Messages

First of all ANDY! You have been holding out on me with this video, what the hell man?!?!?!?! With that being said, that was extremely well done! I have quite a few friends in that exact business in different facets ie: Pure Michigan, Hockey, etc. and that holds up w/ their stuff. Very well done my friend.

I second that and reiterate how important it is to remove the pin the correct way to avoid breaking the pivot points from the carb. The previous owner of my bike did just that and any bonding agent will break down in time. I ended up having to get mine tig welded back on.

I can second the impressiveness of the Metzler 888's and will also attest the white wall version are awesome. I too bought my bike w/ the original tires w/ about 90%+ tread (bike only had 1,700 miles) I didn't see any cracking but second season I broke down and got the 888's and am very glad I did. The ride is night and day vs. the stock.

Looking at them now Ratman, as usual thank you very much! Still debating if I should roll the dice and try to find that piece or hold off. Guessing that piece is structurally needed 

Wanted to see if anyone could identify what the missing parts to this screen are and how hard they would be to find or fabricate. As some of you know (I have bugged Ratman about this among many other needs =) that I have been looking for a windshield, OEM if possible for my 02' 800. Want to make sure this will fit my 800 and see if the missing parts are as unicorn like as the actual shield. I can get a Rifle shield for about $350-375 w/ shipping but was trying to hold out for the real deal if possible.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kawasaki-Drifter-1500-Windshield-Cee-Baileys-/322551456065?hash=item4b1990a141:g:4GsAAOSwTf9ZPdKQ&vxp=mtr

Thanks in advance

OR_Seedman,
Good find I hadn't run across theirs. Pricing is much more reasonable as well. Always makes me nervous ordering from India but at those prices it wouldn't be a huge hit if something didn't work out.
Thanks!

Not sure how many other folks this has effected but wanted to throw my two cents in the mix in case someone was looking for a quality alternative vs. buying a new carb.

Fingers crossed but do believe so. Will get the bike back next week.

Check out post titled "Gas Float Pin Post Fix" for details and pic of final resolution.

So as some of you saw from a past post I found that the previous owner of my bike must have tried changing the float pin out at some point and broke the post in the process. PO then thought it would be a good idea to use caulk to reattach the post which failed shortly after I bought it (shocker I know) So my mechanic tired to use a JB weld epoxy which also failed a few weeks later. I was at a loss bc at that point I was told the whole carb would have to be replaced which I'm sure many of you know is next to impossible and if you are lucky enough to find one you better have a blank check. The GOOD news out of this 3-4 month ordeal is I found a gentlemen in Georgia that does micro welding and happened to have done this exact same job on quite a few other bikes.  After clearing it w/ the welder I wanted to pass on his info to anyone else that runs into this issue and doesn't want to try to find a whole new carb. Jim is a great guy, very knowledgeable, and turned around my carb in one day. Contact info and pics below

So the next chapter to my drama filled bike is even after the carb w/ the welded post was put back in it still was leaking gas from behind the air box, sometimes not until 1-3 hrs AFTER riding the bike which I don't get. Got fed up w/ my (old now) mechanic and broke down and took it to the Kawa dealership. Went through the whole background saga w/ the service desk and was told oh I doubt they will be able to fix it if something was welded back on you will probably need a whole new carb. As I gritted my teeth and tried not to blow a gasket I simply said I hope that isn't the case and I know of others that had success w/ a new float, pin, etc. BUT got a call back 3 hrs later from the actual mechanic and was told needed a new float bowl, gasket, and fuel line (previous mechanic or pervious owner put on the wrong size diameter line on). All in all and I am hesitant on jinxing this even as I type but I am hoping to be back on a leak free bike by next week.

Jim French
JMF Precision Welding
2415 Harbin Springs Cove
Dacula, GA 30019
770-367-7320

So I have been looking at the springer style seats ever since I got my bike but have been held up w/ a never ending carb issue. I know Singh had seats on ebay a while back but thought I read somewhere that they stopped selling them on there bc the seller charges where too much. But man I swear the pics on the link below are identical to what Singh used to have posted, also see the seller only has two reviews. Any thoughts? Really like the idea that all the hardware is included and from what it says its plug and play w/ my 800.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solo-Seat-Indian-Chief-harley-knucklehead-panhead-shovelhead-drifter-1500-800/302325576594?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40130%26meid%3Db87e411fd28b4d6f96c48253c100ea67%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D192182002679

Thanks for the info Old Drifter! The OEM shields seem insanely hard to find unfortunately. I really like the idea of all the chrome on them too for the extra shine for other drivers to be able to see you.

Does anyone have any experience with slip streamer brand shields? IE: Fitment w/ light bar, longevity, space between headlight and shield, etc. Looks like a pretty decent price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162234485568?ul_noapp=true

Just a quick update I was able to find aN old cheap HD carb with the same size posts as my drifter and my welder just finished up the work. I will let you know how everything holds up once installed and that way if any others have this issue I can recommend (hopefully) them to this micro laser welder instead of the dreaded drifter carb replacement.

