrote: > > The Explorer/Firestone fiasco was a weird mess that I saw differently than > the lawyers & media. The claim was the tires didn't have a sufficiant # of > plies and could fail. My take on the problem? They built SUVs with the > strength, weight and power of a pickup truck and sold them to soccer Moms > that expected a ride all soft & happy like a station wagon or car. You can > only soften up the suspension so much before that higher center of gravity > back to haunt you in a bad case of weaves and wobbles. What to do? What do > do? Ford figured it out by equipping the vehicle with suitably stout > light-duty truck tires and then specified a tire pressure right on the > verge of being too low to give back some of the ride quality. Iirc, it was > like 28psi. That's nuts in a 2-3 ton vehicle. Well, the owners didn't watch > the tire pressure as closely as they should, the tires got too low and on > the highway began generating serious internal heat. Next thing you know, a > tire degraded and gave out. It doesn't take long, either. BOOM! Accident. > eddie > clip, clip, clip ~~~Eddie, You're right about this. The 98' F-150 we bought (still have) came with ridiculously low tire pressure recommendations for your aforestated reasons. We have the NASCAR truck, lowered suspension (from the factory) etc. I didn't care for the way the truck handled with lower tire pressure, the pressure the factory recommended, but then we use this truck to haul heavy payloads, not to shuttle kids to mickey d's Jake Reddick Fla. Persist in old ways; expect different results - suborn Insanity... http://www.shakinja ke.blogspot. com/

[D Critchley]

Faster on ice, yes, but not faster than 25 mph in the summer when there is only one lane to block. DC mark ward wrote:

> > > Soccer mom's?? > You meen LIKE PEOPLE who get A 4 wheel drive, so they can Get better > traction and GO FASTER ON ICE! > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* sh8knj8kster

[Fred Hink]

I haven't seen very many 08 KLRs apart in my shop.  I haven't seen any broken springs in the new models.  The problem usually is that there isn't enough tension on these springs since they are too long from the factory.  A shorter spring or the torsion spring is usually all that is needed. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com http://s1.zetaboards.com/arrowhead    

----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] sh8knj8k@... [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Tuesday, February 09, 2010 11:17 AM [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Re: Toyota & KLR doohickey   --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote: > > Out of the many KLRs that have come through my shop, I have seen a few broken doohickeys but I have seen many more broken springs. I have never seen a broken doohickey on the 08 and newer KLR. > > Fred > www.arrowheadmotors ports.com > ~~~Fred, What about broken springs on 08' and later KLR's, seen any yet? Jake Reddick Fla. Never rely on the glory of the morning nor the smiles of your mother-in-law. -- Japanese Proverb http://www.shakinja ke.blogspot. com/