2001 kawasaki VN 800 Vulcan Classic - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

You probably have a stuck or maladjusted float in the carburetor.

Should be easy enough I know on a virago 1100 you can see all windscreen bolts,

w/Filter Change 2.9 L (3.1 qt. No Filter change 2.7 L ( 2.8 qt.

There is a sight glass in the left engine cover down low. hold the bike level. Oil should be about in the middle of the glass.

You probably want to adjust your cam drive chain. It's the only one that can be adjusted. They are all different but the adjuster is located on the back side of the cylinder but find out how to adjust your particular model before messing with it.

CHECK THE FUSES.

Remove the bolt behind the backseat on top of the fender and slightly hit the seat backwards towards the rear tire, it should come right off. The cliphooks are pointing downwards and towards the front tire.

For cold weather you need around the 200 mark. the 800 needs a 10AH battery. This will do the job: http://www.amazon.com/2004-2005-Kawasaki-Classic-Motorcycle-Performance/dp/B00688UE40

It may actually be easier and more cost effective to have the lock smith come to you. The service charge of the locksmith is likely going to be far less than the cost of a new ignition switch after you demolish it trying to remove it..... Not the answer you were looking for but in my experience (I've broken a lot of stuff) it saves money in the long run...

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If idle speed control won't bring idle down check intake hoses for leaks. With bike running, spray WD40 onto intake surface near carb and head. If bike slows the problem is there. If smoke comes out of one exhaust, that is the intake that is leaking. re-install carb. If that dosen't resolve the issue. rebuild carb checking for tears in rubber diaphrams and gaskets.

the crank case vent is 100% blocked.

on my 1999 vn 800 the site glass is just under the kick stand..you will need some one to hold the bike level while you look at the oil level or stand it next to a wall or something to check the level, they are the same up to the 2005 models..

Instructions 1 Open the hatch behind the seat. Remove the two bolts with a socket driver. 2 Lift the seat from the rear to remove it from the motorcycle. 3 Remove the three bolts securing the gas tank to the motorcycle. One is on the underside of the tank. The other two are on either side of the front bottom of the tank. 4 Push the tank forward and lift to remove it from the body of the motorcycle.

With your engine off and key ON:Pull the one and only wire that goes to the sensor bolted on the radiator's top end, and it is located near the coolant hose. Not the other one with the two wires on it.When you pull it off the sensor, the light (if it is still on) should go off.Then touch the wire's end you pulled off the sensor, to the chassis. The light should go on again.If this is the case, replace that sensor.If pulling the wire off the sensor, the light is still on then follow that wire all the way in the harness because somewhere it is damaged and grounds on the chassis.

Hello William, the noise you indicate from the bottom left of the engine could be from the crankshaft damper. This is usually more of knock than it is a tick. It's hard to say without actually hearing your bike. A lot of Vulcan owners have reported this noise. I would swing by the service shop & let them give a listen, they should be familiar with it. Also, if you are using a fram oil filter, i would replace it, they have been known to cause problems. I hope this helps.

The settings on a carburator is very important and is a technical job than to open,clean and reset.
So it is possible that the settings of the carb had changed when it was removed and refitted. The air/fuel mixture, the throttle settings, the idle and the choke valves/jets, must be set correctly.
Make sure that the air/fuel mixture is corrected so that the correct fuel mix goes to the cylinder , if not there will not be any firing.Finally check the spark intensity on the plugs with the timings.

First make sure the battery, cables, and starter weren't damaged. Next check the Kill switch position and Kick stand switch. Hope this helps.

The VIN number is stamped on the offside of the steering bearing post.

The mechanic should have given you some idea what was wrong.
The low compression is probably the reason it wont start.
This is usually an exhaust valve not sealing or burnt., or a head gasket blown

Check the valve clearances, if they are adjusted correctly and there is still no compression, the heads will need to be removed and the heads reconditionned and valves refaced, new head gaskets will be fitted when the heads are replaced.




These ideas and also assuming the bike didnt blow smoke or use oil, when it last ran, or make any unusual noises, knocking etc. Which may require further rebuilding of the pistons,rings and bearings.
There can also be other worn or damaged items that cause this , but unknown until the engine is being stripped.