final drive

[valkmc]

My 08 w 10k,  7k from this  Fl to Alaska trip has  stranded me for 6 days so far. Seal in final drive started leaking before I reached Ak Two dealers told me to keep it full and keep ridin bc it would take a wk to qet the part. Leak got
bad ln north Cal. so I changed plans an headed for Veqas. Been here since Tues. night. Still waiting on seal. Leak got so bad it covered rear wheel coming across Death Valley. Not
to happy w/the bike or Kawasaki

.

[Conrad]

Wow, that sucks! I'm sorry man.

Is it an '08 or an '09? Not that it really matters but your sig says '09 and your post '08.

Good luck!

[VirginiaJim]

Now let me get this straight....  You're stranded in 'Veqas' (assuming Vegas as in Las) and complaining.  You've got shows with half naked women, all the casinos, shows, and food everywhere..  I don't understand.  I think I could hold up there for a couple of weeks or so before it got old or I ran out of money.

Good luck on the seal.  You're the second guy to report this here lately.  I'm expecting another one shortly.  Always comes in threes.

Guys who've had this happen....what seal do they replace?  We got a part number?

[B.D.F.]

Yes, there are only two seals in the entire assembly and it is usually the inner one that leaks. The part numbers for an '08 (I think all years are the same) are:

92049-1025    Small inner seal
92049-1280    Large, outer seal

They are standard seals and should be available at any bearing house as well as through Kawasaki dealers. Unfortunately they are probably both an ordered part so it won't be any faster to get them that way. They should be in stock in the US with Kawasaki I would think and should be available w/in a couple of days. Of course that does not do anyone any good unless there is a dealer nearby willing to squeeze the bike in on a warranty call, or the owner is willing and able (not likely when on the road) to do the work himself / herself and at that person's own expense. This would normally be a warranty job. The seal is fairly easy to get to but taking the drive out of the bike and taking it apart is not really a parking lot job IMO, and it is going to make a mess with rear end lube everywhere.

The best bet is still probably a local dealer who might be willing to squeeze the bike in ahead of the line. I would think there would be forum members in Los Vegas who might know of a good local dealer.

Brian

Now let me get this straight....  You're stranded in 'Veqas' (assuming Vegas as in Los) and complaining.  You've got shows with half naked women, all the casinos, shows, and food everywhere..  I don't understand.  I think I could hold up there for a couple of weeks or so before it got old or I ran out of money.

Good luck on the seal.  You're the second guy to report this here lately.  I'm expecting another one shortly.  Always comes in threes.

Guys who've had this happen....what seal do they replace?  We got a part number?

[valkmc]

Sorry 09 I am using  very small device. Not complaing about Vegas when I realized I had to get it fixed I headed striaght here. Just frustrated about having to change plans, and after riding another brand for 24  years w/o a problem I am wondering why I switched

[grommet]

My 09 started to leak also. I told the local dealer about the seals and The inner one I thought
Was the leaker.as I saw it when the tire was off.well after a week and a half they only changed
The outer one.ha lazy I say! Well its leaking! So here we go again
I love this bike so much and this is sad...going to canada,but not leaving sat!
   oh well.when its ready its still great to ride!!

[Laserjock]

Good luck on the seal.  You're the second guy to report this here lately.  I'm expecting another one shortly.  Always comes in threes.

Guys who've had this happen....what seal do they replace?  We got a part number?

Mine started leaking a couple of weeks ago right after a 450 mile ride to Ft Bragg, CA. They replaced one seal and the large outer o-ring under warranty. It leaked a little bit right afterwards but now seems to be fine. The Kawasaki tech told my dealer that he's never seen a leaking inner seal.

=Laserjock=

[jjsC6]

Sorry 09 I am using  very small device. Not complaing about Vegas when I realized I had to get it fixed I headed striaght here. Just frustrated about having to change plans, and after riding another brand for 24  years w/o a problem I am wondering why I switched

Sorry to hear of your problems.  I guess if it were me I'd wonder the same thing (about switching brands).  But overall the Concours seems to be a reliable bike.  If you think you know of a more reliable bike, go spend a few hours on their forum and you'll find people wondering the same thing about the "other" bike.

[stevewfl]

I haven't had a prob with my Kawasaki yet, but with other bike brands for warranty dealers have offered me to pay for overnight shipping of the replacement parts.

But I can beleive Kawi will let a customer sit a week because they have to "make" the part or such

[Mister Tee]

Sorry to hear of your problems.  I guess if it were me I'd wonder the same thing (about switching brands).  But overall the Concours seems to be a reliable bike.  If you think you know of a more reliable bike, go spend a few hours on their forum and you'll find people wondering the same thing about the "other" bike.

