20 Most Recent 2000 kawasaki VN 800 Vulcan Classic Questions & Answers

Oil coming out from the breather means the piston rings are weak.
The engine may need overhauling !

Knight .(Yamaha Seca XJ750A 1981)

Yes, its the needle and seat (in the bottom of the carbs) that controls the flow of gas into the carburetor, when they get ANY dirt (of any kind) between the needle and the seat..this does not allow the flow to shut off completely. This fills the float bowl until it over flows out the needle jet/pilot jet and it runs into the cylinders and back into the air box/air filter. Your fuel system needs cleaning (NOT WITH ANY ADDITIVE) - actual disassembly and cleaning..INCLUDING the carburetors and add a fuel filter to the fuel line between the tank and the carbs..

Hi and welcome to FixYa,

Your posted description indicates a carb overflow and that the carbs require a pulldown, disassembly; soaking in carb cleaner, cleaning the jets, vents, holes, ports and the walls of the bowl and inner body for the varnish like gunk of old/stale gasoline specially the fuel inlet valve.

As fuel is fed to the carbs,  the floats in the carb's bowl would rise up and engage the inlet cutoff valve closing the inlet port and therefore no further fuel would flow in. Fuel overflow would then indicate possibly that:

• the valves are not closing;
  
• their is an obstruction along the inlet ports and blocks closing of the valves;
  
• floats are stuck open or punctured;
  
• the float height would require adjustments;
  
• necking, ridges, grooves, scratches exist on either the valve or the port allowing fuel entry even if closed.
  

All of the above would require a pulldown of the carbs for inspection, further cleaning or applicable repairs/rebuilt as initially described.

Good luck and thank you for asking FixYa.

the cam shaft is held in position by a set of thrust washers normally behind the sprocket or gear between the cam shaft bearing block and the sprocket or gear end float or around .020 " is acceptable as it allows oil to lubricate that thrust washer but any more ( check specifications for cam shaft end float ) would not be acceptable as it tends to load up the links of the timing chain if the cam is gear driven the excessive end float will alter valve timing

Assuming all things are stock and the crash bars are causing the problem, the only solution is to remove the crash bars, loosen the retaining bolt on the old shift lever and slide it off the splined shaft. It's good to note the mounting of the old shift lever before removing from the shaft so the new one can be mounted exactly the same. Easy to mark on the shaft a dot (black marker) where the slot on the shift lever is located. Reverse the process for the new shift lever. Good luck

I usually cut them off with a craft knife, when putting on the new ones soak them in very hot water it softens them up allowing a tight fit.

You obviously. Have a dead cylinder. It could be caused by a few. Things a flooding carburetor would be the most likely but it could also be caused by a bad coil, plug wire, or dead plug.

My guess would be the vent line from your carbs is clogged.

Sit at a traffic light till the temp reaches about 220, it should start about then. My fan has come on 3 times in 8 years.

Sounds like a stuck starter solenoid,if you can get to the solenoid tap it with the handle of a screw driver,might take a sharp rap if it quits cranking then you will need to replace it...

check your side stand safety switch. if the kick stand is down the engine will shut off. if this switch is stuck then the bike thinks the kick stand is down. clean out the switch.

Adjusting valves on these motorcycles is effected by replacing shims situated between the rocker and the top of the valve stem. It is not a job for the impatient. It can also turn out to be quite expensive as shims sell for around $10 and there are 8 of them.
Remove the seat,fuel tank and air cleaner assemblies.
Once you have the valve covers off you will need to measure the valve clearance. This is done by inserting a feeler guage between the valve and rocker arm when the particular cam lobe for the valve is pointed away from the rocker arm. Refer to the diagram. Measure at points 1 and 2 when the cam lobe is pointed away from point 3. Do this by inserting consecutively thicker blades into the space until a slght resistance is felt when moving the blade into and out of the space.



Record the measurement for each of the valves by rotating the engine each time to get the cam lobe pointed correctly.
Compare these values to the manufacturers specs.
Intake : 0.10 to 0.15mm (0.004 to 0.006 inches)
Exhaust : 0.20 to 0.25mm (0.008 to 0.010 inches)
If the measurements are out of spec you will need to replace shims for the affected valves.
Remove the camcaps by removing the bolts in a criss-cross pattern. Do not disassemble them as this is not nescesary if you only need to replace shims. Do not remove or disturb the heads or you will need new headgaskets. If you are going to re-use a shim it needs to go back on top of the valve where it was removed from. Do not turn the engine with the camcaps removed. Remove only on camcap at a time.
Remove the shim for a particular valve and measure its thickness. Use a micrometer as a most verniers are not accurate enough.
Subtract the highest manufacturers value for a particular valve clearance from the actual measured value. Add this value to the measured value of the shim for that valve. This is the minimum thickness of the shim needed. You may find that that exact number might not be available, so take the next thicker size available.
Example.
Measured clearance value for an exhaust valve = 0.29mm
Measured value of the shim for that valve = 2.69mm
Minimum shim size needed : 0.29mm-0.25mm+2.69mm = 2.73mm
So 2.73mm is the smallest size needed to get back to spec. However this will put you at the largest allowable clearance and a couple miles down the road you will need to replace the shim again as it will have worn down out of spec.
Calculate the largest size shim needed for that valve.
Maximum shim size needed: 0.29mm-0.20mm+2.69mm=2.78mm
It would therefore be best to take the 2.75mm shim to get the clearance back in spec.
On reassembly note that the locating dowels for the cam caps are refitted. Retighten the cam caps in a criss-cross pattern.

Most auto stores can order in the spark plug you are looking for.
NGK CR7E BOSCH XR4DC DENSO X27EPR-U9

the stand doesn't adjust,it's held up by a spring,check to see if the spring is weak and letting the stand drop down,if so replace with a new or stiffer sprig...

Clutch discs are stuck, put the bike in gear, not running, pull in the clutch and push the bike back and forth to break the clutches loose. Once they break loose start the engine put the bike in gear, hold the front brake, and slip the clutch a little to remove any built up or stuck crud on the plates.

not without purchasing a lowering link kit

you need what is called a spanner wrench your local motorsports shop should be able to get one for you for around 15 bucks for a cheap on they work well but it's always a good idea to spend just a little more on you tools they will last longer and perform better. what this adj. will do is soften you ride alittle you may not get what you looking for out of it.
why is it that you want to drop your bike down?? if it has anything to do with getting your feet on the ground cut your seat down first.
Good luck
Mark
C.C. Motorsports
(361) 885-7787

Has the bike been sitting??? If the carbs are gummed up from sitting and the float and or float needle get stuck in the "add fuel" position it could cause this