1998 KAWASAKI KLR650 Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

THIS INVOLVES ENGINE PART #13168-1436 (LEVER, IDLER SHAFT) (ALSO KNOWN AS THE "DOOHICKEY") , WHICH IS PART OF THE ENGINE'S BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER SYSTEM. WHILE MAKING AN UNRELATED ADJUSTMENT TO THE ENGINE I REMOVED THE LEFT SIDE ENGINE COVER AND NOTICED THAT A PORTION OF THE DOOHICKEY HAD BROKEN OFF AND WAS LOOSE IN THE ENGINE CASE. THE DAMAGE TO THE DOOHICKEY WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN OTHER KLR650 ENGINES AND APPEARED TO BE DUE TO THE STARTER GEAR (ENGINE PART #16085-1205 (GEAR, ONEWAY CLUTCH)) IMPACTING THE DOOHICKEY. FORTUNATELY, IN THIS CASE THE ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE, BUT SINCE THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE LOOSE HARDENED STEEL PIECE LOOSE IT COULD EASILY HAVE DONE SO AT ANY TIME. SINCE THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE, AN ENGINE SEIZURE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY RESULTED IN A CRASH. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE CAUGHT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE...

ON MY 1998 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE, VIN [XXX], THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER (KAWASAKI PART NO: 13168-1436) BROKE, LEAVING NO TENSION ON THE BALANCER CHAIN INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS IS AN ALL-TOO-COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE BIKES. FAILURE OF THE LEVER CAN RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE CHAIN. IF THE CHAIN FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE, LOCKING THE BACK WHEEL WHICH WILL CERTAIN RESULT IN A NASTY ACCIDENT. KAWASAKI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS. NON-TECHNICAL OWNERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THEIR ENGINE IS A TICKING TIME BOMB. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR