Cold Blooded or SOmething More?

[Randy Richardson]

I just purchased a 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500. It starts easily (even when cold) and it runs great with one exception. When I start the bike cold or fairly warm, after letting it run a minute or so, I put the bike in first gear and when I try to go, it acts like it's in 4th gear. It bogs down. I can tell as I'm letting out the clutch it's not going to go. If I try neutral to first gear NUMEROUS times, eventually it runs as it should. Once it runs normally in first gear the first time, I can go from neutral to first and it runs as it should. After a several mile run, if I turn it off and immediately re-start it, it runs like it should. If the bike sits for any length of time (more than a few minutes), I have to go through the trial and error phase again to see if it will run as it should or bog down several times in first gear. Is it simply cold blooded or is there more to this? It's somewhat frustrating to have to go through the "trial and error phase" for quite a while before the bike runs like it should in first gear.

[Wrider]

Does it bog down when it's just sitting there or when you're actually riding?
Does it bog while taking off or while riding in general?
Does it bog while you rev the engine in neutral? Or just under load? Have you tried taking off in second gear and does it do the same thing?
If it bogs just being in gear I'd say check your clutch adjustment.
If it bogs while trying to take off in any gear I'd say check your jets in your carbs.
If it bogs in first gear only it might be a tranny problem.

The other idea I have is to make sure your spark plugs are tight. If you put it under load with a somewhat loose spark plug it could very easily cause the spark plug to misfire. I've had it happen before on my Camry and it's fine in neutral but misses horribly in gear under load, acts like the torque converter has gone to crap!

[Randy Richardson]

THANKS for your response! It does not bog down when I idle, rev the engine or once I am "on the go." It only bogs down when I try to take off in first gear while the bike is cold or semi-warm. I am not able to put the bike in any other gear when this is happening. Once the bike is running normally, I've not tried to go from neutral to second gear. Should I be able to do that? If so, maybe this is a clutch adjustment issue. If it's a clutch issue, does it make sence that it does not happen when the bike is fully warmed up?

[honda750]

although they're not the exact symptoms, a faulty kickstand switch can occasionally have the same effect on a bike. there should be a switch right in front of the kickstand that just has a pin sticking out towards the kickstand. this pin can get jammed and then it acts like the kickstand is always down and therefore does not let the bike move in gear. spray some WD40 and move that pin in and out repeatedly to loosen it up.

this is notable for kawasakis, so it's definitely worth a shot.

[Randy Richardson]

Thanks for the reply honda750! I'll look at this pin this evening. I think I have ruled out this is simply a coldblooded issue. It took A LONG time to get the bike moving this morning. I was just about to give up when it FINALLY went. Again, once it moved the first time, it ran great all the way to work. Once it was moving, I went from neutral to first numerous times without ANY problems. Could this be a sparkplug issue? I replaced two plugs, but I think I'll need a special tool to remove the other two plugs. The space is too tight to get my socket around the plug. Someone suggested the fuel may be too lean. I'm not sure what that means. Can someone explain that to me?

[honda750]

spark plugs wouldn't be one of my first thoughts but it never hurts to change them i suppose. as for accessing it, Advanced Auto Parts allows rental tool kits if you give them your drivers license as collateral. They'll lprob have a deep well socket that'll reach it. I think mine comes out with a 18mm deep well? that sounds pretty big though i dont remember.

[coffee_brake]

Clutch plates sticking? If it sat up for months and the clutch plates got funky, they'll stick together and make it not want to go like that.

It is an easy fix, though. And if it's not the clutch plates, it still won't hurt to check.
You remove the clutch plates, clean them in solvent, rub both sides of the fiber plates on a flat piece of wood or steel covered with fine-grit sandpaper, and then soak them in clean engine oil for an hour and put them back in (pay attention to how they came out and put them back in the same order.) At this time, check your clutch basket for wear too.

Here is a great explanation of how to do the job. He doesn't explain cleaning and re-using the plates, but his diagrams are fantastic.

http://www.dansmc.com/clutches.htm

BTW your clutch cover should be on the right side, and you need to put an oil drip pan under the bike to do this. You won't lose all your oil, just some.
Not talking down to you or anything, just not sure if you know this or not.

[Wrider]

Does it bog while you're in gear with the clutch in? If so then that's probably your clutch sticking, like Coffee Brake said just clean it and you should be golden!

[Randy Richardson]

THANKS for the info Coffe Brake and Wrider! I've been out of town for a week and I was not able to review this site. I plan to do some work on the bike today, so I'll see if this works. So far, new plugs and a dose of Sea Foam have not helped. I planned to check air filters today, now I'll also work on the clutch plates. THANKS AGAIN!

[NorthernPete]

My 500 has a bit of the same problem, as did my old 400 XS, I got the carbs cleaned and it semmed to fix the problem, depends on if that bike has carbs though. did they have FI for that bike in 96?