Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing - Page 2

**MAS Tequila** · 11-11-2010, 01:25 PM

The 1500's and the 1600's use the same bearings, so the issue has not been addressed.

The 1600 is just a stroked 1500. There is not enough difference to worry about.

Almost all parts are interchangeable.

My current engine has a 1600 right case and a 1500 left case.

The front head is off my 1500 while the rear was originally on the 1600.

So don't think for a minute that the 1600 is updated. The FI engines share 99% of the parts.

MT

snarleybill08 · 11-13-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

The 1500's and the 1600's use the same bearings, so the issue has not been addressed.

The 1600 is just a stroked 1500. There is not enough difference to worry about.

Almost all parts are interchangeable.

My current engine has a 1600 right case and a 1500 left case.

The front head is off my 1500 while the rear was originally on the 1600.

So don't think for a minute that the 1600 is updated. The FI engines share 99% of the parts.

MT

so is this failure something that i have to look forward to, like the timing chain adjuster problem, or is it an isolated occurence do to a defective bearing or improper maintenance? i do not run my nomad hard and change the oil every 3000 miles. using shell rotella synthetic.

**MAS Tequila** · 11-13-2010, 06:03 PM

It is actually kinda rare. I personally have only heard of one or two per year.

Don't sweat it.

MT

lw · 11-13-2010, 06:28 PM

I'd put my money on Design/bearing defect or assembly defect. I know that in my case the maintenance aspect was more than adequate, meeting or exceeding the intervals outlined in the service manual.

Yellow Jacket · 11-13-2010, 07:06 PM

I think mine is starting to go. When I let off on the gas it makes a howling noise it didn't used to make. Just started a short time ago.

**MAS Tequila** · 11-13-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

I think mine is starting to go. When I let off on the gas it makes a howling noise it didn't used to make. Just started a short time ago.

Is the noise more pronounced in first gear and neutral?

Does it make more noise on the side stand than upright?

If your answer is no to those questions then more than likely it isn't bevel gear related.

MT

redjay · 11-13-2010, 07:54 PM

Drive shaft universals sometimes make noise when you let off the throttle.

**jmorrow** · 11-14-2010, 10:04 AM

The outer bevel gear bearing in my wife's nomad went bad. When you let up on the throttle it would make a howling, high pitched whine. The bearing was worn out letting the bevel gear rub on the metal bearing retainer on the housing wall. It didn't matter what gear you were in, it could be heard. Why it failed, I dont know. There is an oil port directly over the bearing/gear area in the housing and it looked like it was oiling like it should, I guess it was a faulty bearing. The 2004 Nomad had 37,000 mile at the time.

snarleybill08 · 11-14-2010, 05:21 PM

very interesting thread. keep the info coming, and maybe we can figure out what causes it. could it be the bearing is overloaded for it's size, and poor maintenance, or improper oil or oil change intervals. contributes to the failure. or is it just a low quality bearing. bill

PJR · 06-01-2013, 12:08 PM

My 03 1600 just started whining 2 weeks ago, when throttle is fully released. It seems to be going south rather quickly - now it sounds sloppy even with the clutch applied. My mechanic diagnosed it as classic bevel gear breakdown. Says he sees one every couple of years and accredits it to the gear not being able to handle extensive lagging. Self admittedly the probable cause - its easy to be lazy about downshifting with the power available with this bike. I've got it on a jack now and will be replacing the whole assembly with one from a crashed Mean Streak that only had 1600 miles. PS. My mechanic warned me not to continue riding as is - says they've been known to grenade through the cover - not fun!

**spil99** · 06-02-2013, 06:00 PM

I had this on my 05 nomad. My dealer called ma kaw. and they picked up the parts. About $900.00 I think.

**spil99** · 06-02-2013, 06:03 PM

Yellow Jacket Check the oil screen for metal shavings.

jandreu · 06-04-2013, 02:08 AM

Spill99. , did you notice the date on this thread?

Peg · 06-04-2013, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jandreu

Spill99. , did you notice the date on this thread?

