I have an 05 P-700 with 200 miles on it. It sounds like it has a bunch of drive line slack when running under 10mph on ruff ground. It sounds awfull, make a loud clicking sound pretty much only when you are on ruff terrain going slow. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill you don't hear it. Would it be the engine brake or drive line slack and is this normal? Any help would be appreciated
Thanks,
Dandy

 

Does it make the noise in 2WD or just 4WD? I'd check to see if your belt was within specs & shift lever linkage adjusted properly. Mine does sound different in 4WD may be just the noisy KAWI square cut gears.

 

I would bet on the shift linkage adjustment. I had the same problem and the adjustment fixed it up. Mine would only make the sound when decelerating and in low gear. In high it was fine.

 

OK, thanks, but what do I look for on the shift linkage? Are you thinking that its going in and out of gear. It does not seem to make the noise on High gear and no problem on smooth ground. The noise I'm talking about happens in low 2 wheel drive and on really ruff terrain. I have not noticed it in 4X4
Thanks again

 

After checking into this further by putting it in gear (1st or reverse) and rocking back and forth in the garage I have come to the conclusion it is in the drive line. If you put your hand on the rear tire while rocking it you can feel it in the tire and hear the clicking noise plainly. Sounds to me like it has a bunch of slack in the rear end. Is this normal? I see some one else posted a thread about their P-650 doing the same thing. I think I'll ride it and see what happens, I have about 3 months of warrenty left. If it gets worse I'll take it to the dealer before it runs out of warrenty. Thanks Again, Dandy

 

You shouldn't have drivetrain lash noise that makes you think something is wrong.If the clacking is real bad you possibly could have a broken spring in the swing arm.There is a spring on the very end of your driveshaft which is located on the right side of your hollow swing arm.What the spring does it keeps pressure on your driveshaft to keep it tight to your motor thus minimizing the noise i think your hearing.If you ever take your swingarm apart someday you will remember what i'm telling you.If you have the swingarm schematic you will know what i'm talking about.Yours is new so this may be your dealers headache.Don't know if this is your problem but by the way you described it , it sounds like it may be.Best of luck.Let me know how you make out.

 

Thanks very much for your help. The only time I notice the clacking is when I'm crossing ruff terrain. Just riding and working around the yard I never hear it, thats why I was wondering if it is normal. I have a friend who has a one like mine except he has not been as ruff on his as I have so I was going to check his out when I get a chance to see if his makes the same clacking noise. Thanks again, at least if I take it back to the dealer I'll know what to tell them to check for.

 

just a thought, have you changed the front and rear fluid? they require different ones in each, and I was surprized kawi says to change at the first 10 hour service and then at higer intervals.

 

Yes sir, I did that at the 10 hr mark, BUT the Kawi shop gave me 80w90 rear end oil to put in the rear end after I showed them what the book was calling for, they said that was what they used anyway. So I put it in and ran it for about 40 miles then my friend who has a new P-700 also, brought his machine over to do the first service, well they gave him the Kawi wet brake oil for the rear end. So I went back and told them what had happened and they gave me the right stuff for mine so I changed it. I hope thats not what has caused any problems. Like I said I'm not sure that maybe what I'm hearing is normal. It is just a Clacking sound from under the bike when riding accross ruff terrain, any other time I don't hear it. But I do hear it when rocking the bike back and forth while in gear in the garage. I have not got over to my friends to see if his does the same.
Thanks, Dandy

 

Dandy I bet your shifter linkage is out of adjustment. my old 650 did the same thing, adjusted the linkage and it was fine. Go to nyrocs web site and see the procedure, it takes like 10 minutes to do . worth a try. post back after you adjust and tell us how it goes.