Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
01' 5 hunny vibratin'son of a gun
Mick:
I had my crank balanced by an outfit called Surf 'N Turf out of CT. I know there are several shops that due this but I can't vouch for all of them. Surf 'N Turf did an excellent job for me though. It cost about $400 for a new crank rebuild and balance. Engine endused vibration is cut by a modest 2/3. You feel that everywhere. No humming in the pegs, no shaking between your legs, very little felt in the bars until wide open and quiter. I'm pleasantly surprised how much different in runs as well.
You can use all the bars and triple clamps you want, but it's just covering up the problem. For an absolute no bullcrap solution you need to balance the crank.
Platypus:
--- Quote from: Mick on April 12, 2007, 10:45:49 AM ---I had my crank balanced by an outfit called Surf 'N Turf out of CT. I know there are several shops that due this but I can't vouch for all of them. Surf 'N Turf did an excellent job for me though. It cost about $400 for a new crank rebuild and balance. Engine endused vibration is cut by a modest 2/3. You feel that everywhere. No humming in the pegs, no shaking between your legs, very little felt in the bars until wide open and quiter. I'm pleasantly surprised how much different in runs as well.
You can use all the bars and triple clamps you want, but it's just covering up the problem. For an absolute no bullcrap solution you need to balance the crank.
--- End quote ---
So if I choose to buy bars that help absorb big hits and also help reduce engine vibration it's a bullcrap solution? Guess I better go get my crank balanced. Funny thing about balancing a crank. I can't put that crank in the 450 I buy in a year, but those bars will bolt right on. I try to stretch things out because I don't have money burning a hole in my wallet. I don't think any soultion that helps is bullcrap.
don46:
Some of the posts suggest solid mounts or high density rubber mounts, Kawi put the rubber mounts on the 250 and 500 to reduce the vibration transmitted to the bars. The 125 used to have solid mounts and very little vibration. For my money, if vibration was an issue and money wasn't, I'd true the Crank, makes a huge difference in vibration as well as longevity, rubber bar mounts, a good aluminum bar and ,maybe a bar snake to deaden the vibration. Unfortunately, vibration (or at least some vibration) is the nature of the beast.
Mick:
--- Quote from: Platypus on April 12, 2007, 11:48:48 AM ---
So if I choose to buy bars that help absorb big hits and also help reduce engine vibration it's a bullcrap solution? Guess I better go get my crank balanced. Funny thing about balancing a crank. I can't put that crank in the 450 I buy in a year, but those bars will bolt right on. I try to stretch things out because I don't have money burning a hole in my wallet. I don't think any soultion that helps is bullcrap.
--- End quote ---
Well yes when you put it that way I'd call it a bullcrap solution. What you're talking about is a temporary fix. A bandaid. What I suggested is not.
When you've got a bar snake and flex bars you're in $360 already...not including bar mounts. If you're gonna half ass something you'd be better off saving money while you do it. So park the 500 now if you plan on getting a 450. Then you'll be sure not to feel any vibration, and you'll save enough money to buy those bars instead of fixing your 500.
KXcam22:
Easy there boys, any solution to vibration is a good solution. It seems with the KX it is a bit of a crap shoot as to how well the crank got balanced at the factory. Big variations! My 92 is super smooth (a lucky crank) others need some serious rebalancing. This may be one of the root causes of the notorious upper pipe mount breakage. If you are planning to go 450 soon the fastco is a sano setup, although it only helps the hands. For those who want some serious RPM and HP out of the 500, balancing the crank is often the starting point. For dez guys it's a must. For everyone, a good starting point is to redo all of the engine mount bolts: take the nut off, clean & examine the threads and retorque to torque+10% with red locktite. Will cut vibs and never fall out. Cam.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version