Spil99 probably noticed... PJR seems to have missed it though?

mick56 · 06-05-2015, 03:49 PM

Can you put me down as stupid please,i just read the whole thing,and i dont see any current reference as to where the bevel gear is,or what it does,apart from whine a bit before wrecking engine's.

11-11-2010, 01:25 PM	#16
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing The 1500's and the 1600's use the same bearings, so the issue has not been addressed. The 1600 is just a stroked 1500. There is not enough difference to worry about. Almost all parts are interchangeable. My current engine has a 1600 right case and a 1500 left case. The front head is off my 1500 while the rear was originally on the 1600. So don't think for a minute that the 1600 is updated. The FI engines share 99% of the parts. MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-13-2010, 06:03 PM	#18
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing It is actually kinda rare. I personally have only heard of one or two per year. Don't sweat it. MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
	0

11-13-2010, 06:28 PM	#19
lw Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 2,117	Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing I'd put my money on Design/bearing defect or assembly defect. I know that in my case the maintenance aspect was more than adequate, meeting or exceeding the intervals outlined in the service manual.
	0

11-13-2010, 07:06 PM	#20
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing I think mine is starting to go. When I let off on the gas it makes a howling noise it didn't used to make. Just started a short time ago. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-13-2010, 07:54 PM	#22
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,925	Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing Drive shaft universals sometimes make noise when you let off the throttle.
	0

11-14-2010, 10:04 AM	#23
jmorrow Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beech Grove, Arkansas Posts: 1,884	Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing The outer bevel gear bearing in my wife's nomad went bad. When you let up on the throttle it would make a howling, high pitched whine. The bearing was worn out letting the bevel gear rub on the metal bearing retainer on the housing wall. It didn't matter what gear you were in, it could be heard. Why it failed, I dont know. There is an oil port directly over the bearing/gear area in the housing and it looked like it was oiling like it should, I guess it was a faulty bearing. The 2004 Nomad had 37,000 mile at the time. __________________ Jim (Dooley) Morrow Stanford, Arkansas 2004 Kawasaki Nomad 1500 VBA #146
	0

11-14-2010, 05:21 PM	#24
snarleybill08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 273	Front Bevel Gear Case Shaft Bearing very interesting thread. keep the info coming, and maybe we can figure out what causes it. could it be the bearing is overloaded for it's size, and poor maintenance, or improper oil or oil change intervals. contributes to the failure. or is it just a low quality bearing. bill
	0

06-01-2013, 12:08 PM	#25
PJR Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1	Vulcan Bevel Gear My 03 1600 just started whining 2 weeks ago, when throttle is fully released. It seems to be going south rather quickly - now it sounds sloppy even with the clutch applied. My mechanic diagnosed it as classic bevel gear breakdown. Says he sees one every couple of years and accredits it to the gear not being able to handle extensive lagging. Self admittedly the probable cause - its easy to be lazy about downshifting with the power available with this bike. I've got it on a jack now and will be replacing the whole assembly with one from a crashed Mean Streak that only had 1600 miles. PS. My mechanic warned me not to continue riding as is - says they've been known to grenade through the cover - not fun!
	0

06-02-2013, 06:00 PM	#26
spil99 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Menasha WI Posts: 220	I had this on my 05 nomad. My dealer called ma kaw. and they picked up the parts. About $900.00 I think.
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06-02-2013, 06:03 PM	#27
spil99 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Menasha WI Posts: 220	Yellow Jacket Check the oil screen for metal shavings.
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06-04-2013, 02:08 AM	#28
jandreu Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Makawao, Hawaii Posts: 1,409	Spill99. , did you notice the date on this thread? __________________ James Andreu '07 1600 Red/Silver VBA Member #1356 jandreu@hawaiiantel.net
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06-05-2015, 03:49 PM	#30
mick56 Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: The Newforest, England Posts: 4,664	Can you put me down as stupid please,i just read the whole thing,and i dont see any current reference as to where the bevel gear is,or what it does,apart from whine a bit before wrecking engine's. __________________ when this you see, remember me, and bear me in your mind, let all the world say what they may, speak of me as you find.
	0

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