Just recently I have notice two issues with my bike. It's a 2001 1500 with 25,000-30,000 miles. It will only start in neutral with the clutch released. It took me a good 30 minutes in the parking lot at work to even think about letting go of the clutch while I hit the starter. Second is trying to get from neutral to 1st is like pulling teeth. Sometimes I just have to start out in 2nd sounding like an idiot revving the engine coming off a stop light.
I have not pulled out the fluke out or even bled out the original fluid out of the clutch yet but I just wanted to see what everyone thinks.
Well first off, that fluid has to go! The system will need bled completely. It's pretty easy to do. Also, there's a small pressure release hole where the grip mechanism actuates the pressure in the lines. That needs to be open and free of gunk. A pin can help you with that.
I'll have to take a look tonight when I get home to see that preesure release hole your talking about. I'm thinking if the children are nice to me tonight I can prop my 5m old on my tool box and use my 3yr as a tool gopher I'll be golden. I can dream can't I. lol I'll let you know my progress when it gets done. Thanks for replying.
To bleed those lines, check this out: http://www.gadgetjq.com/hydraulic_bleed.htm
I went to a farm supply store and got a large "irrigator" (It's like 60cc's or something). It looks like a big syringe. Then I got a couple of feet of clear tubing. From there, I had my son help me and the job was fast and painless.
I ended up with a plastic cup and an old fuel hose. The hose went from the bleed port to the cup already full and just kept pumping until I had no more fluid to cycle through it!. I was surprised it was not as dirty as I thought it would be. And that port you mentioned look good and clear. I'm thinking it was done before and just forgot. I hope this picture I'm uploading works.
Well thats good news!
Your bike looks kinda familiar........mines all black too!
As for the other issues with the gearbox and such, I'm not sure. Do you have a "whirring" sound coming from the tranny area as you'e decellerating? Could be the bevel gear. That would explain a lot.
I haven't noticed any sound coming from the transmission that sounds like "whirring". I do hear a tat tat tat like an arm bouncing off the face of a gear once and a while. And I have had a second neutral position between 2nd and 3rd that I've had for years. It used to bother me when I'm down shifting and the drag I should be feeling is not there.
What have you heard about the linkage from the shifter to the tranny case. Mine feels a little loose. But even if it's loose, it should still push and pull as it should I would think.
Hmmm, I don't know. Best I can say is if nobody here knows, the Delphi Drifter forum is much more active. You can probably get an answer there. Those guys know their stuff! You can get there with this: http://forums.delphiforums.com/KawasakiDrifter/messages/?start=Start+Reading+%3E%3E
Thanks for the info about Delphi. It's a huge site. I guess it will take some navigating to learn it all. Thanks for everything. The shifting seams to be 99% better. I guess it was just old clutch fluid.
That clutch fluid can make a world of difference, huh? Glad it's better!