Help!

[HawkeSHR]

I'm stranded in traffic because my gearshift link snapped off. Waiting for the tow. Anyone have a gearshift link to sell?

[Bob in Tucson]

Check with Carl Leo in Florida. I always carry a spare linkage that I got from him. Good insurance.

[HawkeSHR]

Check with Carl Leo in Florida. I always carry a spare linkage that I got from him. Good insurance.

Will do!

[Bill O]

I'm stranded in traffic because my gearshift link snapped off. Waiting for the tow. Anyone have a gearshift link to sell?

That happened to me years ago (I carry a spare, also, now) and with a few tools took of the linkage pieces and a local helped me find a near-by shop who could brase/weld the linkage back together. Didn't even charge me. 15 min after getting back to bike, I was back on the road.

Bill O

I posted an article years back about it in the Tech Pages.

[HawkeSHR]

I'm stranded in traffic because my gearshift link snapped off. Waiting for the tow. Anyone have a gearshift link to sell?

That happened to me years ago (I carry a spare, also, now) and with a few tools took of the linkage pieces and a local helped me find a near-by shop who could brase/weld the linkage back together. Didn't even charge me. 15 min after getting back to bike, I was back on the road.

Bill O

I posted an article years back about it in the Tech Pages.

Yes, never hurts to have an extra clutch cable and now the gear shift link hardware. The part that broke (snapped off) was the rounded end of the link shaft that connect to the engine shifting connection (at the engine). I contacted Carl Leo - He's the man to talk to about parts, that's for sure.

Was surprising to depress the shifter to have it just hang towards the ground . (1) I'm glad I was stopped at a light (2) I'm glad it was not during one of the two trips I made to DC recently. (3) Thank God it is an easy repair job this time. (4) I get to learn more about my bike (Yay! ) Instead of complaining this time I'm being grateful for the positive aspects.

Thanks for the suggestions and help friends. AVA forum is a great community to belong to!

[chicagorandy]

'Rookies' to the Kawasaki XII like me want to know.....which specific parts to the linkage do folks carry as spares for reverse voodoo?

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/K ... parts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The whole assembly is rather spendy.

Thanks

[kjsett]

", never hurts to have an extra clutch cable"....
HawkeSHR, I thought the XII had a hydraulic clutch(????).

Seriously, I hope there is a response on the individual parts one should carry as that is kinda unnerving to suddenly be stuck in traffic (temps here in Phoenix in the coming season can go well above 120F on that asphalt) and be unable to motivate.

[HawkeSHR]

", never hurts to have an extra clutch cable"....
HawkeSHR, I thought the XII had a hydraulic clutch(????).

Seriously, I hope there is a response on the individual parts one should carry as that is kinda unnerving to suddenly be stuck in traffic (temps here in Phoenix in the coming season can go well above 120F on that asphalt) and be unable to motivate.

LOL, yeah!!! the extra clutch cable is for my KLR (my other steed in the stable). I can interchange them without realizing. Sometimes people look at me because I carry tools and such but a while back (before my Voyager) I had a tire blow out (actually the tube blew) on my KLR. Friends stopped to help and they were kinda impressed I had the right amount of tools to do the roadside tire repair.

No reason to go overboard but several key items stored on board when travelling can smooth out a bump or two in the trip and keep you riding.

I'd say as a starter the parts list should include reaonably accessible to the repair parts that you can do a roadside repair; jumpstarter (they make them nice and compact now), parts that would stop your trip (as in my gear shifting parts), some key hardware items to help secure the frame, seat (small assorted metric set of nuts and bolts), zip ties are a must and have helped me in a pinch until I got home, tire patch or repair tools. Most of my emergency tools and such I can pack in one saddlebag. I'd have to think some more on it since I've only had the Voyager since December. I have my KLR emergency kit pretty well covered.

[Bill O]

'Rookies' to the Kawasaki XII like me want to know.....which specific parts to the linkage do folks carry as spares for reverse voodoo?

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/K ... parts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The whole assembly is rather spendy.

