I've about had it with my KLR's 'non-existent' chain tensioner problem. Any one who says that this iisn't a design / manufacturing flaw is simpley in denial. I need to get this bike to Lima. I've heard there's a good garage, a Honda shop. The owner's name is Tato but i can't find a phone number for him. He's in the Miraflores ditsrict. If any one knoea a good garage in Lima could you let me know.
Also, how can I arrange transport of my bike to Lima? Tha balancer chain tensioner is making too much noise to continue and the bik'e beginng to get a bit 'jerky' riding at slow speed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff Akins

Although it is a Kawa bike problem, you really want to have a look in here:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...south-america/

One or other of those posts must be useful!?

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Dave

Do a search on ADVrider.com for KLR doohicky. That's what they call the offending chain tensioner over the pond. Lots of good pictures and write-ups. Useful for the guy that does the repair too, print a few useful pages for him. Good luck.

Jeff, only a week ago you posted that you were stranded in Colombia. Many people have posted offering you advice and one even offered to ship you a spare part, but i didn't see any response. Now you're in Peru?? Are you sure you want someone here to help you?? Where in Peru are you and is the bike f**ked?

Hi Mr. Ron,

I should apologize to you. Yes, I was stuck in Colombia and it was a broken spring on the doohickey that seemed to be the problem as well as a loose balancer chain. I had assumed that the same problem had resurfaced again because of the similarities in vibration and noise.

However, this time it seems to be the cam chain tension. I don't know it the chain is stretched or the tensioner is bad. I've got 25,000 miles on the bike and I'm hoping it's simpley routine maintenence. I've got the bike with Tato at desert Honda and I'm just going over now to check on her.

I should've posted an update. I didn't mean to cause any worry or undo concern. I should also be more careful of using the word 'help'. I really just wanted some sage advice. I get pretty stressed riding through this Peruvian desert alone when I'm hearing new noises coming from the engine every day, noises that do not sound good. I was limited to riding fifty mph most of the way and there really is nothing out here in terms of finding a mechanic or parts.

I really appreciate all the replys I received and apologize once again if I over reacted.
thanks again,
Jeff

Hope everything works out for you. Keep in touch

Ooooh!!!! I've been there before! Horrible, horrible, horrible. Takes all the joy out of it, but you'll always get through, and might even have a better experience for it. Makes you strong, anyway.

__________________
How much does a man live, after all?
Does he live a thousand days, or one only?
For a week, or several centuries?
How long does a man spend dying?
What does it mean to say “forever”? - Pablo Neruda

Hola HU Community!

I am riding a KLR 650 around Sth Am, currently in Bolivia headed north, and thought I should probably go ahead and do the preventative-maintenance-thing and get that doohickey done.

Jeff Akins, by the sounds of this thread you found a good mechanic in Lima to get the doohickey changed/fixed? Can you share the experience and/or recommend the mechanic? (can't email you direct, not up to 5 posts yet).

Any others that can recommend how to get the doohickey done around Lima most welcome to share, or point me in the right direction on the HUBB, all good.

Cheers,

Carsten
Kiwi rider.

Hi Carsten
Has your KLR had the US manufactured Dohickey and spring conversion,or it is the original Kawasaki crap part.Some KLR owners have been lucky that there motors survived with the original,but others have had there motors destroyed by the spring failing or the adjuster breaking up which can result in the cam timing chain getting snatched by the balancer chain and causing all sorts of engine smash ups(bent valves,piston smash etc)You have been lucky.Some of these problems have happened with lesss than 2000km on the bike.There can be a problem when the adjuster breaks up with pieces getting down into the guts of the motor,these pieces must be removed or they could cause problems down there.I was lucky with a stick magnet,but the water pump casing had to be removed for access.
Most KLR owners would not attemp to ride there bikes without fitting the US made conversion.I see the problem down in South America is that Kawasaki manufactured parts being fitted and in my opinion you are sitting on a potential time bomb.
Regards Ben.

Thanks for that Ben,

Yep I certainly don't need any more convincing! If you have any advice on HOW to sort the practicalities of getting the doohickey changed in Sth Am, specifically in Lima as that's kinda the next big-city-stop, I'd be happy to hear it also.

Thanks mate.

Carsten.

:confused1: Hi Carsten,
Wondering,is your motor rattling,if not the ickey conversion may have already been done,and your concern is not warranted,can you contact the previous owner.
Honda in Lima were very helpfull with front brake pads for my KLR and my friends GS1200,back in 2007 when we were there.Did not use there workshop but it looked first class.
I will send a message to Jeff and see if he will contact you,regarding his experience.
Regards Ben

Hi Jeff,

last week I was in Lima, here a link to a serious bike shop:

[url=http://www.motoperformanceperu.com/]Moto Performance Per

Me again,

I don´t know what happened to my answer...

Here the link:

www motoperformanceperu com

Looks like a serious bike shop, I was there a week ago - nice people!

Say hello from Jens

(right now I am organizing the HU Germany Meeting,starts tomorrow...)

Tensioner for cam chain just pushes against a plastic sleeve (cam chain guide). If you can remove tensioner unit and drill tap a bolt right through it that you could wind in to keep tension with a lock nut on outside...just a thought as I managed to do this with a bike in the past.

Just a word of warning, if you have had severe vibration the cam chain guides may now be cracked and "could" break off into the case. They are plastic, but you will have no guide and hence no tension...But they are fairly tough so hopefully they are OK.

Well, the OP has obviously Fook'd off and can't be bothered to thank anyone here or reply with any useful info on the outcome. Very bad form, IMHO. (unless he's dead or in jail of course! )

On another topic:
I've heard that somewhere ... Bolivia? (La Paz?) the Policia are now using KLR's as their Police bike. Is this true? Or am I mixing this up somehow?
I read this here ... or maybe over on ADV. I also remember seeing DR650's somewhere being used as Police bikes. Ecuador was it? Comments?

Seems to me if Kawasaki are set up in La Paz to handle Police bikes then parts and service should be available there. This has to be good news for travelers.

The Doo Hickey is widely known and a one hour fix by someone that knows what they are doing. A few years ago we had two Kiwis come to California,
we helped them find two KLR's. They already knew tons about the bikes ...
having spent some time researching on HUBB and the KLR forums. They bought two KLR's and headed to Mexico. Anyone who plans to buy a bike should spend a month or two reading up on it. This is simply job one. Learn your bike. Do the "Must Do's". Go traveling!

On their way South the Kiwi's stopped in L.A (San Diego) at the guys shop who invented/sells the Doo Hickey part and had him do the job on their bike. (one of the KLR's already had it done by the PO) They both made Argentina and sold both bikes off about a year later. No major breakdowns but did have some crash damage issues. No one permanently hurt.

I would view this as JOB ONE for any KLR, including the brand new model.