Sorry OR_Seedman not looking closely meant to ask Trall about his experience with mounting the front fender tip from Starklite. Any feedback Trall? Simple put in place and bolt on?

http://www.starklite.com/tip-chrome-front-fender

OR Seedman
Did you get the one in the link below w/ the indian head on it part #160024? (may have been covered up w/ the powder coating?). See there were others below that but they were more expensive. What was your feeling on the fitment? Did you have to adjust/bend anything into place? Or just place, mark, and screw into place?
http://www.starklite.com/tip-chrome-front-fender

All
A while back I saw a guy in NJ had some on ebay (still does) but I thought I had read somewhere that the fitment wasn't great and f and r was $250. Anyone have any experience w/ these from NJ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kawasaki-Vulcan-Drifter-chrome-fender-tip-set-NEW-FOR-2016-/191354495741?hash=item2c8d9de2fd:g:QqEAAOSwyjBW2eZg&vxp=mtr

Where is the hospitality in this group anymore?!?!?!?! GEEEEEZ! I'm sure he will make up for it w/ an amazing price on the shield 

DKESHISH, Looks good to me. What height is it? Can you email me w. what price your thinking and aprox ship cost to zip 49534? email nathan.grinnell@gmail.com

Thanks

Agreed Tom staying away from the epoxies as I want a long term solution.

Still on the hunt for a post if anyone can find one, my welder said even if I find one that is close (not shorter though obviously) from a different bike he can fabricate it to work. Anyone w/ an old carb laying around that they could remove the float pin post from? Willing to pay for shipping and troubles.

I would definitely be interested if you have all the hardware and it would fit w/ a spot light bar

So after hrs of searching I was able to find a couple carbs but all in the $400-550 price range which I am not able to swing. I have found other non-drifter bike owners who had the same issue and one recommended micro laser welding. Read very mixed reviews on half a dozen different kinds of epoxies but want this to be a long term fix not just a band aide so going the welding route. So I found a gentlemen in GA. (I'm in MI) that has done this exact job and when speaking to him on the phone you could really tell he is experienced but my only problem is that one float post was completely missing when I got the bike and I need a donor post. The previous owner used a shaved down nail and some caulk, yes you read correctly CAULK! Does anyone know of anyone that may have another post off a old carb that could be cut off or just laying around that I could buy? Doesn't have to be from a drifter or even a Kawasaki for that matter I would just need to get rough dimensions and will have it modified as long as it is longer than the original.

Thanks in advance. First time bike owner and hoping this is my new road to a trouble free drifter riding future!

So my bike is not in great shape right now and I'm hoping for some help from my drifter friends in finding a solution. My mechanic went to re-build my carb and found that the previous owner used a nail to hold the float pin in place when the pillar piece broke off. I was unaware of this issue until this season and attempted to use a metal bonding agent with a make shift pivot but the piece failed and as you can expect I have a serious gas leak. My question is can ANYONE point me in the direction of a used carb body w/ good float pin pivots? Don't care about the jets etc bc I plan on using my existing ones but both pivots have to be in good shape. I really don't want to have to buy a new one since they are super expensive and I'm on a fixed budget having recently had a baby. I really don't want to go this route but is there any folks out there that have successfully tapped out a section of the cast carb body and made a pivot that successfully holds up the test of time? Any and all help anyone can provide would be very much appreciated. This is only the second season (really 1.25 bc I'm in MI) of having the bike and it has been a absolute nightmare so far but I LOVE this bike!

Issue explained below.

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=45377.msg101789#msg101789

Did the search but all those listed say they will not fit drifter 800's in the search field.

Jack could you tell me how much space there is between your crash bar and the back of the front fender if you put pressure down on the forks? The reason I am asking is I purchased a bar (below link) for my 800 Drifter only to find out that the previous owner must have lowered the forks about 1in or so bc the crash bar would hit the back of the front fender with pressure applied. That is a killer price but want to see if there would be enough clearance first.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAWASAKI-VULCAN-VN800-DRIFTER-HIGHWAY-ENGINE-GUARD-CRASH-BAR-STAINLESS-STEEL-/201803452598?hash=item2efc6c50b6:g:d1gAAOSw5cNYkllU&vxp=mtr

Wondering for those of you out there that have the 59' Cadillac lenses if there is anything special about putting them on the back turns? Looking at the ones below can't visualize how they would connect/stay on. What am I missing? Is there another part needed? Pics if possible? Looked at quite a few on ebay and they all look like there just the lens.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Single-Clear-Tail-Light-Lens-1959-Cadillac-lense-/182443112451?fits=Year%3A1959%7CMake%3ACadillac&hash=item2a7a74f803:g:168AAOSw5cNYlDVP&vxp=mtr