my lakota is hard to shift from first to second. can this be fixed by just adjusting the clutch or does something else need to be done?

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Antix, search the Kawasaki forum for shifting problems. The fix has been posted a few times. This problem happened to my 97 Mohave it was an easy fix

Good luck; Rob

 

Most likely this is just a adjustment problem. On the right side down by your ankle, remove that plastic cover. What you will see is a slotted bolt with a lock nut on it.

Crack the lock nut loose, hold it there. Take the slotted bolt (while holding the lock nut where it is) turn it in untill it stops. Then turn it out just untill you feel some resistence then stop. Tighten the lock nut down.

This should take care of it.

 

Gaff, My slotted adjusting bolt has been damaged. The end of the bolt at the slot have broken off (can't get screwdriver on it anymore). How hard is it to change out the adjusting bolt? Can it be done without tearing it open? I can no longer adjust the clutch and it is slipping bad now. What do I need to do?

Thx,
"TOID"

 

Every adjustment bolt I ever touched on the lakota had some type of damage to them. Except for mine the first time I adjusted it, but I quickly mutallated that one.

I have taken my dremul with all it's cool attachments and have fixxed all of them. I usually have to grind off where the slotted portion was. Then take the nut off and grind another slot in the bolt. Some I did have to remove to do it.

If nothing can be done outside you have to take that side cover off to replace or fix it. It isn't hard nor tricky to remove that cover. Just insure you get the shift mechanism back correctly when you put the cover on.

Most likely you have to take the cover off. Those darn things are so tite from the factory, it's probably the most common replaced part on the lakota.

 

I do not have a shop manual for the Lakota, will I need it to do this? Or will it be "cut and dry" on how to get the shift mechanism back together correctly?

Won't the nut be wider than the adjusting bolt is long after doing this? Or do ya just use a smaller driver to get inside the nut?

Thx Gaff!
"TOID"

 

TTT!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

It's very easy. Just look at the clutch/shift mechanism on your lower left of the engine prior to putting the side cover back on. Thier is a alighnment dowl pin that each of the pieces are slotted and go on there. When removing the side cover usually the outside one pulles away and points down.

As far as the length of the clutch adjustment bolt, Use your judgement. When you remove the side cover everything will be very clear to you. So just use your judgement.

 

Thanks for the tips! They will be put to good use[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]