If you want some final drive failure hysteria just go visit the Beemer board.  You would think that all RT series bikes were doomed to final drive seizures at any given time.  In reality, they are actually fairly reliable.  Same goes here - you hear about the bad things much more than you hear about the good things.  There are actually very few reports of Concours final drive failures on the board in comparison.

[stevewfl]

If you want some final drive failure hysteria just go visit the Beemer board.  You would think that all RT series bikes were doomed to final drive seizures at any given time.  In reality, they are actually fairly reliable.  Same goes here - you hear about the bad things much more than you hear about the good things.  There are actually very few reports of Concours final drive failures on the board in comparison.

the internet herd mentality is quite the biotch!

Zombies and aligaotrs tried eating my drive shaft here, but the KiPass prevailed!

[Rhino]

18,000 miles so far on my 2010 and zero problems...  knock, knock, knock (I have a wood desk)

[maxtog]

Just frustrated about having to change plans, and after riding another brand for 24  years w/o a problem I am wondering why I switched

Another brand of bike with a SHAFT DRIVE?  'Cause I can't tell you how many problems I have had with CHAINS on other bikes...

[stlheadake]

Hey Valk, if I remember correctly you were leaving a few days ahead of me and my father.  We are home now, a little early.  We cut our trip a little short because of weather, and my Dad's legs were starting to swell.  He's 68, and I call him OLD man   But he persevered. 

I was in Vegas last week, and know how hot it is there.  If you are 'stuck' and just losing time, I might suggest renting a car and driving to see the Hoover dam, and the bypass bridge.  That bridge is amazing, and it's only about an hour away.  Also, if you are interested in taking an airplane tour of the strip and Grand Canyon, they will pick up from most hotels.  Just offering suggestions to the one arm bandits.  They can beat you up pretty bad if you aren't careful. 

Just making some suggestions.  I wish you luck!  Keep us posted.

[B.D.F.]

I think he was referring to a Valkerie which is also a shaft drive bike. And they are probably one of the most reliable motorcycles ever made, at least when there are a lot of miles on the bike, as they use Goldwing running gear. Goldwing reliability taken together with the huge supply of parts and dealers in the US makes them (and Valkeries) a fantastic choice when the rider intends to really rack up some miles.

Brian

Another brand of bike with a SHAFT DRIVE?  'Cause I can't tell you how many problems I have had with CHAINS on other bikes...

[Rhino]

I think he was referring to a Valkerie which is also a shaft drive bike. And they are probably one of the most reliable motorcycles ever made, at least when there are a lot of miles on the bike, as they use Goldwing running gear. Goldwing reliability taken together with the huge supply of parts and dealers in the US makes them (and Valkeries) a fantastic choice when the rider intends to really rack up some miles.

Brian

I put 50k plus on my Valkyrie and my son has now put another 10k on it. The rivets on the clutch damper plate came out but zero maintenance (other then final drive fluid) and zero problems on the drive shaft.
 

[Tabarswaacky]

My 08 w 10k,  7k from this  Fl to Alaska trip has  stranded me for 6 days so far. Seal in final drive started leaking before I reached Ak Two dealers told me to keep it full and keep ridin bc it would take a wk to qet the part. Leak got
bad ln north Cal. so I changed plans an headed for Veqas. Been here since Tues. night. Still waiting on seal. Leak got so bad it covered rear wheel coming across Death Valley. Not
to happy w/the bike or Kawasaki

.

Only 10,000 K on 08.   ?   That could be the problem.

[valkmc]

Yea 10k on an 09 which I bought in Dec of 2010, the bike is fixed it only took 8 days. They ordered the seal and then tore it apart and found the bearing needed replacing. They ordered that and then realized they did not have the tool Kawasaki requires to change the bearing, at this point I lost it in their dealership. I also called Kawi and told off customer service who then overnighted the tool to the dealer. The poor CS agent who I went off on also told me the dealer could change the bearing without the tool and he knew that because this has been a problem on the 08 & 09s. All fixed no bill and as soon as I get home Kawi will get an earful about their dealer and final drive I am thinking they should throw something my way. We will see. I am in Florence Arizona now headed for Roswell NM I think next.

Yes some of you are correct about the Valk close to 100K, never stranded rode most of the lower 48 and parts of Canada on it. I do not know if it was just the dealer but most Honda dealers seemed to have what I needed for the Valk or could get it in 24 to 48 hours not four days for a seal or bearing. Less than happy with Kawasaki, but I think most would be after this. I will say I rode her hard 2 up yesterday from Vegas to Florence (wife flew into Vegas and is flying out of Pheonix tomorrow) and it reminded me why I bought the bike.

[Pokey]

Have almost 12k on my 08.......so far so very good.