i e-mailed kawasaki about the choke cable on my '02 650 and this is what they mailed back to me word for word. "There is no program in place to provide a free choke cable to kvf 650 buyers. In the event that the choke cable was manufactured too short on your atv, we would certainly consider this a defect and replace it, provided your atv is still under warranty. If you are experiencing a problem,please ask your local kawasaki dealer to inpect the vehicle. He can call us for assistance if necessary." What's up with that? most of the guys on here are talking about their choke cables and how the dealership replaced theirs for free. I ask my local dealer about it the other day and they said that they have never heard of this problem either. And if there were a problem kawasaki would have sent them a notice. Thought maybe you could help.

 

There is no recall. I guess they don't advertise problems to the dealers. Your dealer is definitely in the dark, but that doesn't mean they won't help you out. If they do not seriously listen to your advice about what you have learned on the forum regarding the choke, you may need to get another dealer.

That is basically what has been happening as far as kawasaki is concerned. Kawasaki is handling problems pretty well. They are not denying things, and they are working with the dealers to fix them. I think that they would have recalled it if it nailed everybody. The fact is that some people never had a choke prob, and a recall might have been extra expense.

However, kawasaki needs to inspect their dealers secretly and weed out the ones that just plain suck at delivering customer satisfaction.

"We never heard of it" is a stupid answer. It is evidence of dealer stupidity, since this problem is widespread. Also, what they said was not true. Kawasaki would not have sent them a notice unless it was recalled. Kawasaki may help the dealer by suggesting the possibility of a choke problem if the dealer doesn't know but truly cares enough to call kawasaki.

The correct choke cables are not only longer (I think), but they are made with a better liner or something. I haven't actually seen one, since my choke continues to work well.

Good luck.

 

Rammy
Are you surprised that kawi wont admit there are problems with choke cable, and how about belt problems. Well how about they will not ever admit it.
Ask some of the guys whom were posting on this forum in aug 2001, it was common knewledge back then. My kawi was new on july 02 2001, i found it had a choke problem on july 02 olso. Common discussion was choke problems and belt problems. You have the baddest quad out there, now we all have to learn how to fix it. Most dealers knew less then you will learn on this forum, and kawi will not take responsability for choke cables or belt drives, in other words they dont give a fat rats a$$ about them or they would have changed them on next production.
raymond

 

roscoe69:
I agree with your evaluation of Kawasaki's concerns about the customer. I sent a letter to Kawasaki describing the problems with the belts on the P650, I have never even recieved a reply from them. I was hoping that the '03 P650 would come out with a new improved belt, that never happened. You only have to count the number of post concerning the belt issue on any of the forums to realise that Kawasaki has an issue with this quad and that they are totaly ignoring it. I think that the belt on the P650 is a "problem" and that Kawasaki's failure to address this demonstrates thier complete lack of concerns for thier customers!

 

I had my choke cable replaced about a year ago under warranty. I had to wait a while for the new cable to come in. My dealer told me they called kawasaki, and was told that the original cables were too short, and the new cables (they have a different part #) were longer. This was last year, and I imagine the problem has been resolved on the new machines by now.

 

Try a different approach, instead of going for the throat and trying to make them put a whole new cable assembly on your quad why not just try to get the plunger springs replaced, there was a service bulletin on them.

 

Yep been there seen that

92LT
still have your reply"printed off" to choke forum , you ordered a new choke cable in sept 2001, you were getting prepared for the foreseeable future in choke cables.
Big wave got his replaced about that time.

MJSTX
Yes it seems that kawi is ignoring the problem, like as it doesn't matter. non existent problems. The 650 riders will figure it out and repair it at their own expense.


Muddhound
i believe the nice approch has been tried, but a good suggestion. I believe the springs are a very small part of the problem , most is the binding is in the cable. The amount of work involved in replacing the spring warrents replacing the cable while you are at it.
The rumor about the bulletin on the choke springs has come up before but kawi still didn't admit to the real problems. recall would mean $$$$$$. Have you ever seen the bulletin?

Yes a year later and the problem still exist
Raymond

 

I haven't personally seen the bulletin but the mechanic at a local dealership admitted that it existed.

 

it's not that my wheeler runs like crap, it's just that it seems to have alot more grunt on take off with the choke all the way on even after the motor is warmed up good. maybe it's something else. any other suggestions? the only way i can get a low range wheelie out of it is with the choke on.