NHTSA Complaint #10185131 — 2000 KAWASAKI KL650A14

MY 2000 KAWASAKI KLR650 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COUNTER BALANCER ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES BY OTHER OWNERS. IN 2002 I OPENED THE SIDE CASE UP AND THE BALANCER ADJUSTMENT SPRING WAS BROKEN. THE SPRING WAS BROKEN. I REPLACED THE SPRING AND ALSO THE LEVER WITH AN AFTERMARKET PARTS. ONCE THE LEVER AND/OR THE SPRING BREAKS THE SYSTEM WILL NOT ADJUST TENSION ON THE BALANCER CHAIN AND AS LIKELY WILL CAUSE THE ADJUSTMENT TO LOOSEN RATHER THAN TIGHTEN. A VERY LOOSE CHAIN CAN DERAIL AND POSSIBLY LOCK UP THE ENGINE DURING OPERATION AND AT SPEED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH POSSIBLE INJURY. *JB