Top 10 1996 kawasaki VN 1500 Vulcan Classic Questions & Answers

dear susan shock adjustment for the rear shock are done with c wrench. you will notice at the top of the shocks there is a ring with 3 adjustment cams. the wrench is placed in the two holes you see on the shock opposite each other this is where the wrench fits you simply turn either direction for softer or harder ride. this adjustment puts more or less tension on the spring. i own a 96 vulcan as well hope this will help you jim

a complete tune up consists of new fuel filter, oil filter, oil, plugs, valve adjust, carb sync and plug wires(optional).. if there is no dipstick, there must be a sight glass on one side of the engine down low. on that model i believe the oil filter is underneath along with the drain plug. there should be (2) 17mm bolts, one for drain plug the other for filter.

Hi Des, Im am Irish too, howya doin? The oil you want is SAE 10W-20. and 445ml if you are changing the oil. It can be more accurately checked with the fork removed and fully compressed and the spring removed, the oil will be 120mm from the top ot the stanchion.
The manual will give you more info on this and any other future problems so here is a link to it. Good luck to ya, and please rate me if I've helped you. Thanks
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VN1600 manual...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/9607829/Kawasaki-VN1600-A1A2-Vulcan-03-Service-Manual-ENG-by-MosuenoPW

should have a big spring nut to tighten the spring or to loosen it.how ever you want it the tighter the stiffer the shock gets loosen it softer it gets

If you are getting 13volt output and it revs and gets 14.5volts it would appear to be charging. As you would get a drop in voltage if it were not. Stator is there for working. Check your voltage relay as it may be sticking which would cause it to run on system and not be sending charge to battery. Poor ground would also keep battery from being properly charged

hello, you may need to check float in carb, could be sticking or bad, make sure plugs aren wet with gas insted of oil, you can smell gas fouled plugs, than oil, gas coming out of breather sounds like float needs to be adjusted or floats bad or trash in carb, may have broke ring also

It is under the left engin cover. You have to remove the shifter and the footpeg or floorboard too. Then remove the 4 or 5 allen bolts and the cover will come right off. No oil or anything will leak when this cover is removed. You will see the clutch slave cylinder behind this cover. I found the best way to bleed the clutch is to fill the master and open the slave and let it drip for a while (gravity bleed) Do not let the cylinder at top run low while you are doing this. After a 10 minutes or so, tighten slave then refill cylinder and do the old pump and drain bleed a few times. I found that it works better with the cover installed on the cylinder when pumping to bleed clutch.

the 96 and 97 vulcan classic 4 speed transmission is garbage. Fixed mine 3 times. still no 2nd gear. Shame on you you Kawasaki.
My advice, drive it off a cliff somewhere and then go buy a honda vtx.

it may be like the suzuki and have a glass eye down on the bottom
side of your crankcase. if you hold your bike up and look at the
glass your oil level should be half way up the glass.

Hi, I believe the oil is not the problem but change it anyway and the filter. The problem is the clutch may need to be replaced or adjusted. Also check gear box for noises there maybe more trouble.
Good luck.