KX500 Vibration How can I make it better?

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Sandblaster
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KX500 Vibration How can I make it better?

Post by Sandblaster » Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:27 pm

KX500's are notorious for vibrations.
Big bore, long stroke, single cylinder, and not balanced very well from the factory..
There are mechanical issues you can control and other material properties that are very difficult to control.
The first thing and maybe the most important thing is you need to have your crank balanced.
If you are using a newer KX500 Crank 89-04 Jason Tanner can do it for you.
If you have a 88 or older I would send it to Crank Works.
http://www.crankworks.com/

To further reduce vibrations, attention to how you bolt your engine into the chassis is very important.
Chassis dynamics and harmonics can really mess with you.
At times there is little you can do to make it better.
After getting your crank balanced and your engine assembled, put the engine in the chassis leaving all the bolts loose.
Look at the mounts to the engine...
Do you have gaps between the engine and the mounts?
DO NOT crank the bolts down to take up the gap.
Use bushings, spacers, or shims to take up the gaps.
Next... When you start to tighten the bolts, start at the head stay and snug the bolts... Not tight.... And work your way forward, then down, then back...
Then, set your torque wrench for your initial torque setting...
Again, start at the head stay and work your way forward, down, then back.
Repeat until you have achieved the final torque setting.
Yes, there are other things you can do to reduce vibration... But you need to get the crank balanced and the engine properly torqued otherwise your not going to get the full benefits of any of it.
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.

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Sandblaster
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Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
Location: Eugene, OR
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Re: KX500 Vibration How can I make it better?

Post by Sandblaster » Sat Jan 06, 2018 5:14 pm

If you have more money to throw at it you can get some flex bars..


flex bars.jpg
flex bars.jpg (400.97 KiB) Viewed 6184 times
A newer product that I have no experience with is MAKO 360 Handle Bar Mounts.
It looks like a great product because it completely dampens the bars from the rest of the bike.
If someone has tried it, let me know...


mako.jpg
mako.jpg (268.22 KiB) Viewed 6184 times
Maybe a combo of the Flex Bars and the Mako?
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.

Markee757
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Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2017 12:24 pm

Re: KX500 Vibration How can I make it better?

Post by Markee757 » Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:30 am

Whats the contact info for Jason Tanner?

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Sandblaster
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Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:50 pm
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Re: KX500 Vibration How can I make it better?

Post by Sandblaster » Mon Jan 08, 2018 3:21 pm

541-653-5334 Jason tanner
Call or text 8-)
If bikes are for kids I'll never grow up.

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