We limit access by GUESTS to protect our members from spam, hacks and trolls. Please register to gain access to all our resources.
Posted by Bucko
- June 08, 2015, 20:45:28 PMMy motor (also at around 70k Kms) is making similar noises. Did you ever figure out what was causing the noise?
Posted by davidi
- May 18, 2014, 17:16:16 PMThanks for the info guys. I think I'll have a go and do a top end rebuild myself. I've rebuilt car motors years ago so, as they say..... WHAT CAN GO WRONG?, right. 
Anyway, someone from this forum has PM'd me some about info rebuilding and he lives in Australia so knows about sources parts etc. I'll let you know how it goes.
Posted by Troll
- May 14, 2014, 08:39:14 AMIf I were in your shoes, I'd be stripping that engine down and fixing it. I have almost 84,000 miles on mine and it's just fine. That being said, as far as I know, the 1500s will all fit in the same hole in the frame. A mean streak engine is tuned for higher top end power, so the Nomad, which is touring biased might be the best replacement option. As far as the charging system goes, you can move yours to the new engine, or add a second reg/rec. and have double the output! Necessity is a mother, but creativity is her child!
Posted by pcarrell
- May 14, 2014, 08:14:40 AMA Fuel Injected 1500 from a Classic, Nomad or Meanstreak could probably be swapped in, but there are some differences even then. I know that the Drifter has a special cam grind that is set for more low end torque. Also, the Drifter only has a single stator, whereas the Classic, Nomad and Meanstreak have a dual, so a second rectifier and all associated electrical work would be needed to make the swap work. Not sure what else might be needed, but that's what I can think of off the top of my head. I'd hang on to all of the matte silver motor pieces from the Drifter as those are only available for the first 2 years of the Drifter, so they are quite unique.
Posted by davidi
- May 13, 2014, 19:24:53 PMHi,
I am in Sydney Australia and I have owned my 1999 1500 drifter since new. It's a great bike and I love it. It's starting to show some age but there is nothing else I would want to ride. It gets so many comments and looks and it's a fast and powerful bike to ride.
Anyway unfortunately, my motor seems to have an top end issue. It had the usual ticking after about 70,000 km so I replaced the timing chain tensioners with extenders which fixed that. Soon after that it started to make a ticking noise (tappets or chain again ?) but this time along with that the whole valve train was very loud, as if there was no oil getting to it. It also lost power. This came for about a week or two and when away for a similar period. It did this a few times but is now back permanently. Not sure if this has anything to do with it but I noticed that due to the lose timing chain, the spark plug tunnel is worn through and I have oil leaking into it. My local mechanic said he wasn't sure what the problem was but the top end will need rebuilding which will cost at least $2,000. He advised that because the engine has done 83,000 km (about 50K miles), it wasn't worth doing the top end only. He advise to find a lower use second hand motor and swap it out. Unfortunately, they only sold about 6 1500 Drifters in Australia so I've go no chance of finding an exact replacement. Does any one know exactly which motors can be used from other Vulcans and years to swap in without major rework. Maybe even 1600 or other sizes from latest year bikes ?? I will try to find something here in Aus or maybe import a motor from overseas.
Here is a link to the way it sounded when it was running well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRE0bbkUJZ8
Here is a link now (it actually sounds worse in real life than in this video)... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnQJL_C9kE8
thanks in advance.
Dave