Thanks

The items to carry are 13242 and 13242a. I carry the whole unit with the linkage bar as one unit. I picked one up for about $10 from Fleabay. After my 1st linkage breakdown on my '94, I had that one braised and reinstalled. I got a spare and carry it on my other voyager and '03. Low and behold, the '03 linkage broke and I installed the spare. The broke one, I welded myself, re-lubed and put back as a spare.

What happens is one of the "Bell" linkage shears of the respective shift lever. They are just spot welded on. To repair you just move the rubber boot that covers the Bell and braise or tack weld back on the lever. After it cools, then apply some good grease into the bell as best you can, then slide the ruber boot back onto the Bell. Bada-bing, bada-boom!

Bill O

[6ft1_grand]

I'm glad to find known issues on this forum. I will certainly be inspecting this linkage before the day's out.

Are there any other things that I should be inspecting on a regular basis?

[ekap1200]

Hi Bill O, that's good to know, I run the super/slabs allot and there are a plenty of truck stops. Flip a mechanic 30 bucks and your back on the road in less than the time for a lunch or dinner stop over. I don't carry any spares other than some alt/brush's , fuse's , plastic tie's and elc/tape. Great road repair tip. Gene K.

[bikerking.biz]

Here's a tip I found that really helped and would probably save carrying so many spare parts. Remove the shifter assembly from the bike and grease the shaft where the shift pedal turns on when shifting. Mine was so dry and stuck on there, that it was tough to get off at first, this will put added stress to the linkage. Once greased, the bike shifts like butter now and much easier. You also want to make sure that your hydraulic brake fluid is mostly clear and not root beer color. Do these two things (and I run full synthetic oil), and your shifting should be much better. I also lube the pivot points of the shift linkage every so often.

[debron]

If you can't carry or don't have spare parts join the AVA (hey, it's only 20 bucks) and get a $10 discount to join ROK (Riders of Kawasaki but you can join with any brand of bike) and get towing insurance covering up to $250 per tow!

[JTC1]

If you can't carry or don't have spare parts join the AVA (hey, it's only 20 bucks) and get a $10 discount to join ROK (Riders of Kawasaki but you can join with any brand of bike) and get towing insurance covering up to $250 per tow!

Thats what I did! Thought it was a great deal (and fairly cheap insurance)!

[kjsett]

If you can't carry or don't have spare parts join the AVA (hey, it's only 20 bucks) and get a $10 discount to join ROK (Riders of Kawasaki but you can join with any brand of bike) and get towing insurance covering up to $250 per tow!

I had to use it last fall. Best money i have spent on the bike (hour from home and loaded down for a trip).

[Bill O]

If you can't carry or don't have spare parts join the AVA (hey, it's only 20 bucks) and get a $10 discount to join ROK (Riders of Kawasaki but you can join with any brand of bike) and get towing insurance covering up to $250 per tow!

........and carry your membership roster with you on the bike. From just about anywhere in the country you can contact a regional/local member ready to assist with just about any emergency.

Bill O

[tregal16]

another thing to carry with you...a spare speedometer cable. While it won't stop you from your trip it does disable the speedometer and cruise control (along with the speed sensitive volume on the radio) The cable fits nicely under the mat in the rear trunk.

[kjsett]

another thing to carry with you...a spare speedometer cable. While it won't stop you from your trip it does disable the speedometer and cruise control (along with the speed sensitive volume on the radio) The cable fits nicely under the mat in the rear trunk.

Yes, I do carry a cable (fits under the trunk mat). But so far the only thing that has failed during a trip is the speedo gearbox that the cable attaches to. Mine froze up 1000 miles from home with no time to get one in before I had to leave (unless I wanted to pay over $60 for overnight). Used the GPS to get home.
Sooooooo.... I plan on lubing it everytime I change the front tire. Either doing it myself, or having it done (during the change). Insurance plan I guess.
Separate issue, it is a Sunday, but where ever I tried on the ROK site to renew, it took me to an error page on the Road Assistance (or something like that) website (who they insure through).
Guess I will try again tomorrow.
Enjoy,
Ken